Nicole Jurado, Miami University, Class of ‘24
by Josh Battle
The reasons people set out on the Camino de Santiago are as varied as the pilgrims themselves. Mile after mile, each traveler walks with a purpose: to explore centuries of history, admire ancient architecture, embark on a journey of self-discovery, or find a sense of community. For many, it’s a spiritual pilgrimage, a step of faith in search of a deeper connection with the divine.
Nicole was one of them — walking not just toward a destination but toward answers.
In August 2024, Nicole found herself at a metaphorical crossroads. Having recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University with a B.A. in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, she set out on the trail with more than just a full backpack. She was carrying the weight of a life-defining question.
“The main thing I gained from walking the Camino was time to pause, reflect, and ask ‘What is my purpose?'” she said. “I realized my life was following the expectations of others and not my own. I was questioning my identity and calling.”
Through her journey, the answers would come. Her time on the Camino revealed clarity, reignited passion, and offered a renewed sense of direction. For Nicole, her Camino trek was more than a physical journey — it became a metaphor for choosing purpose over expectation.
A Pause Before the Hustle
After graduation, Nicole looked forward to spending a few weeks abroad before starting a corporate sales job in Chicago. Everything seemed perfectly aligned on paper. She had graduated with honors, landed a promising position at a high-profile company, and secured an apartment in the city. But beneath the surface, Nicole felt a growing tension.
“I knew in my heart that I had settled for a sales position simply because it was available,” she said. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized how fast we live our lives. We rarely pause or slow down. One day, you blink, and years have passed.”
Nicole knew she needed to hit the pause button. A few weeks alone on the Camino de Santiago would provide a much-needed opportunity to slow down, a lesson she attributes to her L.I.F.E. class at Miami University.
“One day, our professor, Dr. Brett Smith, canceled class and sent everyone outside without the distraction of our phones,” she recalled. “Our only instructions were to find a place to sit in silence, so I found myself next to a river for two and a half hours with only my thoughts. When it was over, I realized just how much reflection is possible through solitude.”
“That experience became the inspiration for walking the Camino,” she added.
The Call to Walk
With uncertainty weighing on her about what came next, Nicole realized she needed time and space to reflect on her choices. Before the summer ended, she set out alone on a transformative physical and spiritual journey, walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This month-long experience confirmed a powerful lesson she’d first encountered in Dr. Smith’s L.I.F.E. class: that life doesn’t have to follow the expectations of others but can be shaped by one’s own passions, strengths, and values.
Nicole boarded a flight to Spain with a mind full of questions and a desire to seek simplicity. What followed was an experience that would reshape her life.
“I packed my backpack, and I went,” she said. “People thought I was crazy, but I knew I needed to take this journey alone. There’s peace and freedom in being alone because the open road gives you the autonomy to choose your path. And the silence gave me space to think deeply.”
Along the way, she confronted her fears, wrestled with doubt, and embraced discomfort as a path to growth.
“It was a spiritual journey in the sense of learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” she said. “I was alone, but also learned I’m strong and resilient. As much as it’s a physical journey, it’s also a mental, emotional, and spiritual one. It’s not about avoiding challenges but facing them head-on and learning you have the strength to overcome them.”
“That’s the big lesson I learned, and it’s essential if you want real change to happen,” she added.
A Shift in Direction
As she neared the trail’s end — the Tomb of the Apostle St. James in the city of Santiago de Compostela — Nicole reflected on something else Dr. Smith had taught through the L.I.F.E. program: the “obituary test.”
“I kept thinking, ‘When I die, what do I want people to say about me?'” she reflected. “It became clear that I want to make a positive impact. And, I realized that you can leave a meaningful imprint on others through entrepreneurship and creativity.”
Nicole’s revelations on the Camino de Santiago triggered a chain of events: “I canceled my job contract, ended my apartment lease, moved to Europe, and applied to a graduate program three months after the deadline.”
Instead of Chicago, Nicole chose to stay in Spain, where she is nearing the completion of her master’s degree in Global Management and Human Resources at the University Carlos III of Madrid. This intensive one-year program equips students with the core knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in human resource management. With a strong emphasis on real-world challenges, the curriculum is both academically rigorous and globally-minded, preparing graduates to lead in diverse, multicultural environments.
“I had studied marketing and entrepreneurship, but I realized that my passion was to empower others,” she said. “So that’s where I have shifted, specifically in the process of hiring for the healthcare and sports industries.”
Nicole believes that the leadership skills and expertise gained from her advanced degree will enable her to establish a long and successful career, making a meaningful difference for both the company she works for and the people who help shape its success.
She sees hiring not just as filling positions but as an opportunity to shape and strengthen an organization’s culture from the inside out.
“The hiring process is a way to shape the culture of the teams and organization,” she said. “And hiring people with diverse perspectives is important. It’s important because a diversity of ideas drives innovation that strengthens a company, which in turn strengthens a community.”
Living Her Values
Nicole is discovering how to dream big and pursue meaningful goals. With graduation around the corner, she is exploring full-time roles in HR Strategy that align with her mission to empower people and organizations worldwide.
While the next steps in her journey are still unfolding, one thing remains certain: Nicole is confident that whatever the future holds, she is not compromising on her values. She’s also proven to herself that she possesses the strength and courage to walk confidently into the unknown.
“One of my favorite quotes is by Ralph Waldo Emerson: ‘To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.'”
What excites her now is the chance to live into her calling and help others do the same.
“I look forward to the opportunity to help people, pursue my calling, and feel great peace about my decisions,” she said. “Effective onboarding is one of the best ways to welcome people into a company. I’m excited to connect with people, energize and empower them, and maybe, in a small way, make their day a little better. I also know I can go to the office daily with a smile, knowing I haven’t compromised on my values, which is a luxury that not everyone can claim.”
Nicole set out on the Camino in search of answers. What she found was clarity, conviction, and a calling. Her story serves as a reminder that clarity often arises from stillness and strength from taking a leap of faith. Whether on the Camino or in a classroom, the journey of discovery is an ongoing process. Her message to others is to take the time to reflect, listen, and not be afraid to strike out on a new path.
Nicole reflected, “Life is too short not to do what you want to do.”
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