As we discussed this assignment during class, I knew I wanted to interview my mother, Theresa Cooke. My mom was the first in my family to break the mold and have a career before settling down. She is my inspiration, best friend, and source of guidance throughout my life as I make my career decisions. I haven’t grown up with stories of my mom’s “college experience” days like most of my friends have, but the stories from her career as an executive at Bloomingdales have given me a unique perspective on women in the workforce. While my mom did not have the resources to get a college education, her perseverance and success inspire me daily. I am honored to be the first woman in my family to earn a college degree and work hard to live up to the new precedent my mom set within my family.