Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Gonzalez.
Stacy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I graduated high school at the tender age of 17. My journey to higher education began when I applied to only 2 colleges; Baylor University and the University of Houston, but my dream college was Rice University, but I felt like I wouldn’t be accepted despite having a 3.47 GPA and being in several honor societies and some extra-curriculars. Not applying to RU taught me not to doubt myself and to take risks. After applying to UofH and BYU, I was accepted to both. BYU granted me a scholarship, while UofH gave me only student loans, as I didn’t qualify for government grants. Since I was a minor, I was not able to jump in a car and drive to Waco (Was I tempted to? YES. Completely.) When I landed at the University of Houston, I was unsure what to major in, like many other First-Generation students, plus being Latina. With much confusion and being juggled to and fro from advisor to advisor, an advisor convinced me to major in Liberal Studies, a triple-minor major program that the university had launched in the Fall of 2010. Do I regret my major? Sure, in some ways. If I could go back, I would have chosen to major in Physics or Political Science. Needless to say, my path was not a traditional and straightforward one like most students that attend college.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Although I was determined to succeed, being the first daughter of Peruvian immigrant parents, who knew nothing of how the education system in the US worked, I would watch as other college students parents knew the “ins” and “outs,” exchanged “tips” and “tricks” to get through college. The positive silver-lining to it all was that I finally had my freedom and I took full advantage of it. I found myself immersed in various clubs and activities, I was a Fencer, a frequent rock climber, a Belly dance teacher, I won dance competitions, and amongst all the fun and activities, I was left confused about my career path; my path to become a Physician. I was left discouraged with the lack of quality of advisors and mentorship and whether I was on the right path and doing the right thing for my chosen career. Although, I would research on my own, I had advisors tell me right and left to take classes I didn’t truly need, which was money down the hole and their advice never proved to be useful. That made me feel negatively about the educational system that the United States has. So, because of that and other factors, I decided to leave UofH in 2013. I was disappointed and defeated, one of the worst feelings I’ve experienced, I hate failing, I can’t stand failure, but at the same time I felt relieved and that’s when I knew I’d made the best decision for myself. So, I left UofH for three years to gain work experience, skills, and to truly and deeply think about the direction I am heading in my life and what I envision my end goal to be. I knew I would make a comeback when I was ready; that was always the plan.
On August 2016, I re-enrolled at UofH to finish the degree that I had started. When I finish my bachelor’s, I would be the first in my immediate family to be awarded a degree. Needless to say, I came back with a newfound spirit and do not intend to stop. I have goals to reach and a mission to accomplish. Through my life, with my trials and tribulations I have learned to be patient with myself. I’m always thinking ahead and each thing I do has a meaning and connects to a higher purpose or a goal I am seeking to achieve. Not mentioning my goals, a specific saying I like is: “A magician never reveals their secrets,” I certainly have many goals and passions, there are things I am going to get involved in the future that I hope will unite people as I help create a change. In the meantime, I can leave whoever reads this wondering what that is.
Please tell us about Medfullystacy, Social Bloom and Vita Drop.
I’ve noticed that I generally love to be in leadership positions, I love to solve problems; make things easier and help out. Apart from investing in my higher education, I created three outlets to fill in the missing pieces to my multifaceted self.
About Medfullstacy, I started it as a side project/hobby, but then I turned it into a mini-marketing outlet as well as a personal blog, where I create my own inspirational picture quotes. The quotes usually come paired with inspirational captions, like mindset tips, happiness, health and balance. I’m also a micro-influencer, where I earn small allowances by working with brands to help promote their products, all under the name Medfullystacy on FB and IG. It’s been a fun and interesting process to get involved in and a great way to make some extra money on the side.
I’m also in the process of launching my social media marketing agency, Social Bloom that is based in Houston, TX. Social Bloom is targeted to help millennial business owners, marketers and entrepreneurs bloom online. Social Bloom is unique, because we do everything, from: social profile setup, social media management, content creation, branding, website building, Google Analytics, automation, ads, SEO, copywrite, product photography and more. We essentially provide the simplest to the most complex tasks and management of any social media platform.
My third outlet is Vita Drop, a telemedicine startup, where allopathic and holistic medicine merge. The mission is to bring the best health to people’s lives, locally and all over the world. We provide diverse options to care for health the way you want to, i.e., whether by seeing a psychiatrist, acupuncturists, naturopathic, allopathic or osteopathic doctor locally or virtually. Other services we provide are our innovative VA’s to help assist and leave you leading a more balanced lifestyle as well as e-learning courses. Vita Drop is currently seeking to interview and connect with potential Co-Founders. Vita Drop’s website is also currently being built.
Vita Drop’s services are unique because they will help people in many ways, online, in person or around the world to a better and healthier life.
Who have you been inspired by?
My mother. Despite her not fulfilling her dreams of becoming a lawyer, she went through a lot and is a strong woman. After my mother would be Princess Diana. I admired her for her humanitarian efforts, for being humble and a genuinely good person, Charlotte Bronte for her writing and feminist characters in extremely sexist times where women were openly oppressed, Hypatia of Alexandria for her forward-thinking; she was a philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician. Queen Elizabeth I, she triumphed in spite of being a woman. Her feminine traits had enabled her to stand out in a world dominated by men – and to dominate these men in turn. Under her reign, England had prospered. I also find Hillary Clinton inspirational despite her political record. She’s an inspiration to women because despite being a woman, she had to try harder to get what she wanted, even if it meant breaking the rules, cheating a little or playing dirty. Being a woman in politics and to manage to rise to the levels that she has and be in a career she chose to chase is the epitome of “going for what you want.” Finally, Tulsi Gabbard, who I relate to in many ways, discover common ground, and find a friend in. She is inspirational for her warrior heart, an outcast, unique, strong, a poised rebel and intelligent, who is currently running as POTUS of the United States of America.
Contact Info:
- Website: SMM Website: https://socialstacy.pb.online
- Phone: 281-691-2522
- Email: Stacy.g.annette@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
medfullystacy/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
medfullystacy/ - Other: https://www.facebook.com/
socialbl00m/, https://www.instagram.com/ social_bloom_/, https://www.facebook.com/ vitadr0p/
Image Credit:
Jesse K. Gonzalez
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