Sometimes, a big career move doesn’t start with a promotion. They start with the courage to leave. A few months ago, 26-year-old Zoe De La Paz was working as a designer at an architectural firm in Chicago. Today, he spends his days designing uniforms in Yellowstone National Park, surrounded by mountains instead of offices. The job switch may seem counterintuitive, but for De La Paz, it’s a deliberate step toward a bigger dream, working in the costume and costume departments of Broadway and film producers in New York City.Speaking to CNBC, De La Paz said the decision to leave corporate security was driven by a desire to pursue a passion he had quietly nurtured since high school. What started as a hobby using a sewing machine has now become a task that was once believed to be impossible.
He didn’t wait for an opportunity, he chased it.
De La Paz’s story didn’t begin with a resignation letter or well-crafted plans. It started with fun.She first learned to sew in high school because she enjoyed it. But when a man grew up, things started to change. He earned a college degree, accepted a job at a company and, like many young professionals, abandoned his artistic ambitions.But the dream didn’t really end. According to CNBC, he began spending his evenings and weekends working odd jobs in music clubs in Chicago. He sold tickets, managed the cafeteria, and stocked many of the visiting artists’ rooms, not because the jobs were well-paying, but because they brought him close to the people who worked behind the curtain.“I knew that if I wanted to be in clothing, I had to find a way to be in the same room as people in clothing,” De La Paz told CNBC. That attitude eventually paid off.
The towel that changed everything
The win came at The Weeknd’s concert in Detroit. While working as a caterer, De La Paz heard someone from a tour group say they were looking for a tailor when the job came to Chicago. Without thinking too much, she wrote her phone number on a napkin and handed it over.That casual conversation turned out to be her first clothing support job. Looking back, De La Paz told CNBC it seems like an opportunity, but not the kind that just falls into someone’s lap.“It was great because I was there and at that time,” he said. “You can create opportunities in your life.”It’s a simple concept, but one that permeates everything he creates. Instead of waiting for an opportunity to present itself, he deliberately placed himself in a position where opportunities would appear.
Choosing uncertainty over comfort
At the beginning of this year, De La Paz realized that he was ready to leave his job. “It was scary to quit my job and chase my dreams, and do what adults tell you, ‘don’t do that,'” he told CNBC.Instead of looking for another office job, he recalled visiting a friend who had worked as a weatherman at Yellowstone National Park. Inspired by her experience, she found an internship with Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which manages hospitality operations within the park. He applied, got a phone interview and got a job.
More than fixing uniforms
Today, his job involves keeping uniforms in the workplace for thousands of Yellowstone workers. Buttons need to be replaced, zippers break, patches come loose, and clothes need mending all the time.But responsibility also requires skill. According to CNBC, damaged uniforms and old equipment are often turned into new items instead of being thrown away.Jeanne Holmes, a retired teacher and fellow seamstress who helped recruit De La Paz, told CNBC that the young applicant was noted for her creativity and imagination.“He had a great attitude,” Holmes said on CNBC, adding that the work De La Paz shared during the hiring process showed imagination and problem solving, qualities that are just as important as technical skills.
A different measure of success
On paper, De La Paz earns less than he did in Chicago. He now makes $19.25 an hour, with subsidized housing and meals provided by his employer.However, he told CNBC that he is able to save more money because his daily expenses have dropped significantly.Most importantly, his life outside of work has changed dramatically. Instead of hitting the road, he spends his free time hiking, horseback riding, and visiting America’s most famous zoos.The trade-off, he says, has been worth it.
The dream is not over yet
Yellowstone wasn’t meant to be last. De La Paz plans to stay until the end of the season before taking the next step to theater and film in New York City. For someone who once believed he had given up on his creative ambitions, that goal no longer seems far-fetched.Reflecting on how his life has changed dramatically, he told CNBC that two years ago, sitting at his corporate desk, he couldn’t imagine his future.The story is less about sewing than criticism. It’s a reminder that careers are never the same, and that sometimes the bravest decision isn’t chasing certainty, but choosing a career that makes you feel alive.