by KARA SCHWEISS
Angel Starks showed both initiative and determination in abundance well before she became a realtor and successful business owner. Her career was hard-earned, she said, but has been well worth it – and her years at UNO as a first-generation student and Goodrich scholar were an important part of the journey.
“I learned a lot. I mean, it was the School of Life,” she explained. “What you experience and how you handle things in real life is what gives you the greatest lesson. I learned how to pay attention. I learned how I learned, how I listened. I learned the power of people. I engaged with lots of different organizations. I learned to stand up for myself and be able to articulate.”
Starks took UNO classes for seven years, working full-time in child care most of that time, and often working a second job or side gigs, before earning a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit administration. She also explored multiple career fields.
“I went from education to social work to gerontology to education to nonprofit administration. Spanish was in there too. I was one of those individuals who really needed to feel it in order for me to know if I was making the best decision. That meant every piece of my time that I had available, I was doing something,” she said. “I created these week- to two-week-long internships for myself. I would call and say, ‘Hey, can I donate some time? Can I shadow, do that type of thing?’ And then they would let me… it was great.”
Starks said she also worked through some academic struggles.
“If I’m being honest, there were so many times that I spoke with professors and audited a class first because I was too scared to take the class – because I didn’t want to fail it. And then I took the class for real,” she said. “There were times that I had to take a class over because work got in the way, or life got in the way, and so then I’d have to come back and start again… but I definitely didn’t burn any bridges. I always tried to create relationships with my professors or programs to make sure they understood where I was coming from and also what my end goal was.”
Real estate proved to be at the intersection of Starks’ interests, talents and education. She earned her license in 2011 and is now part of a of Nebraska Realty team of women, Locale Real Estate Services. She’s served in several state-level leadership positions with the Women’s Council of REALTORS®. Starks is starting a real estate school and her future aspirations include earning a master’s degree in educational psychology. Additionally, she’s served several local nonprofit boards including Habitat for Humanity, YMCA and the American Diabetes Association. In 2018, she received UNO’s Young Alumni Award. The tough times are behind her, but as a person who values experience, Starks said there is an upside to adversity.
“It shows you and reminds you of your strength and your ability,” she said. “You don’t know how far and how hard you’re able to go without being tested.”
