Sarah Penny with surboard shaper Mark Sausen in Kauai

Sarah Penny with surboard shaper Mark Sausen in Kauai

Sarah Penny graduated from the University of Texas last December, but she wasn’t ready to jump right into graduate school or a 9 to 5 job. The Lake Highlands High School 2012 grad, born in Zimbabwe with equal parts wanderlust and creativity, wanted to get a taste of all her employment possibilities before she settled on just one.

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Sarah is writing a blog about her adventures called JourneyofJobs.com, which you can read here. She has learned the fine art of surfboard shaping in Kauai. She has learned about manufacturing at Tyson Foods in Arkansas. She has learned to make caramel apples for a family-owned candy store in Oklahoma. It’s her “personal journey of discovering the American Dream,” she says, and no one, it seems, appreciates the American Dream more than Sarah.

And she’s just getting started.

“While I was at college, I felt there was a void, especially in our generation, of people who do not know what they want to do with their lives. I came up with Journey of Jobs to capture what we might learn from people who are successfully living out their passions. The more people we see attaining their goals, the more doable it becomes for us. By traveling to all 50 states and working alongside men and women who are living their American Dream, my goal is to motivate others to do the same. I will be doing this through blogging about the hard working individuals I meet in each state.”

Sarah, who typically stays just a few days in each place before moving on, has met up with various friends and her brother, Robbie, along the way. She started in May and she’ll be gone for 6 months.

Sarah majored in corporate communications and business at UT, and she saved for her journey working a job in philanthropy for major league sports teams and individual professional athletes.

“My boss knew I had set a date to leave for Journey of Jobs before hiring me, and she asked me to work for her until then.”

“After my time working in the industry,” she jokes, “I am at the same spot I was when entering college – unsure of what I want to do as a profession.”

As the parent of four twenty-somethings, I can only imagine the dinner table conversation with her folks as she broke the news of her idea.

“My parents were a little hesitant about what I was planning,” Sarah admits, “as I am known to be a dreamer rather than a realist. Although, when they saw how serious I was about making the journey happen and the hard work I was putting into the project, they fully supported me. A few people have told me the idea is crazy, and I’m sure more people have thought it. I believe the craziest ideas yield the greatest rewards.”

My favorite part of Sarah’s blog is her fantastic photos – rich, creative, funny pics – but the next best thing is her sharing of what she’s learned. At the end of each job, after she’s recounted what she did and who she met, she plumbs her soul to discover – then to share – what will be her forever takeaway.

“If nothing else, this journey so far has shown me the kindness, generosity, and inclusion of people. They have welcomed me into their work space, their homes, and into their lives. One common trait that is emerging as I travel and meet with people is hospitality. Perhaps people living the American Dream embody this element.”

And when she returns?

“Through this I hope to create a roadmap of individuals who will encourage us to pursue our passions through the purposeful life they are living,” says Sarah. “I believe I will be changed in having a greater sense of understanding of different industries as well as the culture they are in. I also hope this will help others realize the endless opportunities we have if we are prepared to work hard.”

And she hopes to write a book. Sarah, my book club is ready and waiting.

You can follow Sarah on Instagram here.

Sarah with Scotty Jackson of Apple Tree Chocolate

Sarah with Scotty Jackson of Apple Tree Chocolate

Sarah at Big Bend National Park

Sarah at Big Bend National Park

Sarah with Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods

Sarah with Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods

Sarah Penny

Sarah Penny