Challenges – Referenced Career Stories

– ABUSE – LIFE AFTER PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION (see WRITERS – POET OVERCAME HARSH CHILDHOOD)

-ABUSE (MENTAL AND PHYSICAL) BY PARENT (see ATHLETICS – MIXED MARTAL ARTS FIGHTER)

– ACADEMIC PROBATION AT 3 LEVELS – HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, GRAD SCHOOL – (see LAW – TRIAL LAWYER)

– ADOPTED (see HEALTHCARE – NURSE AT CHILDREN’S HOSP)

– ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION (see HUMAN SERVICES –  ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION TO COUNSELOR)

– ANNOYANCES AND DISAGREEMENTS (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY)

– ANXIETY FOR MATH OR SCIENCE (see WRITERS – NON-FICTION and ADVICE)

– ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY – ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER) (see also SCIENCE – MOLECULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH)

– AUTISM (see HEALTHCARE – PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE)

– BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY (see TRADE – PRO SHOPPER)

– BIASED CO-WORKERS (see BUSINESS – FRANCHISE OWNER)

– BIRACIAL (see ATHLETICS – HOCKEY OLYMPIAN)

– BODY SHAMING (see MUSIC- OPERA SINGER)

– BRAINS OVER BEAUTY? ONE PERSON’S CAREER CHOICE (see ENTERTAINMENT – STREAMING SHOWS PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE)

– BULLIES AND CHEATERS IN BUSINESS (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY)

– CEREBRAL PALSY (see HUMAN SERVICES – ADVOCATE – EAGLE SCOUT); (see also ATHLETICS – COACHES – KICKER ADVISOR WITH CEREBRAL PALSY)

– CHEATING / CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT BY CO-WORKERS (see ENGINEERS – ELECTRONIC ENGINEER WITH SALES; also see MILITARY – MILITARY TO CIVILIAN TRANSITION)

– CLIMATE CHANGE – STAYING REALISTIC AND OPTIMISTIC (see ENVIRONMENTAL – CLIMATE CHIEF FOR A CITY)

– COMPETITION WITHIN YOUR OWN BUSINESS (see COMMUNICATIONS – SOCIAL MEDIA – TWITTER TWEETER – NBA SCOOP MERCHANT)

– COUNSELOR’S ADVICE (see MEDICINE – OBY/GYN); see (REAL ESTATE – BROKER / OWNER)

– CO-WORKER PROBLEM(S) (see BUSINESS – FRANCHISE OWNER)

– CRITICS (see ARTS – ARCHITECT – INCLUSIVE PUBLIC SPACES)

– DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY FOR FUTURE USE OF YOUR WORK (see SCIENCE – FERTILITY AND CLONING RESEARCH)

– DARKER THAN MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS  (see ENTERTAINMENT – ACTRESS)

– DEAD BODIES (see TRADES – EMBALMER)

– DEAD-END JOBS (see TRADE – HIGHWAY DEPT WORKER)

– DEAF AT BIRTH – (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY – STUDENT BECOMES PROFESSOR TO DEAF STUDENTS); (see CHALLENGES – LFULL STORY – DEAF AT BIRTH); (see EDUCATION – PROFESSOR TO DEAF STUDENTS); (see also WRITERS – COMPILATIONS – AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE)

– DEATH CAUSED BY YOUR PRODUCT (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY); (see MANUFACTURING – JUICE PRODUCTION)

– DEATH THREATS (see FINANCE – C.E.O. OF A LARGE BANK) (see also LAW- FEDERAL JUDGE UNFLINCHING IN SPOTLIGHT)

– DEPRESSION (see BUSINESS – DATA ANALYST) (see also MEDICNE – PSYCHIATRIST – SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN); (see also CHALLENGES – FULL STORIES – BULLIES AND CHEATERS IN BUSINESS)

– “DIFFERENTLY ABLED” – (see HUMAN SERVICES – CEREBRAL PALSY ADVOCATE – EAGLE SCOUT WITH CEREBRAL PALSY FORCES CHANGE)

– DIVORCED (TWICE) – (see HEALTHCARE – NURSE PRACTITIONER)

– DISRESPECTED BY WORK COLLEAGUES  (see MEDICINE – RADIOLOGIST)

– DOWN SYNDROME – (see HUMAN SERVICES – ADVOCATE – EAGLE SCOUT WITH CEREBRAL PALSY)

– DRIFTING IN YOUR 20s WITHOUT A CAREER (see COMMENTARY – WILL YOU SPRINT, STROLL OR STUMBLE INTO A CAREER?)

