i’ll take a story over a statistic any day. So, here’s mine:

when i was in fifth grade my language arts teacher told my parents i was a natural-born storyteller. 

of course, when my parents recall this anecdote, it’s usually as an example of my lifelong habit of being a “drama reyna” (drama queen- their words, not mine- for the non-Spanish speakers), but that proclivity for words and well-crafted narratives is one that has existed as long as i remember. and sure, maybe i do have a little bit of a flair for the dramatic, but that’s just a way to give my stories a little spice and pizzazz. 

my plans for my life have shifted and evolved over time- my greatest dream was always to be a rockstar, to be honest- but i’ve always known that wherever i landed, i’d be telling stories and flexing my creative muscles. 

admittedly, i stumbled into digital marketing by accident: graduating college with a ba in multimedia journalism in 2020 at the peak of a global pandemic and a horrible job market meant that i had to pivot, especially as i experienced burnout with the news and treatment of journalists on a daily basis. when the opportunity to join the strategysmith marketing team presented itself, despite my lack of marketing experience, it felt like the perfect way to put my words and creativity to use in an exciting new way.

since then, i’ve learned, grown, and developed my marketing skills under the much-appreciated guidance of my ssm teammates. while marketing was never really in my original plan, this is just a new way for me to find and share new stories with new audiences; i think i’ve found my niche. crafting blogs and content for brands gives me a chance to flex my creativity and create narratives that share their voice and vision, while using my natural curiosity and journalism-developed research skills. 

i love words. tapping into and evoking feelings, using words rather than rattling off emotionless numbers and figures. they’re so important; they have the power to build up, tear down, and serve as a great equalizer. i aim to tell stories that make others feel included, seen, and represented; through language choices, photo choices, subject matter choices. growing up as a hispanic woman, in a world where i’m often a minority, i’ve seen firsthand how much that inclusion matters.

stories exist all around us- in the music we listen to, in the moments we witness, in the people we encounter, in the products we interact with- and uncovering them will always be one of my favorite things.