My name is Jessica Flores and I dream to be a photographer like Remy Haynes. Remy taught me that you have to find out what you really love and try your best pursue it. She really enjoys going to work because her job does not feel like a job since she loves photography so much. Remy has inspired me to find out what it is that I want to be first and feel comfortable with it. I keep changing my mind about everything I dream to be, sometimes it is a doctor, cop, lawyer, etc. But no matter what I decide I know that I have to work hard to get it. I am inspired to grow up and find my passion so that I can love my job as much as Remy loves her job.

My mentor Remy and I

On my vision board I had many words because the words and phrases are the ones that inspire me and encourage me to never stop no matter what kinds of struggles I face. I know that it won’t be easy to get to where I want to be at first but I know that the moment I reach my goal, all the struggles will be all worth it. My mom raised a smart woman that has been and will continue to be successful in life. I know I will have many more oportunities coming my way. When Remy mentioned traveling and actually going to the places she always wanted to go it made me want to ask more questions, she told me that at first she had difficulties but she never gave up. I said to myself  if she can do it, then I know I can do it. I want to be able to do what I love and be able to help others, for instance my mother. I want to get her a better house to live in and keep her safe. Remy said that she is able to help her mom too. It made me feel even better because the first thing I want to do is help my mom.

The Top 5 Reasons I would want to do what my mentor does are:

-I could work at home

-Manage myself

-Be creative

-Be the boss of myself

-Get to spend time working with my family at times

My mentor, Kasaan, inspired me to do what I want to do and be what I want to be by telling me about her past careers, being easy to talk to, determined, strong, independent, and hard working.  She was so easy to converse with so I was very interested in hearing about her.

When Kasaan told me that she went from being a Dancer, to Choreographer, to a Manager/Music Producer…I related to her. I related to her, because I always change my mind on what career I want to pursue. I was glad she told me about her past careers.

Even though she changed her mind,  Kasaan was determined to have a career related to Dancing/Music. Her determination inspired me to achieve my goals no matter what happens or how many times I change my own mind.

Three things that I put on my inspiration board are:

-I wrote the word “Motocross” and the name “Travis Pastrana”, because he represents FEARLESSNESS to me.

-A photo of a bracelet with a cross on it, because of my religion and my love for God.  Also, because I want to be a Youth Pastor someday.

-A photo of kids playing the drums. I put this because I like to learn how to play all kinds of instruments.

Nori is a really fun person with a really bubbly personality.  I can see why she has an excellent job. She says if I want to be someone in life, I can’t be afraid to try new things.  Nori Takei motivates me to be successful. And one day when I AM successful,  I will look back on the wonderful program that helped me to get where I am now…Step Up.

Three things that I put on my inspiration board are:

-A quote, ” Never underestimate a woman’s intuition”.  I put this because anything a man can do, a woman can do twice as better.

-A photo of two buildings downtown.  I put this because one day I will be working in one of those buildings.

-A photo of a butterfly with a bunch of women in the middle.  This photo represented to me that if you want something out of life, you can’t just sit around and wait for it.  You have to be like a butterfly and spread your wings and fly.

This is me enjoying the advice Sandy gives to me.

My name is Azalea. I interviewed my mentor, Sandy Gattozzi. I learned that you need to work hard in order to succeed in life and to be something. She taught me that it is really important to love what you do so that you will be happy when you go to work. 

Sandy and I during our interview.

Here are some questions that I asked Sandy. Where were some places you worked? 

• Banana Republic, Restoration Hardware,Etc.

Is your job really hard? 

• She said its not really TOO hard.

Is your job stressfull? 

• She said that yes, sometimes she does get stressed because you have to constantly be doing your job well.

My mentor taught me many things about her profession. She said she does some type of accounting and is a manager. She also sells clothes. 

These are items that Sandy works with everyday at her job.

Sandy gets to read through magazines for work!

On my vision board, I chose a picture of Paris, France because when I grow up I want to go there. Another picture I chose is one of the Lakers because they’re my favorite team and that represents the passion and love I have for basketball. 

This is me!

My name is Diane Panuco. I interviewed my mentor, Gina Fattore. I learned that she was inspired to write, and that is what we both love, writing. She works as a script writer for different shows, and one show was Dawson’s Creek .

My awesome mentor, Gina.

Stuff from the shows she worked on.

