We asked some of the most inspiring folks in the community to tell us where they want to be professionally by the end of their careers.

Dr. Nell Smircina | Advocate, Educator and Practitioner of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine

By the end of my career, I’d feel completely fulfilled if I was well known in the medical community as the industry disruptor who was able to help expand integrative medicine and bring acupuncture into the standard of care. I want thriving practices which deliver impactful results for patients, while seeing the needle move in our healthcare system toward a more integrative approach to address patients’ needs. If I can have a meaningful part of this process when it comes to public policy and legislation, as well as being a role model for practitioners, I’d be thrilled. Read more>>

Goh Kurosawa | Bicultural Music Samurai

Answers to questions change over time, but this one does not have to… the end goal would be to fully enjoy the journey. We may never reach the first destination we had in mind, but we do arrive some where; we can decide how we arrive there. Read more>>

Elizabeth Sanchez and Yesenia Madera | LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists)

The goal that Yesenia and I are trying to achieve is create a wellness center and bring access to mental health to people of color in order to have a private practice experience. We will be providing individual/couples/ family/ and group bilingual counseling services. We want to offer psychiatric services, trauma informed yoga, registered dietitian, and other holistic services to the community. Our goal is to have a diverse staff. We envision our private practice to be in a home like environment where clients can feel safe and comfortable and reduce the stigma of getting mental health services. Read more>>

Justin N. Kim | Painter

As a painter who has not been represented by a gallery yet, this would be a long term goal down the line. I had some conversation with other painters about their experiences with galleries and while that commercial relationship may not be appealing to art makers and that information is not taught in schools, I still think it is essential for the art makers to know how and what they should expect from having a gallery representation. Read more>>

Christian Aguilar | Artist (Oil Painter)

It is actually very simple, my “end goal” is what I feel most Artists want. To be able to live off of my work. At the end of my career I hope to have recognition. I don’t want to be famous or even worse, a celebrity, I just want to have a simple life doing what I love to do, paint. Read more>>