Today we’d like to introduce you to Araceli Soriano
Hi Araceli, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My parents and I came to this country as immigrants when I was 6 months old on a 4th of July. I grew up and was raised like many traditional Mexican families raised their children in Mexico, only we lived in the US. I was only allowed to speak and read in Spanish, mainly because my parents did not know how to speak English. There was a bit of a culture shock for me in school trying to assimilate with the rest of my peers. It was a rough start not knowing the English language, but I picked it up quick and was able to mingle with them in no time. I appreciate this choice in parenting now, because I am able to fluently read, write, and speak in Spanish. It is very rare to see that these days.
Turmoil, refusal to adapt to current times, along with other issues at home changed the family dynamic with my parents’ divorce. Seeing my mother’s resilience and strength to move forward while handling 3 kids taught me a lot about life and made me the woman that I am now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is a blessing and a challenge at the same time. It has definitely not been a smooth road for me in all aspects but having the role model whose every move I grew up watching taught me ways to handle the struggles. Going through my first professional layoff was a big eye opener. We take things and people for granted, but when our status quo is in jeopardy, that is when we truly learn to appreciate what we have and live in the moment. Nothing is ever guaranteed in life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an administrative professional by day (and as the main source of income) with several side projects I dab on when I can. While I have many professional talents and experiences, I most enjoy the creative side of me. For a few years I owned a crafting business that started with crocheted items and evolved into sewing and personalized items. The business took off during Covid with mask making, and the different type of items that I was able to make after that was tremendous. I attended several craft fairs in different towns throughout the Chicagoland area. The exposure taught me what running a business is like and that networking is vital to grow and continue learning.
Currently, I am scripting and creating my own videos on my YouTube channel geared to the Hispanic community about personal development. There aren’t many resources available to this group and I would love to be able to provide them with all the material I have learned in hopes to reach someone in need; specifically, in dealing with mental health and life struggles where they may need an extra support system.
Since my teenage years, I’m known for taking random pictures of everything and everybody, which only until recently I actually thought about making it a profession. I’ve been taking classes and several live sessions from other professional photographers and will be bringing this dream come true with my studio in the coming months.
What sets me apart from others is that no matter what tries to knock me down, I am always right back up. I don’t rely on other people to support me. I find a way to make ends meet and am proud of it. No job is too meaningless or not worth being proud of because at the end of the day it brings bread to the table and pays the bills. I find a way to use my talents and skills to move forward in life and if there’s something I don’t know, I grab that book or take that class I need to learn more from and take it from there. That is what I believe sets me apart from others. Some may say I am too proud to ask for help, but I say that as long as I am living and breathing and can physically do things for myself, I can do anything by myself.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
What has worked for me, unexpectedly, is being vulnerable. That is how I’ve found networking to be helpful. When you are open to meeting new people and to receive feedback from others without judgement, that is when you learn the most. Thinking you are superior to others will not take you very far. That will only lead to a lonely journey without any knowledge to be received either.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @inspirateconceli
- Facebook: @AraceliSoriano
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@inspirateconceli
Image Credits
Katelyn Dee Photography
Celi’s Studio