We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Santiago recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole , 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 in a not so traditional family, I learned how to gather strength to keep doing what I love from my mother. Her resilience inspired me to become who I am today. I’ve seen her go through a lot of pain in life and her faith and her strong relationship with family got her through. This is what keeps me going too- knowing that I have them by my side.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an actor and singer. I’ve been on musical theatre stages for shows such as Mamma Mia! and Matilda to TV shows such as All Rise and Bob Hearts Abishola, as well as the voice for various radio and TV commercials. I love the variety and excitement of working on different creative projects. It has always been my first love and I have been a performer for more than a decade. Of course like most actors we have other sides to our profession- especially during and right after Covid. I am blessed to have also found work as an administrative assistant for a shoe company’s travel department. I love that job too because it fills my days with wonderful people and I get to work on a lot of spreadsheets which apparently is a passion I didn’t know I had- haha!
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?
Do the things you love is such a cliché statement but it is so SO important. It keeps you young and inspired and happy. No matter what it is, keep yourself inspired and motivated to fill yourself up with the activities that bring you joy and the people that make you smile. Relationships are important because you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Surround yourself with the people who will only bring you up. Everyone’s journey and timing is different. Trust that you are where you need to be in life as long as you are keeping your actions motivated- you are in the driver’s seat of your life.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Everyday is a journey towards self improvement and 2023 has been a tremendous year of growth. I’ve been working on my anxiety in many aspects of life and I am constantly impressed how human beings are so capable of change if one really is inspired to do so. Therapy of course has been instrumental, podcasts and books are a great supplement for self help and yoga and meditation has also been such catalysts for change.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nicolette.santiago
Image Credits
@lesliealejandro for my cover photo
