Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1195164
Learn more at AFLglobal.com/ASCEND Optical Network Progression 2006 2008 2011 2012 2018+ 400G/1TB 40G/100G 40G 10G 25G Advertisement ORGANIZATION (continued from page 10) twelve-hundred miles from Kansas to Florida for an internship designing technology for commercial build- ings. This self-investment further led me to pursue a career in Orlando, Florida, as a technology designer. Accepting change and investing in myself based on what I envisioned was challenging. Moving away from home to a city where I didn't have friends or family was terrifying, but I was confident that the changes would result in a brighter outcome. Overcoming chal- lenges associated with change allowed me to pursue my passion for smart building design. This time, instead of working on the hotel operations team, I was working with building owners and designing technology systems for hospitality projects. I applied my end user experiences to a market sector in which I am excited to be a part. Smart building technology is reshaping the hotel industry. Investing in myself through curiosity has helped me grow within BICSI and share my story. I was browsing the inter- net when I discovered and applied for BICSI's Mentorship Pilot Program. I considered myself very fortunate when introduced to my mentor, Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, DCDC, ESS, who was recently elected the first woman President-Elect of BICSI. Included in her many BICSI volunteer roles, Carol leads BICSI's Intelligent Building Standards subcommittee. She encouraged me to join and I am proud to be a part of advancing design standards. The mentorship program has also opened my eyes to future growth opportunities in ICT through professional development and BICSI credentialing. Everyone has a natural talent. Understanding and believing in yourself will lead to investing in your natural talents and strengths. This world offers many opportuni- ties, but it is up to you to decide, like the horse, whether to take action.