FROM SURVIVAL
TO PURPOSE.

2015 · THE DREAM

When I arrived in America in 2015, I had great hopes. I believed that the opportunity to live here would help me achieve my dreams. I was ready to work and build a better life.

I believed that if I worked hard enough, life would begin to fall into place.

But beginning again in a new country meant learning things I did not yet understand. Language was a challenge. Living costs, finding opportunities and expressing myself all required time and knowledge.

I had reached America. I was still learning how to build a life here.

2016–2019 · WORKING HARD, SEARCHING FOR STABILITY

In the years that followed, I worked hard. I put more effort into work, believing it would bring me closer to the life I wanted.

But rent, transportation, food and other bills took up much of my income. I often found myself thinking about how to reach the next paycheck.

There was a gap between how hard I was working and how secure my life felt.

People back home had hopes for my journey. I wanted to give them good news. It was difficult to explain that I was in America, working, and still struggling to find stability.

I began to understand the weight of a smile that hides things you do not know how to explain.

2019–2022 · TWO JOBS, AND MORE TO LEARN

As I looked for ways to increase my income, I worked two jobs. My schedule was demanding and left less time for rest. Over time, exhaustion and health challenges made the journey harder.

At work, I wanted better opportunities. But communicating in English affected my ability to explain myself, ask questions and pursue other positions.

I began to understand how much communication mattered. I needed the confidence and the words to speak for myself.

I began learning English while continuing to work. Balancing those responsibilities was difficult, but education became part of my search for change.

THE DIFFICULT YEARS · WHEN MY CAR BECAME MY HOME

During a difficult period between 2022 and 2025, my life lost its stability. There came a time when I had nowhere to live.

My car became the place where I slept.

For a period, I continued going to work while living in my car. Before work, I would go to Walmart to wash my face, put on my uniform and prepare to appear as though everything was fine.

People could see me working. They could not see the whole life I was carrying behind that uniform.

As I looked for an apartment, requirements involving proof of income, credit and rental history added to the difficulty. I was searching for somewhere to sleep while trying to understand what I needed to secure it.

I felt lonely, ashamed and exhausted. There were tears that people did not see.

The meaning of Behind the Smile became deeply personal to me.

THE PERSON WHO SAW BEYOND MY SMILE

During that period, my coworker, Bethzaira, noticed that I was struggling. She gave me space to talk and listened.

When she understood that I was sleeping in my car, she invited me to stay with her while I worked on getting back on my feet.

Her kindness gave me somewhere to stay and room to begin rebuilding. It also reminded me that I did not have to carry everything alone.

I believe God used that support to encourage me at a time when I needed someone to see me and listen.

Today, when I say “You don’t have to grow alone,” I remember what another person’s help meant in my own life.

That lesson is part of the foundation of the 8G Community.

2025–2026 · LEARNING HOW TO REBUILD

As I began rebuilding, I asked myself why so much effort had not brought the stability I had hoped for.

I saw areas where I needed to learn: managing spending, saving, understanding credit, communicating clearly and finding information about opportunities around me.

I started giving learning a more deliberate place in my life. I wanted to understand my choices and make decisions that could support a more stable future.

The steps were small. I learned, changed how I approached some things and kept trying. Those changes did not remove every problem at once, but they began to give me direction.

Faith was part of that journey. I continued to depend on God while learning to take responsibility for the steps I could take.

EDUCATION, SERVICE AND A GROWING VOICE

My educational journey continued at Rio Salado College, where I studied English. By 2026, I had reached ESL Level 5 and had been selected to join the National Adult Education Honor Society NAEHS.

I was also nominated for the 2026 Riverbend Resilience Award. These milestones were part of my progress after years of struggle and learning.

Education gave me a practical way to keep moving: learn, practice, ask questions and try again.

I contributed to community service through the East Valley Rotaract Club as Social Media Manager. My experience in caregiving has also given me opportunities to learn about service, responsibility and working with others.

As I continued growing, I wanted to use my voice to share lessons that could help someone else.

WHY I STARTED 8G MINDSET

When I began building the 8G Mindset, I was still learning and rebuilding. I had lessons from my life to share, along with a desire to learn from others.

I thought about the person starting life in a new country. The person working hard without knowing the next step. The person with a dream who needs knowledge, confidence or someone to offer encouragement.

I wanted to help create a community where encouragement leads to learning, learning leads to action, and people can support one another along the way.

That gave direction to 8G’s purpose: sharing stories, practical education and opportunities for people to grow together.

INSPIRE. EDUCATE. CONNECT. EMPOWER.

THE VALUES I AM BUILDING WITH

8G Mindset brings me back to the things I want to keep building: faith, growth, goals, perseverance, grace, excellence, a sense of value and care for the next generation.

GOD • GROWTH • GOALS • GRIT • GRACE • GREATNESS • GOLD • GENERATION

In practice, I want to keep learning, stay disciplined, work hard, help others and continue taking steps when the journey is difficult.

I want my growth to create something useful beyond my own life. That is the legacy I am working toward.

MY STORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN

Today, I am still learning, working and building. I have goals I am still pursuing and lessons I am still working through.

When I look back on my journey since 2015, I see pain, support, faith and small steps that brought me here. I have reasons to be grateful and reasons to continue.

If you are starting again or trying to understand your next step, I welcome you to this journey. Bring your questions, your experience and one thing you would like to learn.

Your story is still being written, too.

You don’t have to grow alone.