– DROPOUT FROM SCHOOL (see HEALTHCARE – PHARMACIST)

– DRUG ADDITION & RECOVERY – (see 3 career stories: COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA – INFLUENCERS – MUSIC PROMOTER; Also see COMMUNICATIONS – TV SPORTS ANCHOR; Also see: ENTERTAINMENT – DANCER – ADDICT – RECOVERED ADDICT – DANCER AGAIN)

– DYSLEXIA (see HEALTHCARE / MEDICINE – RADIOLOGIST)

– ELECTION LOSER – CAN STILL MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT (see GOVERNMENT – POLITICIANS – LOST THE ELECTION)

– ETHNICITY OF BUSINESS OWNER A POTENTIAL DETERRENT TO CUSTOMERS? (see TRADES – ACUPUNCTURIST)

– FAMILY LEFT BEHIND (see MEDICINE – EMERGENCY MEDICINE); (see CHALLENGE – FULL STORY – UNDOCUMENTED, UNSKILLED IMMIGRANT)

– FAMILY BUSINESS (see ATHLETICS – BUSINESS MANAGER); see also (BUSINESS – FAMILY BUSINESS – MOVING AND STORAGE)

– FAT (see MUSIC – OPERA SINGER COPED WITH BODY SHAMING)

– FEAR OF BEES (see TRADE – PEST CONTROL)

– FEAR OF FAILURE (see COMMENTARIES – CHANGING CAREERS MAY BE SCARY)

– FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING (see GOVT – LT. GOV.)

– FEAR OF WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS (see ARTS – SCULPTOR)

– FEMALE RARITY WITHIN MALE DOMINATED CAREER  (see ENVIRONMENT – CLIMATE SCIENTIST) (see LAW ENFORCEMENT – POLICE PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT) (see TRADES – PLUMBER – TINY PLUMBER GIRL) (see TRADES – LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR GOLF COURSES)

– FIGHTING TO CAPTURE PYTHONS – BETTER WIN! (see TRADE – SNAKE HUNTER)

– FINANCING NEW BUSINESS (see MANUFACTURING – BREWERY)

– FIRST BLACK ELECTED GOVERNOR (IN MD.) (see GOVT – GOVERNOR)

– FOSTER CHILD (see TRADES – REMODELING CONTRACTOR) (see also TRADES – MASON)

– FULL JOB DUTIES NOT INITIALLY DISCLOSED OR ASKED (see TRADES – ACUPUNCTURIST)

– GAY AND BLACK (see BUSINESS – FASHION – MANY ROLES)

– GENDER DISCRIMINATION (see TRADES – PLUMBER – TINY PLUMBER GIRL); (see also WRITER – NONFICTION – MATH AND SCIENCE ANXIETY)

– GLASS CEILING – (see BUSINESS – PRO SPORTS MANAGEMNT)

– HERETIC LABEL FOR DENYING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF OTHERS (see HUMAN SERVICES – RELIGION – PASTOR DEEMED HERETIC)

– HEIGHT ‘A BIT SHY OF 5’ TALL (see REAL ESTATE – SUBSIDIZED HOUSING ENTREPRENEUR)

– HOMELESS (see ATHLETICS – MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER)

– IMMIGRANTS – (see separate main section IMMIGRANTS for multiple career story successes of people born outside the U.S.)

– INEXPERIENCE (see ATHLETICS – SUPPORTING ROLES – ANALYTICS DIRECTOR FOR PRO BASEBALL TEAM)

– INFERIORITY COMPLEX (see EDUCATION – PRINCIPAL)

– INVENTION WON’T SUCCEED? 

 (see TECHNOLOGY – HOME GAMING TECH PIONEER)

– LAYOFFS (see TRAVEL – FLIGHT ATTENDANT); (see HEALTHCARE – NURSE AFTER 13 YEARS FACTORY ASSEMBLY LINE)

– LEADERSHIP OF BUSINESS AT A YOUNG AGE (see HUMAN SERVICES – NONPROFITS – HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

– LEARNING DIFFERENTLY (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORIES); (also see MEDICINE – PEDIATRIC PSYCHIATRIST) (see MEDICINE – RADIOLOGIST) (see HOSPITALITY – EXECUTIVE CHEF)

– L.G.B.T.Q. (see separate main category LGBTQ for multiple, full career success stories of people self-identified as LGBTQ or their supporters)

– “LOST” or DEPRESSED (see EDUCATION – COUNSELOR – MALE’S PERSPECTIVE); (see also CHALLENGES – FULL STORY – BULLIES AND CHEATERS IN BUSINESS)

