How USAA Changed My Life

The day I started my job at USAA made me realize that I had changed my life. After taking a year to very part-time and do some soul searching to decide what I wanted to do with my life. Living in Arizona, I am in a state where call centers and customer service positions are plentiful, in my year off, I had told myself I would not step foot in another call center unless it were USAA. In my year off, I had incurred a lot of debt since I was making a little more than the amount collected from unemployment. In the year, my family was very supportive and trying to help give me tips on what to do for work. Upon starting my new role with my new company, I have been able to substantially mature by purchasing my new car, moving out on my own and returning

to school.
In taking a year off from working, I was still living at home with my parents which I was fortunate in that I did not have many bills.

I began my career with my company in insurance sales because I already had a strong knowledge base for insurance from my previous jobs. A year into my job, I was able to continue to put money away, and I had an opportunity to become a part of a new team being created to aid our clientele with buying a car. At the same time, I knew that it was time for me to get a new car, I was still driving the car I had when I first got my drivers license. A month after I completed the training for my job duties in helping my members with car buying, I decided it would be a good idea for me to go out and practice what I was doing daily. I went car shopping one day and ended up driving home with a new car. Buying a new car was my first step to changing my

life.
I knew that I would have to learn responsibility with having a new car and managing my finances. After paying down my car and continuing to save money I was finally able to begin looking for places to move out on my own. I speak to members on a daily basis who have the same goals I have. After having a falling out with a family member at home, I knew I just had to get out on my own and have my space to do what I wanted to do. I spent a full day trying to find places and finally found a place near the area I enjoy going to the only downfall was I had to wait almost a month before I was able to get into my apartment. I decided to take the unit, it gave me something to look forward to, and I was able to be even more prepared. It was an odd feeling when I looked forward to going to work, and I would find ways to be gone all weekend so that I did not have to be at home. I knew that with the knowledge I gained from my daily job.
Finally, with my new found freedom and responsibility, I also had more time to do things I wanted to do.

After being on my own for a year, I decided I wanted to go back to school. At first, I chose to start getting a certification in insurance. It was a self-study program, and I had to grasp the information then take a standardized proctored exam. I began one course and gave myself a year to study it and take the exam after being unsuccessful; I went back to the drawing board. Six months later, I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I then began looking at my benefits package at work, and I started asking my coworkers what they were doing. In just asking around, I found Ashford University. Almost two years after being on my own and making the decision to return to school, I finally found Ashford University, I applied around Thanksgiving and began at the beginning of

2017.
If someone would have told me the day I started my job with USAA, it was the first day of the rest of my life; I would not have believed it. In the time I have been with this company, I have gained a lot of knowledge, and I have grown a lot. If it were not for my employer, I know I would not be where I am today, I know I would not have my car, be in my apartment or be enrolled at Ashford University.