The importance of discovering your passion

Student ambassador Elianet Hernandez Santana ’22, ’25 shares how she found a new direction through the M.S. in Real Estate program.

Most people feel lost at one point or another. Sometimes it is simply difficult to know what direction to take. I always felt lucky because I had a sense of direction and purpose. I had a passion for learning and solving problems. However, on the days following my college graduation, for the first time I felt lost.

I had spent my college years working hard on my degrees, working part-time, and helping my father with his small business. As an immigrant family from Cuba, we all work together to move forward. It has only been 11 years since we moved to the United States as political refugees. In that short period of time we had to start from zero and reconstruct our lives. There were many difficulties but we succeeded thanks to a lot of hard work and determination. During my college years, I focused all of my energies on graduating and making my dad’s business functional without me so I could devote myself to a new career. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to figure out what career I wanted to pursue. I had not found my passion.  

Eventually, I remembered one real estate class I took in my last semester that had left an impression on me. I did some research and realized that UNC Charlotte offers a Master of Science in Real Estate. After meeting with the assistant director of the program, I knew that it was the right fit for me. I had always had an interest in creating and designing spaces in such a way that people could feel comfortable and welcomed. I wanted to create spaces that made a positive difference in the community and that enriched people’s lives. Places create behaviors, and I wanted to create behaviors that contributed to the well being of the community. To do that, I needed the knowledge necessary and to enter a space where other like-minded people worked towards a similar goal.

I had always had an interest in creating and designing spaces in such a way that people could feel comfortable and welcomed.

I wanted to create spaces that made a positive difference in the community and that enriched people’s lives.

Places create behaviors, and I wanted to create behaviors that contributed to the well being of the community.

Elianet Hernandez Santana ’22, ’25

I was thrilled when I was accepted into the program! The feeling of being directionless and lost faded instantly. I began to do research, network and prepare myself as much as I could for a new and exciting career. 

Since coming to Charlotte, I have experienced kindness, solidarity and many opportunities. I slowly began to love this city and I would love to contribute to improving it and making it a place of opportunity and growth. UNC Charlotte has been the median that enabled me to find my passion and has been a source of knowledge and opportunity.  I hope that if anyone feels lost or directionless, that they may find a way to discover their passion. Always remember that dedicating time for yourself is as important as any other priority you have!