– LOVE YOUR CAREER YET HATE SOME DETAILS (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY)

– MANAGING EMPLOYEES WITH MORE DIRECT EXPERIENCE (see TECHNOLOGY – MANAGER)

– MARIJUANA PRODUCTION AND SALES (see AGRICULTURE – FARMING – ADDING A NEW PRODUCT: MARIJUANA)

– MEDICAL CAREER CHALLENGE – CAN’T HELP EVERY PATIENT (see MEDICINE – PEDIATRICS – SICKLE CELL DISEASE); (see also MEDICINE – CHILD PSYCHIATRIST)

– MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY – BULLIES AND CHEATERS IN BUSINESS)

– MILITARY SCHOOL DISCIPLINE (see GOVT – GOVERNOR)

– MISCONDUCT AS A LIFE LESSON (see BUSN – SECURITY HEAD)

– MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (see MEDICINE – NEUROLOGIST)

– NERD (see FINANCE – PRIVATE EQUITY)

– NEW LANGUAGE TO LEARN (see BUSINESS – DATA ANALYST)

– NONDISCLOSURE OF FULL JOB DUTIES (see TRADES – ACUPUNTURIST)

– NO ONE LOOKS LIKE ME (see GOVT – LT. GOV.)  (see also NUMBERS – ACCOUNTANT USED SKILLS TO HELP OTHERS); (see also MEDICINE – OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS AND STUDENTS’ NETWORK TO HELP NEXT GEN BLACK WOMEN SUCCEED IN MEDICAL CAREERS); (see also AGRICULTURE – MILLENIALS TURN TO FARMING – SINGLE FEMALE’S STORY); (see also TECHNOLOGY – MICROSOFT EXEC); 

– OBESE (see MUSIC – OPERA SINGER COPED WITH BODY SHAMING)

– OPINION PUSH-BACK BY OTHERS (see COMMUNICATIONS – TV SPORTS ANCHOR)

-OUTSIDER (see HUMAN SERVICES – DIRECTOR, NONPROFIT TO AID DIFFERENTLY ABLED CHILDREN); (see also FASHION- FASHION DESIGNER AMONG MANY CREATIVE SKILLS)

– PARALYSIS – (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY); (see also ATHLETICS – ATHLETES – PARALYMPIC SNOWBOARDER)

– PARENT’S UNREALISTIC, HIGH EXPECTATION (see HEALTHCARE / MEDICINE – RADIOLOGIST)

– PARENTS’ CONCERNS ABOUT CAREER CHOICE (see COMMUNICATIONS – TV ANCHOR FAVORS HUMAN INTEREST STORIES; see COMMUNICATIONS – TIK TOK CREATOR; see within COMMUNICATIONS – SOCIAL MEDIA – TWITTER TWEETER – NBA SCOOPS); (see COMMENTARIES – WILL YOU SPRINT, STROLL OR STUMBLE INTO A CAREER?)

– PARENT’S HARSH DISCIPLINE (see WRITERS – POETS); (see also ATHLETICS – ATHLETES – MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER)

– PERFORMANCE SUGGESTIONS TO CO-WORKERS (see TECHNOLOGY – SOFTWARE ENGINEER FOR MICROSOFT, EARNED PATENTS)

– PERSEVERES THROUGH MANY CHALLENGES (see ATHLETICS – PRO ATHLETE PERSEVERES)

– PERSONAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT (see EDUCATION – SUPT OF CITY SCHOOLS – FIRST HISPANIC CHIEF)

– PLAGIARISM (see FASHION – FASHION DESIGNER)

– POLITICAL ‘CULTURAL WARS’ (see EDUCATION- HISTORIAN, PROFESSOR, PODCASTER); (see MEDICINE – EPIDEMIOLOGIST)

– POLITICAL FUNDRAISING SOURCES CRITICISM – (see GOVT – LT. GOV)

– POST POLIO LIMP / WALKING DISABILITY (see HUMAN SERVICES – SOC WK – GRP HOMES) 

– POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) (see MEDICINE – EMERGENCY MEDICINE)

– PRISON RECORD (see COMMUNICATIONS – TV REPORTER WITH A PRISON RECORD); (see also ENTERTAINMENT – EVENTS PRODUCER)

– PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF UNSAFE BUSINESS (see BUSINESS – CHEMICAL COMPANY LEADER PUSHES FOR SAFE PRACTICES)

– PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION HISTORY (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY)

