Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: A Journey of Resilience, Identity, and Empowerment
As Hispanic Heritage Month unfolds, I find myself reflecting deeply on the path that brought me here—both as a Hispanic individual and as a life coach who chose to dedicate my life to empowering others regardless of their backgrounds and ethnicities. My story, like many in the Hispanic community, is one of resilience, overcoming adversity, and staying true to the essence of who I am. I mean, after I stripped all the expectations placed on me by others as a professional and as a “brown” woman. A term I never heard before I moved to the US from PR. Now, I can tell you that on my island I was considered “Taina” which is one part of the rich background Puerto Ricans are a multiracial people with a mix of Indigenous Taíno, West and Central African, and Southwestern European ancestry
Life in Puerto Rico: A Dreamer at Heart
Growing up in Puerto Rico, I was a child full of big dreams. Like many children, I dreamt of becoming something larger than life—a doctor who healed others or a performer who brought joy to the world. Those dreams may have shifted and evolved over the years, but the core passions behind them—healing and inspiring—have remained constants in my life. Today, I see those same desires come to life through my work as a coach, and wellness advocate. Helping people heal their minds and bodies, and guiding them toward their best selves, fulfills me in ways I could never have imagined as a child.
A Gut Punch: Facing Discrimination in the Workplace
Despite this passion, my journey hasn’t been without its struggles. One of the most painful lessons I learned came during a pivotal moment in my career. After years of dedication and hard work, I had my eyes set on a senior leadership position—an opportunity I believed I was ready for, working hard to demonstrate that I belonged at such a level due to my work ethic, integrity, and talents. But instead of celebration, I was met with rejection. I was told that I wasn’t good enough for leadership roles because of my accent, my cultural identity, and the way I carried myself—dismissed as too "unpolished" for business. Fast forward, I see it for what it was…I was supposed to look, speak, and carry myself in the mainstream American culture way.
That moment hit like a gut punch. My heart sank, and though my anger fueled some of the best work I’d ever done, I carried the weight of inadequacy for many years after. The thought that my entire career could be dismissed because of who I was—a Puerto Rican with an accent and my identity—felt unbearable. It was a bruising reality that many in the Hispanic community have faced. But even in my darkest moments, I realized something: My heritage, my roots, and my authenticity were not weaknesses. They were my strength.
A Time for Change: Reclaiming My Health and My Power
Approaching my 43rd birthday, I faced another hard truth—my health was failing. One day, I looked at a photo of myself and could hardly recognize the person staring back. I knew something had to change. I gave myself a year to reclaim my health, to dig deep, and to rebuild my physical and emotional strength. The fact is Hispanics’ lifestyle habits include a need to improve diet quality to prevent obesity and reduce obesity-related disease risk factors among Hispanics/Latinos is a critical public health priority, given the Latino population is projected to increase from 18% of the total U.S. population to 29% by 2060 [1]. Obesity-related disease risk including risk of cardiovascular disease is substantial among Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. with adverse levels of risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia [2,3,4]. Research suggests that diet quality among Hispanic/Latino adults is negatively influenced by sociodemographic and sociocultural factors such as younger age, less education, lower household income, and lower preference for using the Spanish language for reading, speaking, and listening. Read more at the link.
That decision—to invest in me—was one of the most important I’ve ever made. Through fitness, I found a new kind of strength, one that extended beyond the physical and into every area of my life. It was the beginning of a journey that, unbeknownst to me at the time, would lead to my calling as a life coach.
When Life Crumbles: Hitting Rock Bottom and Rebuilding
But as with any journey of self-discovery and life transformation, life often gets harder before it gets better. As I worked on myself, everything around me seemed to fall apart—my long-term marriage ended, and my finances collapsed. I felt as though everything that had once anchored me had been uprooted. There I was, at what felt like rock bottom—feeling unloved and unsure of my future. I called this moment “the shattering”.
It was in this moment of despair that I realized something: rock bottom can be the foundation for something greater and the tiny pieces left of me could be rebuilt in a new form professionally and personally.
I chose to start over, and in 2012, I left everything behind to embark on a journey of self-discovery. I traveled across Europe, explored new cultures, and connected with a deeper sense of spirituality. I went to Jerusalem in 2016 and spent nearly a year on a journey that transformed my understanding of who I was and what I was meant to do.
Life Unleashed: From Chaos to Clarity
It was during this time that the idea of Life Unleashed was born. In 2018, as I integrated yoga and meditation into my daily routine, I began to find clarity amidst the chaos. I took a leap of faith, asked for help, and found an opportunity to inspire others as a fitness instructor. I wasn’t just healing my own life; I was helping others do the same.
That’s when I knew I had found my calling. I opened Life Unleashed Life, Leadership & Wellness Coaching, LLC, as a way to professionally guide others through their transformations. Today, as both an Executive Life coach and an Organizational Development and Human Resources senior professional, I’m so honored and humbled to support people from all walks of life as they pursue their true desires and reach their full potential.
Celebrating Our Heritage, Embracing Our Strength
As I reflect on my journey during Hispanic Heritage Month, I am reminded of the power of resilience, self-discovery, and the beauty of my Hispanic roots. Our community has faced countless challenges, but we continue to rise, innovate, and inspire. I still remember walking to school, having 2 shirts, one skirt and one pair of shoes for a full school term. Running wild with other kids in the little corners of my old and poor neighborhood in Arecibo, PR. Having my first used bike at 12 years old, because that's what my father could afford. It was sold a year later due to financial needs. I remember having my children young and many believing that I was going to be another statistic. Raising my children, while attending college and working FT, and either taking public transportation or being stranded when my old car broke down often—moving to the US to find myself in a different kind of setting starting all over with a limited view of what it meant to be Latino in the American mainstream culture. All my dreams meant nothing if I did not speak the language or assimilate to the new. I taught myself English and assimilated until I faced the moment shared the professional moment shared above. I have learned that true strength doesn’t come from hiding who we are but embracing it. The accent I was once told to change is now a proud reminder of my heritage, and my life’s work is rooted in the values of family, connection, and personal growth that were instilled in me as a child in Puerto Rico.
So, this month, I celebrate the vibrancy of our culture, the richness of our stories, and the resilience that runs through our veins screaming to allow and show ourselves to BE WHO WE ARE.
I encourage each of you to embrace who you are—your culture, your voice, your story—because those things aren’t obstacles to success. They are the foundation of your strength.
To my fellow Hispanic leaders, dreamers, and changemakers—never let anyone tell you that your identity is a limitation. It’s your greatest gift, and the world needs you to shine.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your own journey of growth and empowerment, I’m here to help guide you. Let’s unleash the life you were meant to live.
