Like all of us, Texas Children’s Systems Analyst Krystal Hall has many identities that shape her life and experiences – from her Mexican-American heritage, to being a first-generation college graduate and full-time working mother. Growing up in Houston, one of the most diverse cities in America, hasn’t stopped Krystal from feeling at times that she doesn’t quite fit the mold of who others believe she should be. Her solution? Learning to embrace every part of herself and being open-minded when questions arise. Read on to learn how Krystal views her cultural identity, her career trajectory and her hopes for continued growth as a person and professional.
What are some of your favorite family and/or cultural traditions?
August will be 14 years that we unfortunately lost the matriarch of our family. She really held us all together. One thing our family will do for sure is find a body of water! We love to go to rivers, lakes and beaches any chance we get. This is one of the things I really cherish now and hope to continue to do for many years.
Think about a moment or situation when you felt like you didn’t fit in. What happened and how did you handle it?
It is not restricted to one single experience. As diverse a place as we live in, since youth, I’ve been asked to answer questions about my cultural identity. I have no problem answering the questions until I’m asked to choose just one — either Mexican or American. That always made me feel like I didn’t belong in certain social groups. I realized that it is simply not true. I can and will embrace both my Mexican and American cultures equally. The best way I’ve come to handle it is to be open about who I am, where I come from, and to encourage questions about it all.
Describe your professional journey and how you arrived in your current role at Texas Children’s.
I have been in healthcare for over 15 years. I took a short stint to try the beauty industry; however, healthcare has my heart. I made my way back by joining Texas Children’s in August 2012. I obtained my Bachelors of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. My goal was to find a career as an analyst and to grow somewhere in that space. The position as systems analyst found me just before graduation. All the stars aligned!
What do you enjoy most about being part of Texas Children’s One Amazing Team?
Recently, I moved to Information Services and look forward to learning new things. I’ve always felt appreciated, acknowledged and included, literally since my first day with the team. We can all rely on one another (including leadership) for support and guidance. It means a lot to me that I am part of a team where I can bring my whole self to work because of the support given. I couldn’t ask for anything more in a working environment.
At Texas Children’s, we believe that acknowledging and celebrating our differences makes us stronger. We also believe each of us, like Krystal, has a unique opportunity to be part of the solution in cultivating an environment of inclusion and belonging – for our patients, our team members, and the communities where we live and work. Search our open positions and join our One Amazing Team today.
