Her Story
About Cynthia
I always knew I wanted to work with the public and be a public servant. I actually started going to school to be a probation officer to work with juveniles, but once I started working with accounting, I got exposed to a lot more positions and career paths. That's when I was introduced to social services and the opportunity to provide services to the community in general, not just one population. What I really liked was being able to help all of the population within Santa Clara County, because there's so many that require assistance. In my role, I interview clients to see what type of benefits they qualify for, from insurance to CalFresh to any outsourced programs for the homeless. I conduct face-to-face interviews with clients and answer any questions, and offer programs that they may qualify for without knowing. My end goal is to help secure benefits for all individuals in the county and make sure that all of the resources are broadcast to all of the population, regardless of age, gender, or immigration status. I feel like there's such a lack in communication from us to the vulnerable population, and I want to be part of changing that. I continue my education so that I can expand my knowledge in social services and be able to help on the administration part while continuing to help the community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cynthia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family. My kids have been a big part of who I am and the person that I've become, from my parents to my children. They've been my motivation and inspiration throughout my journey.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to take your time and don't rush. I feel that I've made a lot of, quote-unquote, mistakes in my life because I thought I had to live on a timeline. I thought I needed to accomplish so much by a certain age, and now I see that I probably could have accomplished a lot more, perhaps a little bit later in life, but more than what I do have, if I would have just stepped back and actually really took the time to see what I wanted, what interests me, and not have to live on a timeline. Everything is for any age, as long as you work towards it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think right now, one of the biggest challenges, even in social services, is AI. It's about knowing and making sure that we're well aware and keeping up to date with all of the new technology and all of the new programs that are available. I feel like that's one of the challenges - that our systems are constantly changing, and a lot of it is also going to be, hopefully not, but maybe in the future, transitioning to AI services.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think my work ethics and balancing your work and home balance is very important. There's so much that needs to be done for the community, however, there's also a lot that needs to be done at home as well to be part of that change. I believe in maintaining strong work ethics while also making sure I'm present for my family and community.
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