Story Feature: Charnice
Quote:
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." -Marcus Aurelius
Charnice shares that this quote has stuck with her because life is going to throw difficulties your way and it's up to you to determine if those obstacles are going to make you better or worse. “For example, if things are going wrong, you were overlooked, or told you didn't have enough experience.. good. Now you have an opportunity to overcome that obstacle and achieve things that you might have thought you could not do.”
Highlights from Charnice’s Story:
Charnice shares that having to learn how to swim and pass a swim test as a prerequisite to complete Coast Guard basic training. She shares that “Our minds are very powerful and with that power comes the ability to overinflate actual situations. When you're taught to swim they start you in the shallow end and the instructor always said if I felt like I was drowning I could just stand up and realize that everything is ok and there's no need to panic. I have carried that with me throughout my career.” Charnice also states, “If I ever feel overwhelmed or "like I'm drowning" it's ok and I can take a break from the hurdle and tackle it again later.”
Charnice completing her first data center construction project had a large impact in her career. She had moved to a very small city in Washington state where she knew no one, and she shares that “…to start working in a different industry that I wasn't familiar with and I ultimately felt like I did not belong, but I wasn't going to let that deter me.” Charnice shared that the project was riddled with hurdles that impacted schedule and that were first of a kind for everyone involved. However, once the project was completed the growth and experience she had obtained propelled her career and solidified her capabilities. Charnice shares that “…I know now that I can do this and I belong here.”
Obtaining the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification was a personal achievement for Charnice. She mentions that she would typically shy away from standardized testing certifications but this one continued to resurface throughout her career. Charnice states that “I took control and shifted my mindset from fear to drive and determination, to ultimately pass the exam successfully and obtain the certification.”
Next achievement in progress:
The next goal that Charnice is currently working on is progressing women in construction. She states “I want to show our future women with an interest in construction, through mentorship, that you belong here and that you can succeed and thrive in this field.”
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