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5 Powerful, Real-Life Reasons to Work with Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
The average person may be motivated by a paycheck, benefits and a nice corner office — but Planned Parenthood team members are far from average. Our employees are motivated by the difference they make in the lives of the people they touch, the community they serve and the world they’re helping to improve. At Planned Parenthood, you get the best of all worlds- competitive pay, comprehensive benefits AND a chance to work towards the greater good.
Read on for 5 real stories from real women whose lives were touched by people like you. These women come from all walks of life — but who were all touched by the care, understanding and expertise they received from Planned Parenthood, regardless of the circumstances they faced.
Stephanie
When I was 19, my boyfriend and I went to Colombia together. While we were there, I found out I was pregnant. Abortion is illegal in Colombia. I felt isolated, afraid, and alone. I didn’t know who to turn to or where to go. The only thing I knew is that I was not ready to bring a child into this world. Unlike women in Colombia, I was able to return to the U.S. and make arrangements for an abortion.
I became aware that politicians are trying to take away our bodily autonomy and our rights. The barriers we have here, especially for low-income women, are horrible. And for all women, there’s a stigma with abortion. When you get an abortion, people try to make you feel like you’re a bad person.
Back at college, I became involved with a campus group called Voices for Planned Parenthood, which was amazing. For the first time, I felt people were not judging me, that they were actually listening to me, that they were there for me.
Read Stephanie’s full story here.
Shireen
I choose Planned Parenthood as my sexual and reproductive health provider because it’s a nonjudgmental space. It is filled with doctors and staff members who really care.
I was raised by two immigrant parents who were busy ensuring that my sister and I had food on the table, went to school, and stayed safe. They didn’t have the tools to explain to us about safe sex and birth control and sexual health. But my sister and I knew that we had to keep ourselves safe, so we turned to Planned Parenthood for education.
Read Shireen’s full story here.
Shannon
Planned Parenthood was the only provider that took my endometriosis seriously. If it weren’t for Planned Parenthood, I wouldn’t have been able to have a child.
When I was a teenager, I experienced unbearable menstrual pain. I read a magazine article about endometriosis and realized that I had every single symptom on the checklist.
My health care provider said I was too young to have endometriosis, and he told me that what I was experiencing was normal. But I knew something was seriously wrong. When I was 18, I decided to visit a Planned Parenthood health center, and my provider there confirmed that indeed I was suffering from endometriosis. It was the first time I was taken seriously. The provider was really concerned about my welfare and how I was doing and that just made me feel great. It made all the difference in the world.
Read Shannon’s full story here.
Colleen
If I hadn’t gone to Planned Parenthood, I would not have gotten my diagnosis of stage two breast cancer. I might not even be here today.
Eleven years ago, when I was 27, I was in between jobs with no health insurance. That’s when I discovered a lump in my breast through a self-exam. I didn’t have enough savings to go to a private doctor, so I figured I would just ignore the lump.
But then I remembered about Planned Parenthood. I called my local health center and went in for an appointment. I was diagnosed with invasive stage 2 breast cancer. I was surprised to hear the news, but Planned Parenthood was reassuring. They told me, “Don’t worry; you have options.” I went through chemotherapy, radiation, a lumpectomy, and five years of hormone treatment.
Read Colleen’’s full story here.
Shawanna
At age 17, I became pregnant. I went to Planned Parenthood, and the staff confirmed my pregnancy. They took care of me. They were extremely compassionate and informative. They explained the different options that were available: I could carry the pregnancy to term and keep the baby; I could give up the baby for adoption; or I could have an abortion.
I decided to terminate the pregnancy because it was the best option for me at the time. Planned Parenthood helped me get funding for the procedure.
My life is better because of my decision. I got to finish high school, and I became a certified nurse assistant. I decided to apply to work at Planned Parenthood because going there as a patient made me want to help other women the way they helped me, and I ended up working there for four and a half years.
Read Shawanna’s full story here.
To learn more about careers with Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and to explore opportunities that might be right for you, please visit us.