Life & Work with Jaela Coleman of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaela Coleman

Hi Jaela, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From my early childhood years into leaving for college most of my life, I lived in a city within the Inland Empire with my family. Growing up, I was super independent and because I was also the first born, I always looked out and wanted to be that role model for my siblings and also be able to make my parents proud of how far I’ve come. The bond that I share with my family is irreplaceable and we will always be super close and they will always come first in my life. My childhood was really fun as I was always surrounded by family whether that be my “nucleus” (immediate family) or other extended family members. Anytime with family was the best time, we always played games like Taboo, Pictionary, Uno. Much of my life has been spent laughing, learning and living and I’m happy to have had the good memories.

Entering my somewhat adulthood stage, I wanted to have a way to provide for myself so that I didn’t have to bother my parents. I’ve always had this steadfast mindset that I want to help and be able to return the favor, especially to those who raised me become who I am today. I have the utmost respect for my parents raising me and my siblings. I’m very grateful to have parents who did anything they could to make us happy and live in a safe environment. Having that mindset of wanting to help and give back, I wanted to provide for them as well so as soon as I turned of age to get a job, I worked so hard to get one. My first job was at Jack-in-the-Box. I was so excited that I got the job. I even still have a picture of it. I was so happy to get a free meal, have a uniform and get my non-slip shoes. My mom took me to work because I didn’t have a car, but it was really fun for the first month until I quit. My manager basically had me as an on-call employee which wasn’t promised in the interview and at a very young age of 16 I didn’t want to be taken advantage of especially by a job. Not long after I quit, a new WaBa Grill was built by my house and it was about, I would say a 30 minute walk to every shift, but I walked there whether it was rain or shine and my mom picked me up whenever I worked night shifts. I wanted to be independent and have my own money. I eventually saved up to buy my own MacBook, and was able to pay for my own subscriptions etc. I worked there for 2 years until I made up my mind that I wanted to go to college.

I graduated from high school in the year of 2019 and in August, I was to attend California State University of Long Beach hoping to major in Interior Design to get my BFA. Living about 1-2 hours away from campus, and with no car, during my freshman year, I had decided to live on campus in the dorms with my best friend at the time. It was a new experience living by myself for the first time and now taking college courses at the same time it was a big change. Before fully moving into the dorms, I knew I was going to need to be able to provide for myself now that I was going to be living on my own. I applied to many on campus jobs, and sure enough I was able to start working at the dining hall for my dorms (Parkside). I started my first day of classes and new job at the dining hall that fall of 2019. Time living in the dorms was super interesting to say the least… I made connections with some super cool people. I also learned how to live with the difficult parts of living in a shared communal space (toilets, showers, bathroom in general) with 30+ other people. Winter break came up quick in December and coming back to finish the Spring semester felt more manageable given completing the first semester ending on a high note. On Tuesday March 17th, 2020 everything changed.. not just for me but for the whole world. I had gotten an email about COVID-19, it was essentially telling us we were going to have to “social distance” and have classes virtually until further notice. The university tried this for the first few days, but unfortunately shortly after, they had to evacuate everyone living in the dorms. For me I was fortunate to live back at my family’s home but the situation definitely put a major wrench in my plans that I had set up for myself and my future and success. Due to me being laid off, I was able to receive unemployment benefits and was able to use this to my advantage and got myself a car (with the help of my mom of course; she helped split the cost which I’m still so grateful that she did this for me).

As the world was somewhat beginning to be a little bit of normalcy, I was able to ease back into the real world and work as a delivery driver for UberEats which was fun and got me more comfortable with driving and being able to talk to all different types of people. My sister rode along with me for most rides and it was a fun bonding moment that I will truly always cherish. Getting back on my feet, I got a retail job at Ross in my hometown which I only stayed a month until I found myself looking for roommates to live in Long Beach. Late fall of 2021, there was talk of classes possibly going back in person or at least attempting to be hybrid. Me wanting to be prepared at all times started to think of my next moves. I was going to find roommates and live in an apartment close to campus so I could continue going to school to get my degree. I was able to transfer within the Ross company to another location closer to where my first apartment would be. Long story short, I moved in with 3 other girls who turned out to not be how I thought they’d be.. As the youngest out of my roommates, I really wanted to get along with them and just have genuine friends. There were miscommunications and immaturity that made living there toxic. Without going into too much detail, a major incident occurred between us as roommates and I had to fight to get off of the lease because of it. I was in a case for this incident for about two years and it completely changed me as a person. Having to quit my job and move back with my family for a second time, I felt truly defeated and so depressed that my life was turning out the way it was. It took me a long time to get out of the darkness that surrounded my head. I struggled hard in school after and it was hard for me to concentrate and retain valuable information. I still tried my hardest to keep being resilient and keep going no matter what obstacle was thrown my way.

