This Social Entrepreneur's Career Pivot Is Proof That Pursuing Your Passion Can Be Life-Changing

“Most people thought I was crazy to leave my job for a career they deemed uncertain.”

—Jamila Trimuel, Mentor, Social Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Going to work every day should feel like waking up on a Saturday morning. In fact, It should barely feel like work at all. Most people go to work dreading the tasks ahead of them, and I understand because I was the same way. It wasn't until I decided that I wanted a career with more flexibility that I knew I needed to make a change. I remembered when one of my college professors said, "Choose your career based on what you would do for free." At first, it sounded crazy—little did I know he was onto something.

I had a promising career working for one of the country's top hospitals, managing the cancer service line's strategic planning process.  While working for the hospital, I made sure I designated my free time to mentor young Black girls growing up in the Southside of Chicago. I knew that I had a different advantage than other children because I did not lose my father to gun violence or have a mother on drugs. Girls that grew up in these conditions are often overlooked and deemed capable of raising themselves when that is an outrageous task to put on any child, let alone our Black children. 

One Saturday, one of my mentees brought me her résumé and explained she was having a hard time finding a job. After reviewing her resume, I became extremely frustrated because one of her bullet points listed, "Looking for a job." No one thought to tell her this was inappropriate, and I was so overwhelmed because I knew so many other girls were overlooked and made simple mistakes just like this. I realized I needed to change, and my calling wasn't in healthcare. It was in education. 

My passion became my purpose. I started Ladies of Virtue in 2011 to assist young girls who were neglected and passed up because of the ridiculous stereotype that they need less nurturing or support than other children. 

Most people thought I was crazy to leave my job in healthcare for a career they deemed uncertain. Mostly because I applied to a program that only accepted 2% of their applicants. Clearly, it was not their purpose to see because six months later, I received an offer in the two-year residency program. 

Staying in my purpose was not easy in the slightest bit. In what was supposed to be the most extraordinary part of my life, I experienced some of the most devastating losses bringing me to the lowest points of my life. In a chain reaction of events, I lost my mother-in-law to cancer. A few months later, I found out I was pregnant, but I lost the baby to a rare condition after five months. Due to all of the stress, I turned to eating and gained weight at an exponential rate, putting my health at risk once again. 

Everything in me wanted to quit, and I had good reason too, but I knew that it isn't what happens to you in life; it's how you respond to it that matters. Living my purpose meant I had to take care of more than just the girls I was mentoring. My mental and physical health needed to be a priority, as well. If I didn't change my lifestyle, I wouldn't be a healthy vessel for the girls in Ladies of Virtue. Ultimately, bettering my health directly reflected in the girls that I mentored. If  I was good, so were they. 

Throughout my journey of living my purpose, it became more than just mentoring. Ladies of Virtue became a small role in a master plan to better the lives of so many children. There are so many alumni of Ladies of Virtue that would have never ended up in a Ph.D. program like Deidra. Seeing these girls succeed gives me joy, the joy that you feel when you wake up on a Saturday morning. I no longer have the feeling of anticipation that comes with wondering about the future because I love exactly where I am now, living in my purpose. 

About the author: As a mentor, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jamila Trimuel has over ten years of experience in strategic planning and community engagement for nonprofit organizations. Jamila is a Broad Residency alum, a highly competitive leadership program that places participants in high-level managerial positions to help transform our public school systems. Jamila was recognized as Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Humanitarian Award winner in 2012. She was also recognized as a Change Agent and invited to the United State of Women Summit hosted by the White House in 2016. In 2017, she was recognized by Chicago Scholars for their 35 under 35 Award and received Rush University’s Hidden Figures Award. 

Jamila was one of the 100 community leaders from Chicago (500 in total around the world) invited to attend the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit in 2017. She also won the Coaches Award at the 2018 Social Venture Partners (SVP) Fast Pitch competition for Chicagoland nonprofits. Jamila also presented her Tedx Talk in 2018 entitled, "Make Today Your Saturday. Live a Fulfilled Life of Purpose." Furthermore, in 2018, Jamila was honored alongside Jesse Jackson Sr. with the "Giving a Hand Out to Give a Hand Up" Mentoring Award by the Calahan Foundation. In 2019, Jamila was honored with the Leading Lady Community Award by the Daisie Foundation.

Jamila has a bachelor of science in community health from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University. She also holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from The Broad Center for Management of School Systems. In addition to the Broad Residency, Jamila graduated from several prestigious leadership programs including the Schweitzer Fellowship and the IMPACT Leadership Development Program founded by the Chicago Urban League and University of Chicago. She is also a Kellogg Executive Scholar from Northwestern University. In addition, she is a Licensed Minister at New Life Covenant – Southeast under the leadership of Pastor John F. Hannah. Jamila resides in the South Loop community with her husband, Damien.

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