Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jalin Harrington. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
JaLin, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I think it helps when you’re sure of yourself. If it wasn’t for the support of my “village”, it would be hard to reassure myself that I’m on the right path and doing what is both best for me and my future. In that, I’ve found a sense of purpose, which no one can throw me off of or away from. I know that my goals, when achieved, aren’t celebrated by me alone. Keeping all that in mind, I’m never thrown off of my focus.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At this very moment, my focus is on my ARE exams to become a licensed architect. Becoming an architect has been the goal in my life since I can remember. The work I do now as a designer at MCHarry Associates, is nothing but encouraging me in my development as a professional and as a person. I’m blessed to have the opportunity of working here.
I’ve always wanted to be the person I wish I had upon graduating undergrad at FAMU. Opportunities and exposure is not easy to come by. Giving back to the community I came from is a core value I have. Because I value the community and want to give back to it, I am involved heavily in NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects), a nonprofit organization that strives to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence, where I serve as the treasurer for the South Florida Chapter. We continuously aim to create opportunities and give a platform for ALL minorities in our industry and its allies.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Adaptability- Be able to deal with anything put in front of you.
Resilience- Quitting is for losers
Communication- No one has succeeded alone.
Your journey is your journey. Nowadays, it’s easy to slip into believing social media is reality and we begin to compare our lives and experiences to our peers. Always remember no one else can succeed at being you. To help your confidence and mindset moving forward, understand what to take from social media, which also means not taking it at face value. You never know the full story.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Ha! I recently read the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
All I can say is, you get from it, what you get from it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostgatsby/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalin-harrington-a114b31bb/
Image Credits
MCHarry Associates, Daniel Brown, Lelia Warf
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
