From Corporate Desk to Yellowstone Seamstress: Pursuing Passion for $19.25/Hour
Zoe De La Paz, 26, used to sit at a desk in Chicago, working a corporate job. Now, she’s swapped city life for Yellowstone National Park, where she sews uniforms as a seamstress.
Honestly, it’s a gutsy move. She ditched her stable career for something that just felt right, chasing what she’d always loved instead of what she thought she was supposed to do.
Her passion for sewing started back in high school. Over the years, it shifted from a hobby to something she just couldn’t ignore.
In Chicago, De La Paz worked as a drafter for an engineering construction company. The job paid the bills, but it left her craving more creativity.
She kept sewing on the side, picking up random gigs at music venues in her free time. Those late nights let her meet people behind the scenes—folks managing wardrobe for touring shows.
One night in Detroit, while helping cater a concert for The Weeknd, she heard the tour needed a seamstress in Chicago. She didn’t hesitate. She hustled to get her info to the right people and landed the gig, fixing costumes for backup dancers.
That moment really showed her that sometimes you’ve got to make your own luck. Being in the right place and not being shy about it? It can actually work.
By January, she’d had enough of the desk job grind. Quitting wasn’t easy—everyone expects you to stick to the “safe” path—but she couldn’t shake the memory of a trip to Yellowstone, where a friend had a seasonal job.
She spotted an opening for a seamstress with Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Her sewing chops and ability to keep up in a busy setting got her hired after a phone interview.
She started working in June. It’s a full-time gig, Monday through Friday, 40 hours a week.
Her days are filled with sewing patches, fixing snaps, and swapping out buttons and zippers on uniforms for Xanterra’s staff. The pay—$19.25 an hour—isn’t what she made in Chicago, but honestly, she’s saving more now.
Living in Yellowstone means fewer expenses and way more free things to do. She’s not spending on city stuff, and the park is basically a giant playground.
She also jumps in on upcycling projects, turning worn-out uniforms into new things like fanny packs for the team. Jeanne Holmes, a retired educator and fellow seamstress, can’t help but praise Zoe’s instincts and creativity. Apparently, that spark was obvious from the start.
When she’s off the clock, De La Paz soaks up everything Yellowstone has to offer—horseback riding, hiking, you name it. The employee groups keep things lively too, always organizing free or cheap activities.
She sees this seasonal job as the first step toward her dream: working in wardrobe and costuming for Broadway, film, or other big productions in New York City. Every day, she’s building her skills and meeting new people who might open doors down the line.
Thinking back, she admits she never saw this coming. Two years ago, leaving her corporate life felt impossible. Now, she spends her days sewing in one of the most beautiful places on earth and feels like the future’s wide open.
Want to read more about Zoe De La Paz’s journey? Check out the full article on CNBC.
Key Takeaways
- Follow Your Passion: De La Paz’s story shows how important it is to chase what you love. Sometimes, that means taking a leap, even if it feels risky.
- Create Your Own Luck: You can make opportunities happen by being proactive. Putting yourself in the right place at the right time really does matter.
- Embrace Change: Moving from a corporate job into something creative can feel scary. But honestly, that kind of switch can end up being really rewarding.
- Value of Community: Working somewhere supportive, like Yellowstone, can boost your growth—both at work and in life.