As part of our Senior Celebration week, team members are telling a bit of the path our lives took after high school. Just like yours, each story is uniquely them. Today we hear Grace’s story! Grace is our creative director. Grace is amazing at being intentional, thinking things through before acting, and knowing what she wants from life…and then moving in that direction. Valuing beauty, relationships, and happiness; her take on life add a bit of finesse to everything she touches. Enjoy hearing a bit of her story after high school graduation!

Where did you work during high school?
During high school I worked a couple different jobs. My junior year I worked  at CVS Pharmacy (this one wasn’t my favorite job). My senior year I worked at a local coffee shop called Main Street Coffee Emporium. My favorite job during high school was my lifeguard job! Every summer I worked at a summer camp as the lifeguard.

Did you go straight to college after high school? Why or why not?
I didn’t got straight to college after high school. I went to a real estate school in hopes to become a realtor and flip houses! A month into the course I found out that it wasn’t what I wanted. I finished the course but have never thought about real-estate ever since.

What did life look like after high school/college graduation?
Life after high school was a bit all over the place for me. I remember thinking that I didn’t want to waste time and money going to college if I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. My parents always encouraged me to strive to be happy and search for my dreams and goals. I was never pressured into having to go to college necessarily. This gave me time to travel and work and find what I really wanted in life and a career.  I ended up traveling to Australia with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) after my real estate course. For some reason traveling opened my eyes to what I love to do. I found out that I loved beauty, fashion, creating, and people.

How did you end up at CHAR co?
I ended up at Char co. all by connections. First, I worked with Char’s younger sister, Chrystal, at The Bakery at the Cupboard. She introduced me to Char’s work when I was looking for a wedding photographer. I ended up using Char for my wedding photographer. I then started following what Char was up to through social media. I noticed she was wanting to work with someone on a styled shoot. I contacted her and that was the first time I ended up working with her. From there it all snowballed into what I do for Char co. today. Her Creative Director and Stylist. Connections are everything!

Is there anything you want to share with a high school graduate?
It is okay to not know what you want your career to be right away. There is so much pressure to know what you want to do with the rest of your life right after you graduate. The reality is that most people don’t know what they want! Search for things that inspire you and for things that make you come alive in a college or career. Everyone’s path is unique to them and that is what makes us all interesting people. For me, following my heart and what I love has lead me to an amazing job working with amazing people!

Thanks Grace! Xo