RAA Talks

Episode - 14: Beyond Self-Doubt: Finding Grace and Strength in Your Career Journey

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Are you a woman navigating chronic illness, career challenges, or seeking inspiration to find your unique purpose? Then this episode of the RAA Talks podcast is for you!

Join host Raihana as she engages in a candid and insightful conversation with Becky Yandrasitz, an assistant zookeeper and education specialist, who shares her remarkable journey of resilience, passion, and finding strength in an unexpected career path.

What can you expect from this episode?

  • Insights into the daily life and responsibilities of an assistant zookeeper and education specialist, including the physical labor involved.
  • A deeply personal account of overcoming chronic illness and ADHD that impacted her education, leading to an 11-year college journey.
  • Practical strategies for managing menstruation symptoms in a physically demanding role, including Becky's experience with birth control and the supportive environment at her zoo.
  • Reflections on dealing with feelings of failure and self-doubt, highlighting the transformative power of a strong social network and therapy, specifically EMDR.
  • A nuanced perspective on subtle workplace dynamics and perceived discrimination, and how to navigate these challenges, particularly for women.

    • What can you gain from the episode?

    • Inspiration to pursue your passions and career goals despite setbacks, as Becky's story demonstrates dedication to working with animals since childhood.
    • Validation and understanding for personal health challenges, including chronic illness, ADHD, and menstruation, and how medication or therapy can aid in managing them effectively.
    • A deeper appreciation for the modern role of zoos as institutions of education and conservation, moving from past unethical practices, and their vital work in species survival.
    • Tools for self-reflection and cultivating self-compassion, learning to give yourself grace amidst mistakes and perceived failures, a lesson Becky has learned through therapy.
    • Practical advice on forming bonds with zoo animals, understanding their natural behaviors, and the rewarding experience of seeing them engage with enrichment.

      • This episode of RAA Talks offers a powerful narrative of determination, self-discovery, and the profound connection between personal well-being and professional fulfillment.

      Tune in to hear how one woman transformed her early challenges into a deeply rewarding career, advocating for animals and inspiring a new generation of conservationists through her work.

       

      About Becky : Assistant zoo keeper and education specialist at a zoo in Washington state (I'm checking with my boss if I can say what zoo I am from). I had a rough start with chronic illness delaying my education throughout my twenties, but I had known since I was a child that I wanted to work with animals.

       

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      RAA TalksBy Raihana Ali-Aggarwal