Written By: Alnierys Venegas, ACNP and Victoria Morneau 

Knowing what you want to do takes time – take it from us: Alnierys Venegas and Victoria Morneau, two professionals who took different pathways to create the careers we have today. 

For me, Alnierys, growing up, I dreamed of launching an online magazine and even imagined myself as a radio DJ! Simply put, I wanted to work in media. However, my true passion was to create a platform that celebrated the diversity of women. As time went on, my career took an unexpected turn into the nonprofit sector. Today, I find fulfillment in helping people, building relationships, and serving underserved communities. Through this journey, I’ve gained extensive experience in creating programming and providing direct services and education to help communities in need. I am deeply committed to enhancing my work as a community leader in the nonprofit sector. 

Victoria, on the other hand, likes to think that her journey in career development started at a young age. Growing up, her parents owned businesses, so conversations about hiring and employee concerns were regular parts of our dinner table discussions. When it came time to choose a college program, Victoria was drawn to business but also knew she wanted to connect it somehow to helping others succeed. Figuring out how to merge the two took time. You’d think a path like counseling or social work would have made more sense, but for some reason, it never felt like the right fit, even though she couldn’t quite explain why. It wasn’t until her third year of school, when she took a part-time job on campus mentoring and onboarding new international students, that things started to click. In that short experience, Victoria felt a deep sense of knowing. She loved making a direct, positive impact. 

From that experience, she also learned that she wanted to explore a career in post-secondary education. This led her to jump into a career in student affairs. It took time to really “build my career,” though. She started in administration, in a very entry-level role, before becoming a student advisor. Then, she spent over 10 years supporting students before eventually stepping out on her own to launch her career services business. Looking back, everything connected in ways she never could have predicted. But at the time, as a student and young professional, Victoria often felt pressured to have it all figured out from the start. 

As you can see, our career paths weren’t linear. They were filled with many twists and turns that ultimately led us to careers that align with our personalities, interests, and purpose. If you’re a recent graduate embarking on the journey of the unknown, here are some lessons Victoria and I learned through ours: 

Lessons Learned:

  • Knowing what you want to do takes time after graduating college. Work a bit, gain career experience, and learn what truly motivates and inspires you. 
  • Be open to receiving support (i.e., mentor, career coach, family, friends, etc.). 
  • Trust the process and embrace the journey. As you move along your career to discover your calling, leverage the time to develop and learn new skills. 
  • Your career will eventually come full circle. In other words, when you look back at your career history in 5–10 years, you will see how every role and position built upon each other. 
  • Don’t be afraid to change. I switched from social services to education, then came back to social services. Victoria took a leap to enter a new 9-5. 
  • If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that clarity comes from experience, not before it. 70% of learning comes from actually doing the work. Only 10% comes from formal education, and 20% comes from social interactions. So, the “fake it until you make it” saying is true in a way. I wish I had known this earlier in my career. I probably would have taken more “leaps.” 

Victoria and I believe it’s important to let go of the pressure to have a “big” career or figure everything out right away. Embrace the twists and turns. Those unexpected paths often lead to the most exciting opportunities. Looking back, all the seemingly unrelated experiences made sense. This has not only been true in our own journeys but also in the lives of the students and professionals we’ve supported over the years.

We’ve each found ways to stay connected to the work we care about—whether through mentoring others, sharing insights, or building new tools and resources that empower job seekers and nonprofit professionals. These outlets are our way of giving back and creating space for others to find purpose in their own path.

About the Authors:

Alnierys Venegas, is an Advanced CNP, nonprofit leader, and career development advocate. She is the founder of I Work Nonprofit, a blog dedicated to supporting emerging leaders in the sector. 

Victoria Morneau is a career strategist and content creator who develops accessible tools for job seekers, including career guides and resume templates. 

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