BF Queen For A Day: Rosy Garcia, Step Up Women’s Network Alumna

Date posted: September 18, 2014 | By: Dawn

Tomorrow, I will be posting one of my favorite posts – and, honestly – one of my all-time favorite days: Reward Rosy Day. So today, our new feature – BF Queen For A Day kicks off with Rosy, for whom everything just seems to be coming up roses!

 

I hosted Reward Rosy Day on August 20th to give a celebratory send-off to one of my favorite friends that I’ve met as a member of Step Up Women’s Network, Rosy Garcia.

Rosy, age 22 and a star Step Up alumna and advocate, was headed off to UC Berkeley that week to continue her studies after attending Santa Monica College and Mills College.

I wanted to tell you all about Rosy prior to posting the details of the big day but thought who better to tell you about Rosy than, well, Rosy! We caught up over afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills on Reward Rosy Day and then again via email after she was in full-swing at Berkeley. Here’s what she had to say.

(DM = Dawn McCoy, Creator & Editor of BeautyFrosting and Step Up Women’s Network Visionary member/ RG = Rosy Garcia, Step Up alum and Reward Rosy Day honoree)

DM: When did you come to the US? Can you tell us a little bit about your initial experience.

RG: I came to the US when I was 7 years old. My parents wanted to come to the US to give my brother and I a better life. They believe that education is the key to success. Being a stranger in the US was very difficult. I would cry at night while telling my grandma that I wanted to go back to Guatemala. I couldn’t understand this place and was teased in school because I didn’t know English. Kids can be so mean. (Fun fact: one of those girls who teased me turned out to be one of my best and most cherished friends, Janethli). Eventually I began adjusting and learned English. It took me approximately 2 years but I finally learned it!

DM: I love that! The best friend part. Not the teasing and bullying. No, I HATE that part. I think most of us can only imagine how that felt. I have to say that, even with that challenging beginning, you are one of the most confident young women I’ve ever met in my life.

RG: I have to be!!!! I see all the girls who aren’t and think, “You already have everything. You could be the president or CEO of a company like the women today (*Editor’s note: the owners of the salons that sponsored Reward Rosy Day). They own their companies! I aspire to be like them.

DM: That answer right there is inspiring. SO true. I’m gonna remember that next time I’m feeling a bit less than confident. Tell us a bit about your family.

RG: I have a very tight knit family, and this includes my extended family- aunts, uncles, grandma, and cousins. My parents inspire me every single day. They work 2-3 jobs just to make ends meet and I am more than grateful for them. I work hard to make them proud and to be able to provide for them in the future. I have one brother and he is pretty much my other half. We have a good connection and share similar interests. We still bicker, but at the end of the day we know we can count on each other. I love him and he inspires me because he is so intelligent and determined. 

DM: How did Step Up Women’s Network impact your life?

RG: I love Step Up! I can write pages and pages on why I love it, but I will just mention a few of those reasons. The first is that this program helped me by exposing me to all the possibilities and career paths I can take. I graduated high school with an internship under my belt through the Young Luminaries Program. How many high school students can say that?! Another part of the program that I love is the mentorship aspect. My mentors have been among the most helpful and influential people in my life, apart from my family. I am thankful for all of my mentors’ advice and love. They comfort me and give me the extra push I need. Lastly, I love all the amazing events I get to attend. I love going to the events and meeting people who have all sorts of jobs from blogging to executives in large corporations like Mattel. Plus the food is delicious and the goodie bags are awesome!

DM: What has been your biggest obstacle, challenge or life-changing event and how did you overcome?

RG: The biggest obstacle for me thus far has been my undocumented status. This has been the obstacle that has caused a few detours in my education. However, it is also because of my undocumented status that I am able to look at the world in a different perspective. When I finally became a resident I was glad because that meant I could continue studying and transfer out of Santa Monica College. I learned a great deal from my experience at Santa Monica College and through this whole process. It has shaped who I am and why I continue to move forward.

DM: What’s the best advice or guidance you were ever given?

RG: I have received such great advice from a number of people and can’t single one out. Collectively the best advice I have received is to continue working towards my dreams, because it doesn’t matter how long it takes or how many detours I must take, I will succeed.

