We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carolyn Soto Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carolyn, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My late mother, Maria Teresa was my greatest influence but of course, I was unaware of this until she passed away in 2019. This woman was the epitome of “hard work”. She came to Houston in 1978 with pennies to her name. She ate peas out of a can because it was all she could afford after getting mixed up with the wrong man who would beat her. My mom did not speak any English but took it upon herself to learn the language and move up the corporate ladder at Southwestern Bell. She was one of the first Hispanic women who tackled the “man’s world” and secured her ground without any hesitation. She married and had two children, raised each of us, made every band concert, and cried tears of joy when both of her girls walked across the graduation stage.
My mom woke up every morning to the sounds of the “Golden Oldies” and would shake every part of her body on the weekends when she would cook and clean for the family. We could only afford one meal out of the house so she made every breakfast, lunch, and dinner for years on end.
Without complaining, she hit the bed every night with prayers on her lips. To this day I am unaware of how she managed to be “Superwoman” when I never found her cape.
With this being said, she truly was an example of my work ethic. My mom taught me to never “need a man”, it was wonderful to love and marry a man but to always be able to make my own money should anything ever go awry. She also taught me to read fervently so I never felt ignorant in front of others. She taught me learning a second language was imperative and rough hands were a sign of hard work. She said sweat would not kill me but hate would. Most of all she taught me loving others was the only way to leave this world happy.
I was unaware work ethic was massaged into my adolescence and young adulthood but I will forever be grateful for everything my hard-working, driven, and highly intelligent Mexican-American mother taught me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Carolyn Soto Jackson and a native Houstonian. By trade, I am a photographer whose favorite form of worship is writing. I graduated from the University of Houston in 2008 and currently anticipating graduation with a degree in Master of Theological Studies from Truett Seminary at Baylor University.
In 2016, I married my husband Daniel, and later adopted our witty dog named Moose. I am an adventurer who is passionate about Jesus and enjoys documenting my travels with God (and my husband) through pen and portraits.
In 2022, I published my first book, Wild Adventures, Finding Joy in the Journey, and in my free time, you can find me hiking, cycling, and supporting local coffee shops.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Learn to listen. Forgive others quickly.
And stop comparing yourself with others.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents went out of their way to make sure I was not afraid of anything that would come my way. Whether it was someone bigger, better, smarter, or faster. They encouraged me to push past my limits. Anytime I wanted to give up, they asked questions, trying to learn what the actual root of the problem was about. It did not matter if it was trying new foods or learning a new instrument. If I wanted to give up, they prodded me to learn why. This helped me learn why I did not want to do things, most of the time it was because I felt inferior and each time, my mom would share with me why it was not an excuse to give up but rather a driving force to push forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carolynsotojackson.com/
- Instagram: @carolynsotojackson
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/carolynsotojackson
- Other: Photography: www.cmphotostudio.com
Image Credits
@Carolyn Marie Photography
