Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Herman.
Hi Gabrielle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in West Virginia, completing four years at West Virginia University in May of 2018. By the end of June 2018, I packed up my things and moved across the country to California. At the time, I was dating my boyfriend of four years and we started to build a life out in CA. I moved out to CA on my own dime with no job lined up. I spent a month searching for something and was offered a Personal Trainer position at LA Fitness while going in to get a membership. I went through my certification and started work by August. After six months, I decided to move on and utilize my degree in Graphic Design and started work as a junior designer. I moved up in my career, getting a better-paying job, but found myself extremely unhappy. In June of 2021, I hit my mental rock bottom. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, primarily stemming from moving away from my friends and family. I quit my job with no backup plan, left my relationship of nearly seven years, and spent the next few weeks just trying to survive. I found myself back at the gym, this time UFC Gym, asking to be a trainer. I was given the job on the spot and truly believed that saved me. While my first few months working were hard, I had panic attacks nearly daily, being in an environment I loved helped keep me happy and healthy. Sometimes I forget how far I’ve come over the past nine months, but when members tell me I’m a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, it helps put things in perspective. Now I do something I love every single day, get to interact with all kinds of people, and get more fulfillment than I ever thought possible from a job.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Moving across the country on my own dime was just the beginning of the struggles that I would face. I spent $8,000 of the $12,000 I had saved to move and get everything I needed. Then I only had enough money for four months before I’d be broke. Even now, I’ve never caught up financially. I still don’t have anything in savings. Trying to find what makes me happy was more important than making money fast. Then hitting rock bottom last year only added more pressure on me as I quit my job with no backup. It was sink or swim and I’ll be damned if I drown.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While coaching at the UFC gym is my primary focus, I’m still a creative at heart. I went to school for Graphic Design and grew up painting and drawing. In 2020, I started getting into modeling and have made that a hobby I can also get paid doing. On top of all of that, my biggest reason for wanting to move to CA was to learn Special Effects FX Makeup. That’s been my dream job since I was in high school and I would love the chance to take classes and expand my knowledge.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My family first and foremost. When I had my breakdown, I told my parents I needed to come home and was back in WV within 48 hours, no questions asked. Then when it came time to switching careers, Jeff Morgan (my boss at UFC) interviewed me and saw something in me I didn’t see at the time. He has been a great source of inspiration and someone I can look up to and go to whenever I’m feeling lost or unmotivated.
Contact Info:
- Website: gabrielleeffects.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blonde_booty21/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTtvFmfHu2IrMEbglJIPfXg
Image Credits
Billy Brown (b&w photo) Wil Ferror (alien sweater)