I was able to get another job during the seasonal holiday season in 2021 at Bath and Body Works in my hometown. I had a lot of fun working there and was fortunate they kept me past the seasonal window until March of 2022. It didn’t take long for me to keep thinking that I wanted more, more hours, more money. I was determined to live back to Long Beach to finish what I started in 2019. I commuted to and from school living with my family about 1-2 hours away for about 1-2 years. I got a full time job at a Four Points by Sheraton in my hometown which provided me with my first bigger checks. Living with my parents, they didn’t require me to but I helped them with rent or things we needed around the house, this helped me save up for an opportunity to potentially move into an apartment in Long Beach again. Knowing two friends from my hometown that also moved to Long Beach, I was able to slowly move in and eventually live with them. I turned the living room into my room; and even paid them rent for the area, just to secure my spot. It seemed crazy to do at first but it was the only option I had at the time and it did serve me well for the time I had lived with them. They were and still are so open, kind hearted, caring people and ironically, they actually were there for me shortly after the incident with my roommates happened. I will never forget the support I received from them during one of the craziest times in my life.

Life started to look better for me. I got news that I finally got accepted into the BFA Junior Studio that April of 2022 and shortly after I also joined my sorority called Lambda Sigma Gamma Inc. which helped my trust issues lift and provide me with the true meaning of sisterhood. I learned so much professionally and personally being so involved in my first year of joining. I’m grateful for my sisters being in my life till this day and they hold a great spot in my heart. I got to even create a logo for the Multicultural Fraternity Sorority Council for my school! (It is still in use today!) I was getting the hang of school again but financially, I wasn’t doing too well and actually had trouble finding a job after leaving my hotel job. At the end of 2022, I had gotten in an accident on my way back home on the freeway on a rainy night ride home. This was my first real big accident and it was a hit and run. Luckily, I didn’t get hurt at all physically but mentally I was shaken up for quite a while as this was my first big accident, and had trouble riding in cars after then. I remember being hit and having all the impact be on my driver’s side and spinning from the far left lane all the way to the right shoulder. Luckily I had some bystanders who helped me get off the freeway but it was terrifying. I was alone and remember calling my parents for help. We had AAA so I was able to be taken back to my home in Long Beach. I was able to still drive the car for street sweeping but then it got towed. I’m still convinced that someone reported it because it was an eyesore to the street I had parked on but because I couldn’t afford to get it back out for the amount they wanted, I had to let my car go. After looking everywhere in Long Beach for a job, I finally was able to be a hostess for Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at the beginning of 2023. It was part time and didn’t have that many hours so I began to job hunt again when my sorority sister let me know about job openings for the front desk of the hotel at The Queen Mary (she had worked there before COVID-19 and was going to be working there too). In May, the ship was to reopen to the public. I immediately jumped on the opportunity, had an interview and luckily got the job which I quit Bubba Gump the last week of April and instantly the next few days started at The Queen Mary. Leaving Bubba Gump was bitter sweet but I met my other half there so I’m grateful to have crossed paths with him there. I was so excited to have this full time job at The Queen Mary, never knowing it existed before working there.

The first day of working, ANOTHER wrench came into my plans. I started to wonder if I was cursed. My roommates and I were given a week’s notice to move out due to some discrepancies with the landlord and them prior to me moving in. Trying to secure a place without going through the proper channels of being on a lease, I had no choice but to move out or try to apply with new tenants. I tried but the landlord only made it harder for me and the applicants to apply to stay. Forced to move, my family came from home to help me move and get myself a storage unit (this would be the 3rd time having to do this). I was so tired and exhausted of having to move and overall becoming super anxious and unstable. Luckily the same sorority sister who helped me get the job, let me stay with her for a few weeks until I was able to get help from school with my housing insecurity. I stayed at the dorms for a bit for an emergency situation and then stayed with my now boyfriend for a few weeks until I moved into another apartment in the summer with new roommates.

Most of my life, I felt like I worked a big majority of it, and never really could dedicate my sole attention onto what my passion is, which is design. I forgot to mention that through all of this time and work I still was in school, and it was really rough, balancing both of the two life things. There was a time when I had to decide to take a gap year because I needed to focus on how I was gonna be able to pay for rent. It sucked having to focus on life and taking a step back from my passion however, I had to do what I had to do. I did eventually go back taking classes and within my first semester back at school it was really a hard transition going back into the routine of school. Picking up where I left about my passion (design), there were so many roadblocks in my path, such as the car accident, the one week notice to move out, having to find a stable enough job to pay rent, and still dealing with the case that had started in 2021 with the incident that happened with my roommate. I have never felt this much pressure in my life before.