– RACIAL DISCRIMINATION – RACISM below in this category

– RACIAL RARITY IN CAREER (see NUMBRS – MATHEMATICIAN – PUSHED FOR DIVERSITY)

– RACISM (see MILITARY – ARMY GENERAL) (see also: HEALTHCARE – NURSE AFTER FACTORY WORK) (see also: FINANCE – C.E.O. OF A LARGE BANK) (see also: TRAVEL – COMMERCIAL DRIVER) (see also: MEDICINE – PSYCHIATRIST – MENTAL HEALTH CHIEF) (see also TRAVEL – AIRLINE PILOT)

– RAPED (see HEALTHCARE – NURSE PRACTITIONER)

– REGUGEE FROM WAR (see MEDICINE – EMERGENCY MEDICINE) (see also COMMENTARY – IMMIGRANT – UNDOCUMENTED AND UNSKILLED)

– RELIGIOUS CORE BELIEFS OF OTHERS DISPUTED (see HUMAN SERVICES – RELIGION – PASTOR DEEMED A HERETIC)

– REVEALING YOUR IDENTITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA (see COMMUNICATIONS – YOU TUBE – CELEBRITY GOSSIP STORIES)

– SCIENCE BELIEFS, LONG HELD, CONTRARY TO YOUR VIEW (see SCIENCE – PHYSICIST WHO CHALLENGED LAW OF NATURE)

– SCIENCE REPORTING COMPROMISED (see SCIENCE – MEDICAL RESEARCH – PERSISTENCE LED TO COVID VACCINE)

– SELF DOUBT AND DEPRESSION (see NUMBERS – MATHEMATICIAN / PHYSICIST)

– SCHMOOZING PEOPLE PRIORITIZED OVER PURE SCIENCE (see SCIENCE – MEDICAL RESEARCH – PERSISTENCE LED TO COVID VACCINE)

– SEXUAL ASSAULT / HARASSMENT (see CHALLENGES – FULL STORY) (see also COMMENTARIES) (see also: GOVERNMENT – LOBBYIST) (see also: SCIENCE – MARINE BIOLOGIST) (see also: ENVIRONMENT – ECOLOGIST – FOREST TREES) (see also TRAVEL – FLIGHT ATTENDANT)

– SICKLE CELL DISEASE (see HEALTHCARE – NURSE AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL)

– SNAKES ALIVE! (see TRADES – SNAKE HUNTER)

– SONG PRODUCERS WANT CHANGES WRITER DOESN’T (see ENTERTAINMENT – SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER) 

– STAMMERING / STUTTERING (see LAW – ATTORNEY TO CLIENTS INCLUDING PRO ATHLETES); (see also TECHNOLOGY – A.I. FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)

– STUDENT BEHAVIOR (see TRAVEL – BUS DRIVER)

– STUTTERING – see above for STAMMERING

– SUICIDE – PREVENTION PLAN (see HUMAN SERVICES – PSYCHOLOGIST)

– TEENAGE PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL (see EDUCATION – HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AT AGE 35)

– THEFT OF YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WITHOUT CREDIT OR PAYMENT (see EDUCATION – HISTORIAN, PROF, PODCASTER)

– TONGUE TIED – (see LAW – ATTY WITH VARIED CLIENTS)

– UNRULY PASSENGERS (see TRAVEL – BUS DRIVER)

– YOUTH AND INEXPERIENCE (see ATHLETICS – SUPPORTING ROLES – ANALYTICS DIRECTOR FOR PRO BASEBALL TEAM)

– UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT (see HUMAN SERVICES – RELIGION – BISHOP FROM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT)(see also COMMENTARY – IMMIGRANT – UNDOCUMENTED AND UNSKILLED)

– UNWED MOTHER PUSHING LIFE AHEAD (see HEALTHCARE – NURSE AFTER 13 YEARS ON A FACTORY ASSEMBLY LINE)

– WEATHER AND POLLUTION AFFECTING OUTDOOR CAREERS  (see AGRICULTURE / FARMING – OYSTER FARMER)

– WHEELCHAIR – DANCER’S MOVES INCLUDE HER WHEELCHAIR (see ENTERTAINMENT – DANCER’S MOVES INCLUDE HER WHEELCHAIR)

– WORK – LIFE BALANCE (see COMMUNICATIONS – TV ANCHOR); (see TRAVEL – FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL)

– WORK ENVIRONMENT STRESSFUL (see TRAVEL – FLIGHT ATTENDANT)

– YOUNG AGE LEADERSHIP OF BUSINESS (see HUMAN SERVICES – NONPROFITS – HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)