NDEAM Profile: Brandy Carter – Seeking New Career in Criminal Justice

It’s never too late to change careers. For Brandy Carter, injured when she was a teenager many moons ago, she realized later in life after working for one of the biggest hotel chains in the world, that she should not have settled on her career aspirations. She is now determined to find a career she loves with her criminal justice degree. Read Carter’s employment journey for National Disability Employment Awareness Month below.

Her Life and Family Forever Changed

Carter was 16 years old when she and her family were involved in a serious car accident caused by another driver; a crash that took a lot from her family. “Another driver fell asleep behind the wheel and hit the car that myself, my mom, dad and sister were in. The accident paralyzed me and killed my sister,” she recounts. Despite such a tragic loss, Carter moved on with her life and after high school, she went to college to study criminal justice.

But Carter admits she has some regrets, reflecting on her time in college. “While I was in college, I should’ve networked more. I feel like that is a very important piece of advice while you are in school is to network because networking can lead to opportunities.”

After graduating from college, Carter was hired by Marriott International as a customer service representative. She has worked for Marriott for 24 years and works from home using a computer and a phone to complete her job duties.

Pivoting Careers

After 24 years of working for Marriott, Carter began the search for a new job. “I am looking for a new job opportunity,” she says, “as I feel that there are more options for people with disabilities besides phone work.” “I have my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and I want to see what opportunities there are for that field, or another field that would allow me to live a better quality of life. I am excited to see the options that are out there for me.”

Carter says she would like her next career however to somehow be related to her criminal justice degree in some manner. “I would love to have a paralegal career. I have always been a fan of true crime, so I figured this is something that would suit me. I know I will love this career if it’s like being a criminal defense attorney.”

She also wants others with spinal cord injuries who are reading her story to never give up on their employment dreams. “Do not settle. Go after the career you want. Do not allow other people’s limitations to become your limitations. Get out there and see what happens because you never know what doors will open.”