A reflective essay on embracing life's unexpected turns and discovering that unconventional career paths often lead to fulfilling destinations. The author shares her journey through multiple pivots—from social work to HR—revealing how each detour prepared her for unexpected success.
Her Story
About Shannon
Shannon Johnstone is an HR Generalist and Frontline Recruiter with SSC Services for Education, a sector of Compass Group, where she recruits hourly associates across skilled trades, facilities maintenance, custodial, and administrative roles. She began with the organization as an HR Coordinator in 2022 and was later promoted to HR Generalist, building on four years of human resources experience.
Before transitioning into HR, Shannon worked as a foster care case manager in Illinois, developing strong advocacy skills and a people-first approach that continue to shape her work today. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Spanish from Rockford University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Human Resources Management at Capella University. An active member of SHRM, she is committed to continuous learning and staying current with best practices in the profession.
Grounded in the values of fairness, accountability, compassion, loyalty, and commitment, Shannon approaches every interaction with integrity. One of her greatest personal achievements has been overcoming the self-doubt that followed earlier academic setbacks and learning to recognize her own potential, something she credits to the unwavering encouragement of her father and family. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, traveling, spending time in nature, and relaxing with her dog, Fiona.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shannon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my father and my family, who have been my strongest support circle. My dad recognized my potential for a career in HR before I did, and his encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue this path, even though I had originally considered a different direction in biology research.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is that life isn't a race. For a long time, I compared where I was to where I thought I should be or where other people seemed to be. Over time, I've realized that every unexpected turn in my career and life helped shape who I am today. My path is uniquely mine, and I've learned that comparing it to someone else's only takes away from appreciating how far I've come.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering this field not to measure their journey against anyone else's. Lean on the people who support and encourage you, celebrate your accomplishments, and don't be afraid to let your work speak for itself. Like a plant, education provides the foundation and structure, but empathy and commitment are what help you truly grow.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
For me, the biggest challenge has been recognizing my own worth and overcoming imposter syndrome. For years, I let earlier academic struggles shape how I viewed my abilities instead of recognizing how much I had grown. Learning to see my potential through my experiences rather than my setbacks has been transformative, and I view that shift in perspective as one of the greatest opportunities in my career.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Fairness, accountability, compassion, loyalty, and commitment are the values that guide both my work and my decisions. Compassion is at the heart of how I support others, but lasting trust comes from balancing empathy with fairness and accountability.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Shannon
Nobody Talks About Plan D
How embracing unexpected career turns led to discovering my true calling in human resources.
The Unexpected Beauty of Plan D
In high school, we were always told to have a Plan B. If Plan A didn't work out, you'd have something to fall back on. Sometimes we'd even hear about having a Plan C.
I used to joke that nobody ever talked about Plans D, E, or F.
At the time, it was just a joke.
Looking back, it turned out to be my life.
The Formula for Success
Like many students, I believed there was a formula for success: go to college, earn your degree, and everything else would fall into place.
So that's exactly what I did.
I graduated from Rockford University with a double major in Anthropology and Spanish, thanks in part to a Spanish professor who convinced me to add the second major.
A few months after graduation, I landed what I thought was my dream job as a foster care caseworker. I was convinced I was meant to become a social worker.
In my mind, this had to be it.
This was already Plan C, so surely there couldn't be another intersection in the road.
Then life happened.
I found myself facing a difficult decision: stay in Illinois or move to Texas to be closer to my family.
After months of weighing my options, I packed up my life and started over in a new state.
Starting Over
Starting over wasn't easy.
Like many people who relocate, I had to rebuild my career from the ground up. I accepted a position as an Administrative Associate. I knew it wasn't my long-term destination, but it taught me something invaluable: adaptability.
Sometimes the job that doesn't feel like your forever job is preparing you for the one that is.
Then I saw an opening for an HR Coordinator position.
At the time, I had already outgrown my current environment and thought, Why not? We'll see what happens.
Not long after I applied, my now-manager called to schedule an interview. I remember hanging up from that conversation completely unsure of how it had gone. I couldn't tell whether I'd impressed anyone or completely missed the mark.
Four years later, I'm an HR Generalist and Frontline Recruiter, and I can honestly say I found a career I never expected.
Yet it's one that fits me better than any plan I originally had.
I discovered that I'm good at HR. I enjoy the operational side of the work, but more importantly, I care deeply about the people behind every application, every interview, and every conversation.
My background in anthropology taught me to understand people and cultures. Foster care taught me empathy and advocacy. Human Resources gave me a place where those experiences finally came together—like peanut butter and jelly.
The Funny Thing About Plan D
That's the funny thing about Plan D.
It rarely looks like success while you're living it.
It feels uncertain.
It feels like starting over.
Sometimes it even feels like failure.
But years later, you realize every unexpected turn was quietly preparing you for the life you have now.
To every young woman beginning her career, don't be afraid if your journey doesn't look like the one you imagined.
We spend so much time worrying that we've fallen off the path when, sometimes, we're simply discovering the one we were meant to take.
Give yourself permission to grow, change direction, and discover strengths you didn't know you had.
Most importantly, don't measure your progress against someone else's timeline.
Your path is uniquely yours, and that's where its value lies.
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