DM: What women do you most admire/look up to/respect?

RG: This is a hard question because I believe that we all have something to offer, that’s certainly the case for all of the wonderful women in my life. I admire my mother and grandmother for their strength; they are my biggest source of inspiration. Next I admire my wonderful mentors Philline Parlan, Caroline Joseph, and Kelly Hanker for their accomplishments and determination to overcome all challenges they are presented with. Lastly, I admire the amazing Dawn McCoy for her effervescent personality; I feel energized and inspired every time I talk to her. Plus she is a Sagittarius like me!

DM: Well, shucks. You inspire ME!!!! Every time I see you! What are you studying at Berkeley? And how is that going?

I am in my first semester of Junior year at UC Berkeley! I am currently pursing a degree on Political Economy; however, I am also interested in a major in Peace and Conflict Studies. My focus for either of those majors will revolve around women, economic development, and education. I am doing great so far! There is a lot of reading to be done, but as we are told in almost every event on campus- we are the number one public research institution so we have a lot to learn and much more to discover. I have already joined two clubs on campus: Rally Committee and Latino Business Student Association. I went to my first Cal football game and I love it! 

Recently, I was offered a position as Marketing Assistant at the UC Berkeley’s Summer Sessions, Study Abroad & Lifelong Learning department. And of course I settled into my dorm. Decorating process is done with a little inspiration from the Cupcake Palace. I am already making memories with my wonderful roommate and suitemates. We are planning a group Halloween costume! I will be posing photos on Instagram.  

DM: I cannot wait!!! And I’m so flattered that my home, The Cupcake Palace, is giving you decor inspiration!  Where do you see yourself in 5 (or 10) years?

RG: This is a hard question, not because I don’t have an idea of what I want to do but because I have so many things that I want to accomplish. In 10 years, I see myself working at an international company as a marketing manager or as an external affairs/international affairs director.  I envision a job that allows me to travel often so I can explore the world. I will either be living in Los Angeles or New York – places where I can still participate with Step Up. I will take summers off to go on vacation with my family and friends. And I will of course have a rabbit, preferably the one I have today- Princess Dianna.

DM: Tell us about your Reward Rosy Day experience, which OF COURSEI had to hashtag with #EverythingsComingUpRosy, which I see you are still using these days.

RG: Words can’t express the joy I felt to be able to experience a Reward Rosy Day. Never in my life would I ever have imagined such a perfect day. I can’t thank you enough for organizing everything. For that day I forgot about my responsibilities and embraced my accomplishments. Since I worked hard throughout the school year, and the summer, I didn’t have a lot of time to really take in that I was going to be attending UC Berkeley in the Fall. I mean its UC Berkeley! It is ranked #6 in the World Reputation Rankings 2014 and is the number one public school in the nation!. I still can’t believe I am here. I will always remember that day and will look forward to the day when I can give someone else that opportunity. And above all, I was touched to have an afternoon tea with Dawn. Afternoon teas are very near and dear to her heart. I love you, Dawn!

DM: I love YOU!!! And not in that shallow Hollywood way. Do you have any words of encouragement for the girls currently in Step Up? Girls in general?

RG: My advice to girls currently in Step Up is to take advantage of all that you are being offered. Step Up gives you the opportunity to excel and compete with other students who have all the resources available to them. Now that I am here at Berkeley people are amazed at how much I have done and I always say “Its through Step Up!” You really have to put yourself out there and communicate with all the wonderful Step Up staff. Let them know how you are doing and what you want to do. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to approach someone you admire. Trust yourself because you are capable of anything and everything! And also, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Step Up alumni- I would love to chat and have the opportunity to mentor another young bright mind. 

Whatever life has in store for Rosy, I know without a doubt that includes a very bright future for this super bright, brilliant, inspiring and hardworking girl. And I can’t wait to be there to see it all unfold.

Love you, Rosy!!! SO proud of you!

**Editor’s Note from DM: Rosy’s typed interview answers were the only answers I’ve never had to dramatically correct. Rosy is whip-smart and I am soooo happy to find out that she’s also a talented writer!

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What has biggest obstacle been? And how have you overcome it?

Posted in Uncategorized |

---