All of these major life events definitely have evolved me into the person that I am today. As I’m trying to recall important specific details and days of my academic journey there are some areas that I simply can’t remember. When I originally had attended Cal State Long Beach in 2019, I was supposed to graduate in the year 2024, but things got difficult so I decided to do a five year path which at first I was upset about but after didn’t bother me as much, I came to terms that I was still going to get my degree. Jumping back into the second half of my first year of being in the junior studio, it was very intimidating as I had to meet a whole new cohort of the BFA program. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and I was really happy that they were really nice to me. Due to all the traumatic events that have happened in my life, my trust level severely decreased, and it was hard for me to trust and open up to people fully. I also went through a long time of identity crisis, I wasn’t sure if this was all that I was supposed to do in life, and I started questioning my self identity. With all the pressures of school this was something that occurred frequently for me as a student but, with so many assignments at the same time while having to maintain rent and maintaining eating and health and all of it, I considered dropping out or possibly switching my major. Mind you I was a full semester and a half away from graduating with my BFA in interior design. After getting a taste of how it was to be back in junior studio. In my last half of the semester, I was questioning all the time, whether or not I would be able to mentally be able to do what I needed for next year, my senior year. There were always fear of the last year and at first I was confident in myself that I would possibly be able to do it (of course it would be challenging) but with all the things that have happened in my life, I didn’t feel healed enough to battle with a degree as rigorous as BFA in interior design. In the summer of 2024 I made a decision to take the route of getting my degree in BA design.

Choosing to switch my major one year away from graduating was a really hard decision for me, however, I felt confident in myself that I can still make a name for myself and enjoy doing what I wanna do which is to help people and design. I loved learning everything in my interior design classes, and I’m grateful to always have that knowledge within me. It was scary to kind of restart in a way, but this being my last semester of college, I adapted to other design techniques that have helped me become the strong woman, daughter, sister, girlfriend, friend, persona and ultimately designer I am today.

I have been through so much at such an early age, but I feel like it definitely for a reason. I come from a family of strong people (my immediate family, my grandparents, my ancestors) and I am determined to make change in this world: to spread kindness and love. I will continue to stay resilient, educated, kind, intelligent, organized until the day I die.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There has been alot of struggles along the way!

I graduated from high school in the year of 2019 and in August, I was to attend California State University of Long Beach hoping to major in Interior Design to get my BFA. Living about 1-2 hours away from campus, and with no car, during my freshman year, I had decided to live on campus in the dorms with my best friend at the time. It was a new experience living by myself for the first time and now taking college courses at the same time it was a big change. Before fully moving into the dorms, I knew I was going to need to be able to provide for myself now that I was going to be living on my own. I applied to many on campus jobs, and sure enough I was able to start working at the dining hall for my dorms (Parkside). I started my first day of classes and new job at the dining hall that fall of 2019. Time living in the dorms was super interesting to say the least… I made connections with some super cool people. I also learned how to live with the difficult parts of living in a shared communal space (toilets, showers, bathroom in general) with 30+ other people. Winter break came up quick in December and coming back to finish the Spring semester felt more manageable given completing the first semester ending on a high note. On Tuesday March 17th, 2020 everything changed.. not just for me but for the whole world. I had gotten an email about COVID-19, it was essentially telling us we were going to have to “social distance” and have classes virtually until further notice. The university tried this for the first few days, but unfortunately shortly after, they had to evacuate everyone living in the dorms.

Late fall of 2021, there was talk of classes possibly going back in person or at least attempting to be hybrid. Me wanting to be prepared at all times started to think of my next moves. I was going to find roommates and live in an apartment close to campus so I could continue going to school to get my degree. I was able to transfer within the Ross company to another location closer to where my first apartment would be. Long story short, I moved in with 3 other girls who turned out to not be how I thought they’d be.. As the youngest out of my roommates, I really wanted to get along with them and just have genuine friends. There were miscommunications and immaturity that made living there toxic. Without going into too much detail, a major incident occurred between us as roommates and I had to fight to get off of the lease because of it. I was in a case for this incident for about two years and it completely changed me as a person. Having to quit my job and move back with my family for a second time, I felt truly defeated and so depressed that my life was turning out the way it was. It took me a long time to get out of the darkness that surrounded my head. I struggled hard in school after and it was hard for me to concentrate and retain valuable information. I still tried my hardest to keep being resilient and keep going no matter what obstacle was thrown my way.

