Meet Jaynelle Veloso

 

We were lucky to catch up with Jaynelle Veloso recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jaynelle, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Growing up, I didn’t see anyone in the media or anyone successful who looked like me. I developed this complex and genuinely believed that someone like me didn’t have a shot at success— so what’s the point in even trying? I still think there’s a lot of professional milestones I need to reach, but overcoming this insecurity helped me build the confidence to say to myself: “I’m good at what I do. If they don’t like me, then that’s their loss”.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I just started my own non-profit animal rescue called “Friend Shaped Rescue”. The goal is to share funny yet realistic takes of fostering and wildlife rescue, and hopefully encourage others to start fostering/rehabilitating wildlife animals as well.

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?

Curiosity. Rejection. And resilience. You’ll never find out what you’re truly passionate about unless you take a leap of faith. After losing several friends in my early 20s to drugs and mental illness, I’ve learned that life’s too short to waste it on things that don’t matter: social expectations, partying, dysfunctional relationships, etc.
Once I found my calling in filmmaking, acting, music, and animal rescue— that’s all I focus my time and energy on, even if it meant experiencing a lot of rejection and setbacks.. all of those things gave me thick skin and an appreciation for the things I have.
My advice to anyone is to do something you’ve always wanted to do.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite book.
I read it for the first time in college when I was going through a very disruptive, confusing period in my life.
Afterwards, I felt this sense of calm and assuredness that I’ve never really felt after reading a book before.
The main character goes through an insane journey of events that most people wouldn’t experience a fraction of in their lifetime.. despite everything that happens, I’ve always loved his blasé and whatever attitude.
“So it goes” has been my favorite saying since I read it and I apply it to everything in my life.

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