Her Story
About Ania
My career journey has been one of transformation and self-discovery. I worked in higher education for over 15 years, starting right out of high school in 2007 as a work-study student while earning my associate's degree at a community college. I eventually became an administrative assistant, but over time, I felt like I had become a robot doing the same thing over and over, and I lost the passion for the field even though I enjoyed the work. When COVID hit in 2020 and I was laid off due to restructuring, it forced me to ask myself: who is Ania? I tried different positions, even opened my own business, searching for what truly fit me. I decided to go back to school and check off something from my bucket list. I went to the University of Texas at Arlington and completed my certification as a sterile technician. It was completely new territory for me, moving from education into the health field, but I'm enjoying it so far. I love working with patients, customers, nurses, hospitals, and anybody that needs my help. Currently, I work for LiveOps as a customer service representative, supporting Telehealth services. When patients need urgent appointments with a doctor, they call us to set up televisits. I'm so grateful to be in this position because just by being able to help somebody or calm down the situation when they call, it makes my soul happy. You never know if it's a grandmother, a mom whose child had a fever all night, or someone facing something urgent. I'm able to ease the anxiety they feel about the unknown, explain the procedure, and provide relief. I'm still in the learning process, still figuring out what I want to do long-term, but I'm willing to try different things so I can say I tried it, learn what I like, and incorporate that into something else. I also have a bigger goal in the works: opening a nonprofit to provide guidance and support for parents and students who don't have the funds or knowledge to access education, workforce training for high school dropouts who need their GED, basic computer skills training for seniors, and childcare assistance for moms who don't have a safe place to leave their children. As a mom myself, I know how hard it is when you don't have that support. I'm working with two friends who used to work with me at Dallas College in the Workforce Commission to bring this vision to life. I'm from Cuba, a bilingual migrant who finished all my schooling here from elementary through university, and I'm here to help anybody, regardless of color, race, or language.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ania
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentors I call my work moms. You always need to have one person outside your family that you can go to and just tell them what happened and ask what they think. There's no judgment, they just listen to you and give their opinions. They've been very helpful throughout my whole career. It doesn't matter what I decide to do, even if I decided to go work at a fast food restaurant, they would tell me, 'Well, you better be the best worker at that fast food restaurant.' It's always encouragement, nothing negative. They're always looking for the possibilities in any scenario. That's what has shaped me the way I am right now. I don't take stuff personally anymore because it's not about me, it's about the service I'm providing to the person I'm talking to. COVID was also a turning point that allowed me to find myself again and ask, where is Ania? It forced me to move forward when I was stagnant. I'm grateful for that period because it led me to where I am now.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is providing service without expecting anything in return. Everything I do, whether it's customer service, my work, my family, or anybody I encounter, I try to present myself the way I want other people to present themselves to me. I had really bad experiences before when I called somewhere and they would transfer me from line to line and my problem was never solved, and it was very frustrating. So I try not to do the same thing to people I encounter. If I'm helping you, I will follow you all the way from step one to ten, or however many it takes, until we can find a solution to the problem. It should be the norm to do good things, not because you're being paid for it. I also believe in taking time for myself, finding those moments of silence and peace. My morning walks give me 30 minutes where there's no stress, no kids running around, no work emails, just a moment between me and nature. That moment of peace is very important before going to work. I want to help anybody, regardless of color, race, or language. Those things shouldn't be a condition for providing help.
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