Supreme Spotlight: Beranda Felder
Beranda has obtained two Masters in psychology and counseling and is on track to finish her PHD in 2026. At the time of this interview, she was a post graduate from Manhattanville College working as a counselor in New York City.
Describe what your most fulfilled personal and professional life would look like?
I would have a job that’s not only financially stable but one that I truly enjoy doing. I believe that life is not only about the financial stability and you should do something that you love and are truly fulfilled in.
When and what realizations did you come to that helped you gain the personal clarity to pursue what you’re doing now?
Growing up in the environment that I did inspired me to do a job that would help others and give back to my community. As I got older I decided that I wanted to take helping others more seriously and while in college gaining work experience I realized that I didn’t want to work for someone else the rest of my life. I felt that if I was going to invest in someone else’s business then I should just invest in my own and that attitude motivated me to do what I’m doing now.
How is your current professional endeavor preparing you for the dream job you mentioned on your profile?
In my current position I work to assist and counsel people win challenging home environments. This job is definitely teaching me lifelong lessons and techniques that I’ll have to one day apply to my own business and everyday life. I’ve become extremely humble and prepared for the future in this job. I’m also learning that not everything is going to go the way I want it to but I have to work hard and learn new skills in order to get better.
What are three qualities of the three people you spend the most time with and why do you spend the most time with?
I admire my current supervisor Jasmine Gerald because she possesses a lot of qualities that I see in myself. She decided to go after her dreams at a very young age so that she’s able to live a better life when she got older. I definitely think that if you work hard now, you can live the life that you really want to in the future. I see her as a down to earth go-getter, inspiration and role model which are all traits I aspire to have. I want to inspire girls while still being down to earth and relatable just like her.
Advice on how to excel professionally while still remaining personally fulfilled?
One of the biggest keys is taking care of yourself and making time for yourself. I’d say you definitely need to enjoy college and have fun but know that when it’s time to get work done. You also need to know when it’s time to take a break and reward yourself for all the hard work you do. Most importantly if you keep striving and never give up you’ll definitely succeed, you just need to believe in yourself even when others don’t.
