Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sharet Garcia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sharet , so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
Being an undocumented immigrant with some benefits of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) temporary program I have over worked myself trying to survive my education, career and life. I learned since I migrated to the U.S. at the age of 9 years old that everyone needs to work to survive. Everyone close to me has been an immigrant and all I remember seeing was overworking immigrants that rarely had days off even less self-care days. After reflecting on my journey; I had to work one or two jobs to pay for school while undocumented from my associated degree to my doctoral program. I have been repeatedly been told by this government that my worth was based on my labor. The news and media have only seen immigrants only as labor in this country. From my personal experiences, politics, and all the systems of this country we keep being reminded that immigrants are only seen as labor. Due to this, the unlearning and learning of this has made it really difficult to have days off and to do self -care. As I continue to unlearn to not over work myself, I have learned that being in community has helped me to pause and to think about ways to do self-caring of my soul, body and mind. Being in community has allowed me to have real conversations with other undocumented individuals having challenges to do more self-caring. Reading and Writing helps me write about my feelings and to feel all my feelings which has also helped me with reflecting. This way I am not ignoring how I feel but ackwnoleding it through writing. Lastly, doing the things that bring joy to me which includes spending more time with my family and focusing on the little things such as doing a carner asada or going to a hike.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was told in HS that I shouldn’t go to College if I was undocumented because it was going to be expensive for someone like me and that I was not going to graduatae. I was told not to be an educator while finishing my Bachelor’s degree from a top CA public school because I didn’t have a work permit. I was told not to get my Master’s degree in Counseling because no one will hire me if I didn’t have a social security number. I was told not to pursue my doctoral degree because I was not going to change anything. I was told not to start my business because I was not going to make a difference and would not accomplish anything to support immigrants. All of my personal experiences have always reminded me that I was not supposed to be where I am yet here I am. My name is Sharet Garcia, I was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico and migrated with my Mom to the U.S. at the tender age of 9 years old. I am more than my immigration status I am also a mom, a traveler, creative, and immigrant rights activist. I’m excited to launch UndocuProfessionals Network as a social impact consulting business dedicated to support highly diverse immigrant community in their education and career journeys.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The UndocuProfessionals Network is by and for the undocumented communities. This community and platform would not be possible without a community that has supported my work, nurtured me, provided feedback, invited to their school/org, shared my posts, and shared that this community has helped me in their career and educational journeys, and that have believed in the skills, and expertise of this professional that happens to be undocumented.
I have believed in the work that I am doing-even on days I was not making any money and over working myself. I also had a community that believed in my work. This helped me to keep going.
to be honest and transparent by telling others about the good and the ugly of being a professional and entrepreneur. I was real by letting others know I was being overworked, underpaid, not feeling well and exhausted. My intention was just to keep it real for others and myself.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
As we launch UndocuProfessionals I want to invite both the undocumented communities and allies to collaborate and be part of UndocuProfessionals if they think this can help them or someone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.undocuprofessionals.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undocuprofessionals/?hl=en
Image Credits
PhDreamers
