Tristessa Johnson
Children's Minnesota
St. Paul, MN USA
"If you want something, you’ll find a way. There are always going to be obstacles but you’ll find a way."
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Tristessa's work combines: Medicine, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I first started working for the hospital at 17 years old, I faced a lot of judgment. I was young and I had a baby, so people wrote me off. However, from my perspective, the younger generation were just as able as older generations, if not more, to work hard and make an impact. Sure, I faced a lot of obstacles but I was determined to work hard, reach my potential, and gain respect. If you want something bad enough, you'll make it work.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Social Work
College of St. Scholastica
Graduate Degree
Social Work
University of New England
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I always knew that I wanted to help people, but I wasn’t entirely sure in what capacity.
2.
I started working at Children’s Minnesota when I was 17 years old.
3.
I also became a parent at 17 years old—after switching to a school that served pregnant women, I was able to earn credits early and complete a certified nurse assistant program.
4.
While I realized that I didn’t want to be a nurse, I knew that I still wanted to help people—gaining experience with troubled youth helped push me towards the social work field.
5.
As I built my career in social work, I became more and more passionate about helping youth.
6.
Along the way, I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work.
7.
27 years later, I’m still with Children’s Minnesota, where I work as a health equity coach.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You're young and you have a baby. You're not as capable as older generations.
How I responded:
When I first started working for the hospital at 17 years old, I faced a lot of judgment. I was young and I had a baby, so people wrote me off. However, from my perspective, the younger generation were just as able as older generations, if not more, to work hard and make an impact. Sure, I faced a lot of obstacles but I was determined to work hard, reach my potential, and gain respect. If you want something bad enough, you'll make it work.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Upon becoming a parent at 17 years old, I switched to a high school for pregnant women. I was able to gain enough credits early and move on to college. However, I continued to face financial struggles as a young parent.