(2) Career Growth & Transitions: Finding Her Voice

 

Career Growth & Transitions: Finding Her Voice

This part of Cee Cee’s journey is about the middle—the time when life was changing quickly. She was starting school, managing family responsibilities, and figuring out what kind of work really mattered to her. These years were full of transition and growth.

Cee Cee:
“My first two years of college were a big time of change. I came in focused on becoming a teacher because that’s what I grew up with. My mom was a teacher, and it always seemed like the natural direction for me. But even then, I had an interest in social work. I thought a lot about becoming a probation officer and working with youth.”

Cee Cee eventually transferred to Weber State University and applied to their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. That decision shifted everything. She was accepted and began doing hands-on work in juvenile probation, while also managing her new marriage and working small jobs. She worked at group homes and other programs that gave her direct experience supporting teens, especially those from minority backgrounds.

“Those jobs helped me understand the impact of systems on people,” she said. “Living in Utah, I saw how minority teens were treated and how difficult it was for them to get the support they needed. I had grown up in California, where I was around more diversity, so this contrast stood out to me. I felt like the teens trusted me, and I saw that I could make a difference.”

That experience led Cee Cee to consider becoming a therapist. After finishing her bachelor’s degree, she applied to the Master of Social Work program at BYU. Around the same time, she became pregnant and experienced a difficult pregnancy that delayed her plans. Despite the challenges, she continued to work toward her goals and eventually started the program.

“I got an internship at LDS Social Services, and during that time I saw how therapy could make a difference not only for individuals but for families. It showed me how important it is to support people who are struggling—especially those who are often overlooked or ignored.”

These middle years helped Cee Cee discover her path. It wasn’t a straight line, but each experience brought her closer to work that felt meaningful and necessary. She moved from thinking about a job to committing to a profession that allowed her to support and advocate for others.

(3) Insights & Advice: A Life of Purpose and Perspective

 Insights & Advice: A Life of Purpose and Perspective

Getting accepted into BYU’s Master of Social Work program brought another major change for Cee Cee and her family. They moved from Ogden to Provo—a significant shift for their small but growing household. During graduate school, Cee Cee gained practical experience working at both Wasatch Mental Health and LDS Family Services. But with more children being born, she eventually found herself stepping away from paid work to focus on being a full-time mom.

After the birth of her fourth child, she returned to the professional world—this time combining her passions for teaching and social work. She began teaching in the Social Work Department at BYU, where she could mentor future social workers and share her lived experience.

Cee Cee’s influence stretched beyond her students. She introduced me to the concept of intersectionality and helped me recognize how my own privileged upbringing shaped my worldview. Her ability to explain the needs of marginalized communities changed the way I saw things. Through our conversations, I began to understand the role of advocacy in education and social justice. Today, in my own professional roles, I carry forward Cee Cee’s insights—especially when working with students affected by poverty, discrimination, and systemic barriers.

Cee Cee’s journey continued to evolve. After moving back to California, she became the assistant girls’ basketball coach at Camarillo High School, a position she held for 13 years while also coaching her own kids. During this time, she returned to school once again to earn her teaching credential in Special Education, which allowed her to become a math teacher. Her work as a coach and teacher reflects her lifelong commitment to helping youth reach their potential.

What drives Cee Cee is her deep belief in the importance of having a meaningful career. As the daughter of immigrants, she understands the challenges that many students face—and the effort it takes to overcome them. She’s passed this determination on to her children and to every student she works with: do what you can, work hard, and always aim to make a difference. 

Finally, Cee Cee says that being a good teacher has made her a good therapist and looking back, it's all worked together for good. 

(1) Evolution and Professions

 

Cee Cee Weight: Origins and Inspirations

I met my best friend, Cee Cee, in college 30 years ago. We were both attending a church school in a small Idaho town, but Cee Cee stood out. She was Filipino and one of the few people of color in our college community. I had grown up in Denver, Colorado, in a place with little diversity, and my life followed a very traditional path. I married into a large Mormon family where the expectations for women were clear: stay home, raise children, and support the family. Graduating from college was encouraged, but a career was never something I seriously considered. I never imagined having a job.

Meeting Cee Cee changed everything. Even while I was still in my marriage and not working, she opened my eyes to a different way of thinking and living. After my divorce, which ended an 18-year marriage, I felt completely lost. I had no work experience and no idea how to support myself. The idea of having a career was overwhelming—it had never been part of how I was raised. But Cee Cee and her mom were always there for me. They constantly offered encouragement and ideas, even when I didn’t believe in myself. One night, during a conversation with them, I realized I could go back to school. That moment led me to enroll in a master’s program in Special Education—one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made.

Cee Cee isn’t in the communications field, but she and her story are the reason I’ve been able to work and rebuild my life. Her mom came to the U.S. from the Philippines with very few options, but she was educated and never questioned whether she would work. She passed that mindset on to Cee Cee, and Cee Cee passed it on to me. Their influence helped me find a new path—one built on work, growth, and self-reliance. I’m grateful every day for their inspiration and the deep friendship that helped me start over.

I asked Cee Cee to reflect on three stages of her career, starting with the beginning—when she first started thinking about having a career and what shaped that early thinking.

Cee Cee's thoughts~
"I started thinking about a career when I was young. My parents were immigrants, and my mom was educated. That education opened doors for her when she came to the U.S. in the late 1960s. Growing up, she always emphasized the importance of education and having a fulfilling career.

Because my mom was a teacher, that was the first career I ever saw modeled. From an early age, she would tell me, "You need to be a teacher, you need to be a teacher." Her voice really stayed with me and I began to imagine myself in that role. This goal and the idea that I could be successful compelled me to pursue a bachelors degree after graduating from high school and formed the foundation of my college years."