A born-and-raised Puerto Rican girl with nothing more than passion, endless curiosity, ambition and a deep desire to make a difference in the world.  On the record, I am a certified professional coach, a licensed mental health clinician and an entrepreneur in the making.

But who am I really? Well, that’s a complicated question. Not only because I believe our identity changes and transforms every single day but also because it’s not an easy story to tell.

When I tell people my story one of the things I’m often asked is:

"How on earth where you able to get here?"

Let me start by saying that my story has a title and yours should have one too. Titles are important; they tend to set the tone of the story, honor the character’s journey and can even inspire potential readers.

Some time ago while trying to make sense of my existence I decided my title should be “More than an Island girl...."

Why? Well, when you think about it, most people dream of living an island life. People often think of the Caribbean as a paradise, but what they don't know is that hell can find you no matter where you are. So yes, I had a rough start. I had a very chaotic and challenging childhood. Poverty, an unstable-dysfunctional household, abuse, neglect, you name it. However, I will not dwell on the details of the past because I refused to make it the main element of my story.  I would rather just share that I as a little girl I had to go through things no child should ever go through. Nevertheless, I am wise enough to understand that my hardships are an essential part of whom I’ve become and the work I do today.

When it comes to telling our life stories I believe we ought to be careful with where we center our focus. You see, the story we tell ourselves about our lives and who we think we are shapes our future.  I understood that principle soon enough and therefore learned to be cautious with my own narrative. So when I am asked who I am and what's my story I don't take it lightly.

Like in any other story not all is bad and I rather focus on the positive.  My story has some amazing highlights; three siblings who I adore and a loving grandmother who I cherish and to whom a dedicate my work.  Work, that’s the key to my story.

For as long as I can remember I decided that the most important part of my story would be the work. My work in the world.  I always knew that if my priorities were clear and I studied and worked hard things will eventually get better. And they did! I've been working to support me and my family since I was 15. I kept straight A’s my entire life to be able to secure solid scholarships because they were my only chance of receiving a decent education. After graduating from college back in Puerto Rico I faced the reality of having my scholarships gone and my jobs weren’t enough to support myself anymore. I've always worked 2 and 3 jobs at a time to be able to go to school.

At the time things weren’t looking good; with the unemployment rate through the roof and the education cost rising it felt like my options were limited. So I took a leap of faith, packed my bags and moved to the state of Iowa with just $164.66 on my bank account. Want to know what happened next? I worked! Got a job, applied to grad school, completed a master’s degree and so on. I worked and worked. I traveled, learned from the people I met along the way, fell in love, got married and kept on working.

So a few years later, here I am living in one of the best cities this country has to offer. Life is good, and my work is better than ever.

So when people ask me: "How on earth where you able to get here?" I tell them: “I worked”.

My work as an entrepreneur is dedicated to improving women's quality of life. Through my small business, I help women dream big, challenge their perspectives, get out of their comfort zone and design meaningful actions that create results. My mission is to help them decide, commit and succeed. To help them understand that the limits exist only in our minds. As we are not the result of our circumstances; we are the result of our choices. We are the result of our work. To help them understand that they can lead change, they can shape their future and contribute to the wellbeing of their communities.

My business (Breaks for Success, LLC) is dedicated to the development and empowerment of professional women. We focus on serving mainly Hispanic executives and entrepreneurs in the DFW area as well as other parts of the globe. We offer comprehensive services to satisfy a great variety of individual and organizational needs. We have multiple options, from coaching packages, training programs and one on one consulting. We offer meaningful, results-oriented, strategic services to all our clients. We practice from a strengths based perspective and are rooted in positive psychology and solution-focused practices. All of our services are available in English and Spanish.

Service areas include but are not limited to:

Empowerment & Personal Development

Career Progression

Image & Executive Presence.

Our partnership approach in delivering results to our clients through the use of positive psychology and strength-based practices sets us apart from any other firm in the DFW. Our mission of delivering positive significant change to the lives of minority women drives our values and commitment. Our hope is that through our work we can contribute to the development of a healthier and stronger society by empowering women to take control of their lives, love themselves and develop the commitment to achieve success. Our passion is to help them understand their value so they can diminish their fears, get out of their comfort zone and dare to be extraordinary.

Why do I do this? Well, you may be able to tell by now!

First, because I love it, and I feel like I finally found something I’m truly passionate about and brings meaning to my life.

Second, because I believe with all my heart that the world needs more confident, committed, and fulfilled women: women who are able to express and enjoy their gifts, bodies, and personalities. Women who are ready to contribute to their communities and who are not afraid to speak up and do the work that’s calling them. I believe we must bring our whole self to the table if we want to thrive in today’s world. That includes our unique set of gifts, our personalities, our values, our culture, our knowledge and most importantly, our hearts. I love the opportunity to guide women through this transformational process.

Why women and why Latinas? Starting my business in such a diverse city like Dallas made me realized that the Latino community (my people) is fast growing and that women and girls need opportunities to thrive and to be empowered. They need support and they need services. So I am here to serve. My company is built on a bedrock of love, a passion for women’s rights, social justice, and a commitment to improving women’s well- being.

My commitment is to help women maximize their potential and enjoy the very best this life has to offer. We have to remember that we are only here once, so we might as well make it a meaningful, unforgettable ride.

And see that's the beauty of my work.  When someone is ready and committed to succeed, coaching can change their lives, change their perspectives no matter the obstacles. Coaching makes people believe they have the power to change their lives and, by doing so, change the world. That is a gift I believe every woman can benefit from.

As part of our commitment to serve and give to as many people as possible. Breaks for Success shares free content on a regular basis. We share weekly educational videos on social media, we write articles on topics requested by our clients and followers. We offer scholarships two times a year for women who can’t afford our services.

My intent is to bring the very best of what I’m living and learning to my followers. My intention is to share thought-provoking ideas, timeless wisdom, a part of who I am, and my unwavering devotion to helping women. To show people that the small things do count and change is possible through work and dedication.  That's the goal. As a young professional, there is no bigger reward.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I’m thrilled to a part of this community and I’m excited for the journey ahead.