04/01/2026
I often share this reflection with my mom when Iâm feeling accomplished or something really cool happens:
I am no one special. The accomplishment isnât just because Iâm âgood at what I doâ. My talents are cool, but they also had the privilege to see the light of day. Iâve been able to express, to explore, and to create more or less, freely.
Being born into the exact life that I did, though not perfect, is special.
There is someone out there with similar thoughts that canât express.
Someone with the brain of a literal genius, that doesnât have the access to practice their craft.
Someone who didnât get a chance from the very beginning.
I try to unlearn the voices that tell me that I need to live up to anything or that I have to make my momâs efforts of immigrating to the U.S. when she was 15, worth it.
But tbh. I think I do. I do need to live up to that story. I have an opportunity to live my story because she changed hers.
Thatâs pretty damn powerful.
Taking the Tedx stage felt like an accomplishment, not because of its name, but because I continue to try to show up in spaces that once intimidated me, as me.
Iâll be sharing more on my talk across platforms in the coming days & weeks. You know, this introvert is introvertingâŚ
For now, thank you to every single person that talked me through the âyesâ
My childhood friends, Avalon & Rosy
who reminded me who tf I am
The entire Latina, Presente cohort. They were the first to hear my completed speech & were so encouraging the entire way to the stage.
The organizers of TedxBentleyU
Everyone!!
I was in my shell about this, but excited to share more about the experience & my talk. đ
