Page 23 - Education Issue

Women of Distinction

T NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE Analia Mendez
Ime the number of truly distin-
guished women we have living
in San Diego. This issue of SERVING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED
San Diego Woman is focusing
on education, and I had the By Carol Heath
pleasure of interviewing Analia
Mendez, who just happens to Photos by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions
be one of those distinguished
women. Analia has been in the post, Analia would pack up more and more older adults
higher educational system for the house, and her two sons, have to work longer and
over seventeen years. But I’m and follow. That meant setting longer before they can retire.
getting a little ahead of myself up a new household, finding Often times these adults find
here so let’s start from the new schools for the boys, and it very difficult to find employ-
beginning. a new job for Analia. Sounds ment. They may have already
Analia was born to immi- like tons of fun, but she did it retired from a job, they may
grant parents in the northern willingly as she knew that this be tired of the job they have
California city of Modesto on was the life of any mate that and are ready for a change, the
July 27th. I left off the year was married to someone in the list goes on, but the result is in
on purpose, it is not a typo. Armed Forces. order to transition into another
Although since I am older than Master Sergeant Valdivieso career, they need help.
dirt, she seems like a baby to has now retired from the It’s hard to know where to
me. She joined a large family Marine Corps. and Analia is start as things have changed
consisting of 5 girls and 2 boys also ready for the next stage of so much in the corporate and counsels and advises them on
and was the third in line of her life. She is presently still non-corporate world of em- the many opportunities they
siblings. She is the first female The Director of Career ployment opportunities. Take might have in the job mar-
in her family to graduate Education and Advising at me for example, when I got ket. Many of these men and
from college first with a BA in UCSD, but is about to my first job fresh out of high women are not aware of the
Psychology, then a Masters in transition into her new career. school the electric light was training they have had while
Counseling. Not too shabby Analia has started a brand new just coming into its’ own and, serving and how that training
from a kid who was raised in career, well, sort of, it is still not really but again you get can relate or fill a need in the
the small town of Riverbank, advising and coun-seling, but my drift. Analia has never been job marketplace. Analia is the
California. no longer college students. away from the ever-changing perfect person for this job,
Analia hit the ground run- Analia found a void in the career opportunities that exist because she has been training
ning as they say, whoever they career-transitioning world, and in today’s marketplace. for it almost all her life.
are, and began guiding and she has now filled up that hole. Signature Careers is a natu- Analia has a certain grace
counseling college students Her new business is Signature ral next step for Analia, and she when she talks about help-
with career choices and the Careers; a virtual offering, that hasn’t forgotten her roots so to ing adults transition careers,
required classes to achieve makes it very easy to get all the speak. Although Analia and her almost like a ballerina dancing
their goals. Of course, along necessary information staff can help anyone transi- to Swan Lake or the like. It
the way, I’m sure her shoulder received, then processed and tion into a new career, Analia seems so natural for her and
was used many times to shed a delivered. That is a very simple focuses on active duty military her commitment to helping
tear or two. explanation of what Analia is personnel about to retire. That service men and women and
Variations of the title doing for adults, who are for shouldn’t surprise anybody as civilians is genuine and sincere.
Director of Career Education various reasons, wanting to much of her life was spent as a If you are at that stage of your
and Advising have been on transition into another career. military wife. life when you are ready for that
her college office doors in 3 In case you have checked Analia coaches men and next career Analia Mendez and
different states. The explana- out of the world lately, you women who are still in the Signature Careers is here to
tion of why Analia worked in so may not have noticed that service of their country, and help.
many states has to do with her
other job. She is a United State Signature Careers: https://
Marine Wife, yup all caps, not www.signaturecareers.org
a typo. This is a title she is very Facebook: https://www.face-
proud of, and I applaud her book.com/signaturecareers/
service to our country. Many
people forget when a Marine Instagram: @signaturecareers
is deployed to a new post their LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.
family is also deployed. com/in/analiamendez
Each time her Marine Phone: (858) 353-8845
husband was sent to his new
23