Meet Kristal Calzada Borrero

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristal Calzada Borrero. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristal below.

Kristal, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Growing up I learned unconsciously to overcome challenges from a young age. My mom, who has been a single mother my whole life, started and finished college when I was a child and started her career in nursing. I spent most of my childhood and teenage years with my grandparents since my mom worked long hours in a hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico to make a living. During my teens I was impacted by a big challenge. I was diagnosed with scoliosis, a chronic condition that causes an abnormal sideways curve of the spine often in the shape of an S or C, at the age of 10 and got worse as the years went by. As a result, I had a spinal correction surgery after I turned 12. This process led me to a long and tedious recovery that affected my physical activity since I could not do any type of exercise or sports for almost 2 years as part of the healing process. Also, due to scoliosis pain management became part of my lifestyle. There’s a quote from Bob Marley that I like to remind myself when facing any kind of challenge: ” You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice”. In addition to my own story, which includes many more challenges in my adult years that I have been able to overcome, I believe that resilience is a characteristic that distinguishes us as Hispanic/Latinos and Puerto Ricans. Our culture and history serve as an example to follow, teaching us never to give up, regardless of the magnitude of the challenge we face.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and in 2016 I moved to Florida to continue my education and seek better growth opportunities. After becoming a mom in 2021 and going through postpartum depression — along with a later diagnosis of ADHD and anxiety — I became deeply interested in understanding human development, mental health, and neurodiversity.

This healing journey reignited my passion for the healthcare field, especially the curiosity and innovation behind how the brain functions and adapts through neuroplasticity. I know I still have so much to learn, but I also have so much to share — particularly with my Hispanic community, where mental health is often undervalued compared to physical health, and where many face challenges like immigration stress, racism, gender violence, and feelings of unworthiness.

My goal is to create spaces that embrace mental health awareness through creativity and compassion, especially within the Hispanic and Latino community. I strive to connect art and emotional intelligence to help others feel seen, supported, and inspired. Right now, I’m focused on building a supportive community through my social media platforms while developing skills that align with that mission. I’m also working on a concept to empower caregivers — from parents to healthcare professionals — to highlight their experiences and the challenges within our healthcare systems.

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?

I’d say the three things that impacted me most are self-awareness, empathy, and creativity.

*Self-awareness helped me understand my own mental health and neurodiversity, which shaped how I support others.

*Empathy allowed me to really listen and connect, especially with people going through hard times.

*Creativity gave me a way to express and heal — it’s what keeps me passionate about turning awareness into action.

My advice for others would be: stay curious about yourself and the world around you, listen with compassion, and never underestimate how your creative mind can help you and others grow.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One of the habits I’ve embraced later in life is reading self-improvement books. While I’ve read several impactful titles, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins taught me something I didn’t realize I needed to understand. When I finished the book, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I had recently turned 30 and hadn’t met certain life expectations I had set for myself. I’m pretty sure many people can relate to the feeling of being “behind” or like they’re wasting time. This book encouraged me to reflect on life differently—to focus on what I can control, take consistent action, and approach challenges with self-compassion rather than judgment.

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