At the end of 2022, I had gotten in an accident on my way back home on the freeway on a rainy night ride home. This was my first real big accident and it was a hit and run. Luckily, I didn’t get hurt at all physically but mentally I was shaken up for quite a while as this was my first big accident, and had trouble riding in cars after then. I remember being hit and having all the impact be on my driver’s side and spinning from the far left lane all the way to the right shoulder. Luckily I had some bystanders who helped me get off the freeway but it was terrifying. I was alone and remember calling my parents for help. We had AAA so I was able to be taken back to my home in Long Beach. I was able to still drive the car for street sweeping but then it got towed. I’m still convinced that someone reported it because it was an eyesore to the street I had parked on but because I couldn’t afford to get it back out for the amount they wanted, I had to let my car go.

The first day of working, ANOTHER wrench came into my plans. I started to wonder if I was cursed. My roommates and I were given a week’s notice to move out due to some discrepancies with the landlord and them prior to me moving in. Trying to secure a place without going through the proper channels of being on a lease, I had no choice but to move out or try to apply with new tenants. I tried but the landlord only made it harder for me and the applicants to apply to stay. Forced to move, my family came from home to help me move and get myself a storage unit (this would be the 3rd time having to do this). I was so tired and exhausted of having to move and overall becoming super anxious and unstable. Luckily the same sorority sister who helped me get the job, let me stay with her for a few weeks until I was able to get help from school with my housing insecurity. I stayed at the dorms for a bit for an emergency situation and then stayed with my now boyfriend for a few weeks until I moved into another apartment in the summer with new roommates.

Due to all the traumatic events that have happened in my life, my trust level severely decreased, and it was hard for me to trust and open up to people fully. I also went through a long time of identity crisis, I wasn’t sure if this was all that I was supposed to do in life, and I started questioning my self identity. With all the pressures of school this was something that occurred frequently for me as a student but, with so many assignments at the same time while having to maintain rent and maintaining eating and health and all of it, I considered dropping out or possibly switching my major. Mind you I was a full semester and a half away from graduating with my BFA in interior design. After getting a taste of how it was to be back in junior studio. In my last half of the semester, I was questioning all the time, whether or not I would be able to mentally be able to do what I needed for next year, my senior year. There were always fear of the last year and at first I was confident in myself that I would possibly be able to do it (of course it would be challenging) but with all the things that have happened in my life, I didn’t feel healed enough to battle with a degree as rigorous as BFA in interior design. In the summer of 2024 I made a decision to take the route of getting my degree in BA design.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a digital artist/designer that mainly uses traditional drawing techniques with a twist by using different technologies to my advantage such as editing apps in Adobe Creative Cloud, Procreate, and much more. I compile images, edit, draw, and make them into digital art. My art is influenced mainly by relating to people, diversity, and finding genuine connections shown through abstract designs that allow me to express myself or for others. I use vibrant colors, abstract yet simple designs and resilience become the framework for art that is made to be for everyone. Currently I am most proud of my two artworks that I’ve made for other people. The first artwork that I made for someone was in 2022, a logo for the Multicultural Fraternity and Sorority Council. It is still in use today which makes me so happy and proud. I recently drew another logo for a friend of mine at work who is planning a film festival in Long Beach, California. They are called the Long Beach Underground Film Festival. Initially, I submitted a logo to help out my friend and have more awareness of her event but shortly after she let me know that her partners really liked my design and wanted to use it on their merchandise. I recently got an email containing a contract from them so I can profit off of my design. I am so happy and proud of myself for expressing my creativity and attempting different styles I’ve never tried before ! What sets me apart from others is that I’m a really, really, really hard worker and I make sure I’m doing everything in my power to show love and kindness at the end of the day, no matter how hard life gets I don’t give up. There might be times when I do think about giving up and it’s really hard for me to get out of that mindset but when I take a step back and think about why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m doing it to all make a change and I won’t stop until I do so.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
A quality that I feel is most important to my success is my optimism, resilience, and love. There are a lot of different characteristics about myself that I feel are equally important but if I can sum it down to two, it would be those. I feel this way because my entire life I’ve always been resilient. When situations are bad I try my best to make a situation better or make something out of nothing. I feel that has been my biggest drive in continuing with myself to grow as a person and just be better. I feel my optimism is very essential in my life as well because without being happy it’s very hard for me to get out of that mindset. Being optimistic also helps other people be kinder to each other. The last quality that I feel is most important to my success is love because without love there is no real motive to do what a person wants to do in life. For me, because I do want to help people, love is the main motive that fuels my passion for what I do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleaj.designs/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaelacoleman
• Other: https://linktr.ee/aleaj.designs

Image Credits
Jaela Coleman (myself)