Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Rivera.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey started at a very young age. My childhood was different from my friends. At the age of 13, my mother was diagnosed with Cancer and without really knowing, I became an adult very quickly. Like many immigrant children, I was the translator between my parents and the outside world with an added group of people, the doctors. Reading was a sense of relief for me and I found myself looking at personal development books to help me cope with my mother’s illness and all the emotions that a normal teenager goes through. I didn’t know it back then, but as I grew older I realized how unique my life was compared to others.
For financial reasons, I couldn’t continue my education after graduating from high school, but I knew that all the sacrifices my parents had made for me needed to be recognized. It was my mother’s dream to see me graduate college, and she taught me the importance of education. I worked several jobs, saved enough money and decided to go back to school at the age of 24. I graduated with my associates within the first year and then transferred to the University of Houston (go Coogs!) to finish my degree. My last year at UH was the hardest, I worked full time, was a full-time student and then my mother was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. My world shifted as I became a full-time caregiver all over again. I pushed through the doctor visits and long hours at the hospital next to my mom and graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in Communications/ Public Relations.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey has been far from smooth. There were times in my life where I didn’t know how I would make it through the next day, week or month. I have gone through really happy seasons and some not so great ones. Juggling life the way I have, and not being able to really talk about it took a toll on me. Recently, I started working more on my personal growth. I have learned that to keep growing you need to shed the weight that is holding you back. I read a lot of personal development books. I also listen to a lot of motivational speakers which helps me shift my mentality when I feel overwhelmed or struggling with a certain emotion.
In the Hispanic culture, we don’t talk about our emotions and how things affect us. Growing up, I didn’t talk about all of the emotions I was feeling when my mother was going through cancer treatment, I bottled them all inside and ignored them. It wasn’t until recently that I started seeing a therapist, talking about my emotions and being more honest with myself about how I feel.
My advice to other women would be to be a ‘seeker’ when it comes to personal growth, your passions and the things that bring you joy. Whether that is friendships, travel or anything that makes you happy; keep seeking the things that inspire you! This is what I have done, in addition to therapy, great relationships, reading, and I have never stopped seeking out the good things in this world.
Please tell us about your work.
About a year ago, my best friend Ina Real and I started a YouTube Channel. As two professional Hispanic women with completely different backgrounds, we wanted to create a space where we could discuss topics about personal growth, our sense of identity and body positivity all while balancing our professional and personal lives. The role I play in this duo is connected to my self-help books and my life lessons. I have learned over the years the best ways for me to cope, deal with situations outside of my control and continue to strive. I enjoy motivating people while teaching them that it is okay to not have it all figured out. I think that everyone should find their Unicorn, the thing in the world that makes them happy and gives them that little escape from their struggles. I want to be that relatable person when it comes to real life that understands you and your struggles.
A few weeks ago, I also launched my own blog everythinglxr.com as a space to share more of my personal journey and the obstacles that I have faced in my life. I want to share the lessons I have learned with other people who have it tough and might feel that they are alone in their world of chaos.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Jim Rhon once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” To grow is to surround yourself with people who pull you up, where you learn as much as you can. A mentor can be anyone you admire, a friend, a coworker, your boss, a teacher. Inspiration can even be found in the books you read/listen to. Surround yourself with people you admire and learn from them every day, ask questions about their journey. I also find mentors in the books I read, or the podcasts I listen to. Other ways to connect for me include social media, events, and sharing with those that I meet. You can never underestimate the power of sharing with those like-minded individuals that you meet who share similar experiences and storied histories. When I am networking, I remember to be open, cheerful, and ready to listen.
Contact Info:
- Website: everythinglxr.com
- Email: everythinglxr@gmail.com
- Instagram: @laura.x.rivera
- Twitter: @laura_x_rivera
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0z3PUCruz5G_efzadTaKLQ
Image Credit:
Jerika King, Ina Real
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