Here are some questions that I asked her:

Q.  Do you ever lose a script on the computer ?

No, I haven’t!

Q. Do you always write 24-7?

A. Yes, I don’t even hear the mailman when he comes.

Q.  Have you ever written a story based on a personal experience, maybe about a  crush or a love story?

A. Yes!!

Here I am listening to Gina's cool stories.

5 facts that i learned about  my mentor

She  was an english major.

She likes love stories.

She likes getting thai ice tea for free from her boyfriend.

She worked at a local newspaper.

She has a new house .

5 things that I have on my inspiration board are: Buildings because I love complex architecture, a comic drawing because I’m old fashioned, pictures of food because I’m in love with food, and a book because I love reading.

Carolina Davalos is in the fashion industry.  She moved from being a waitress to working for Telemundo. In Telemundo, she did so many things.  She was a weather and fashion reporter and now she is helping teach Latinas how to dress and have better wardrobe.

She came from Mexico alone and that helped her become independent.  She is strong and she has had the support from many, especially her parents.  Carolina Davalos went to fashion school and then wanted to be a singer.  Becoming a singer didn’t work out , so she became a weather and fashion reporter and now she is trying something new.  That made me see that I can try different things to figure out what I really want to do. She was also denied many times, but that still did not back her down.

Three things that I put on my inspiration board are:

-I wrote the word “Mother”, because my mother doesn’t judge me and helps me out with whatever I want to accomplish.

-A photo of a lady catching butterflies, because it symbolizes going for your dreams and catching them.

- A photo of an outfit by Betsy Johnson, the designer.  It had bright colors and a big bow and I put it on my board, because I love fashion.

My name is Leslie Pena and my mentor was Natasha Desseraux.  I dream to be in the entertainment field someday in my near future. Right now my interest is in the music business, but I’m still exploring my options in the entertainment industry. The opportunity to meet Natasha Desseraux, who works for Nickelodeon Studios, was exciting because she loves her job. I learned that for her it’s not really a job because she enjoys it so much. She inspires me to turn my passion into a job. What I liked about my mentor was that she stated “I think that it’s a good thing to have a career that you enjoy because it’s not like if you’re really working, but more like a hobby.” I think that what she does is really cool and she made me realize that I can be what ever I want to be.

A few fun facts about my mentor:

1.works with actors on nick

2.enjoys her job

3.& gets to organize schedules

MY VISION BOARD:

* I put a picture of a car because I want to have my own car in the near future.

* Another picture that I put was a  picture of a house because I want a house to own.

She inspired me because she successfully changed careers and that shows that you can do anything with your life.

Ninaki has designed jewelry for celebrities (like Fergie).  She names every ring she designs and wears a ring on each finger.

I learned that in order to succeed, it is important to stay focused on your goals (even when you have celebrity clients) and that some  important classes to take for a career in design are skethching and pattern making.  She inspired me to take the right classes and to stay focused so that I can achieve anything I want to in my life.

Some advice from Ninaki:

Don’t be afraid

Be Creative with Everything

Let your Ideas and Sketches speak to you

Three things on my inspiration board are:

-A picture of New York City, the reason is because that’s the place I want to live in. I love its crowded streets and seeing people rushing to their jobs.

- I used a map as the background of my poster board because I love traveling. Anything that includes packing up and going somewhere new is totally my thing.

-Big, thick sunglasses and beach hair all wavy like the ocean waves are a yes, they are calling summer out. I just love summer!!<3(:

The top five reasons I find Amy’s job interesting are:

-You get to learn more about animals since they are considered to be man’s best friend.

- You show how dedicated and caring you are for animals.

- It’s a good feeling knowing that you have cured or saved a living animal that feels pain as well as humans.

-The job has many emotions involved because sometimes you feel the pain or the happiness of the owners when you give them the news.

- You get to take science and further study how the animal’s bodies react to  medicine.

Question #1: Why did you choose to be a veterinarian?

When I was small I loved animals. I knew that I wanted to be a Veterinarian.

Question#2: How was vet school?

I took some classes that I didn’t really like, but in the end it was worth it.

What I got from Step Up is that I got to learn about photos and that you can explore feelings by taking pictures.  Step Up helps you learn more about things that I didn’t know I needed to know.  I learned how to create memories and how to write/blog about them.  It was fun.  I got to experience a mentor for the first time.  It gives me someone to talk to and learn from.