Rosemarie Withee

Sixteen years ago I moved from the Philippines to the US because I got married to a US Citizen. Our lives would have been very different if not because of the kindness of the immigration officer. I had a valid tourist visa but not a spouse visa. I was given six months to get my paperwork squared away which I did. After marking my 1 year as resident of SF, I decided to go take my MA in Economics. I went to SFSU which made my education very affordable. Earning the degree made a difference in getting my foot in the door for job interviews. After graduate school my husband and I moved to Boston. My first job was a temp and I couldn’t be happier having a job. Soon enough I got to be a full time employee with the same team I worked as a temp for. Despite my lack of work experience the people I worked for vouched for me and I got the job. I left the job in 2008 and up to this day I keep in touch with my former bosses. In 2008 as the economy went to a meltdown my husband and I decided to move west to Seattle. Despite only having worked for two years with the Boston team, the director of the group helped me get a job in Seattle. I am very grateful that in the early years of me moving here was met with kindness. Looking back without the help of family, friends and strangers it would have been a difficult transition.

learning

Failure is an option.

photography