Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Vargas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alison. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The roots of my success are my parents. Their journey, struggles, and accomplishments have inspired me to always work hard because trust me working hard always pays off. I was a very shy and quiet girl afraid to speak and afraid to make moves, why? I had very low self-esteem. I was bullied for the way I looked and for my weight. P.S. I am thin. On the bright side, all that negativity gave me a sort of “roughness.” That stuff that would bring me down no longer had an effect on me. I began to make moves, build an empire as some friends like to say. Basically, a place in life where no one could bring me down or prevent me from achieving everything I set my mind to. I don’t have a fancy and successful business. That has never really been my goal. My goal has been to be a successful environmental engineer to not only do something for my beautiful mother earth but also to make my parents proud, so they could see that all of their hard work has been paid off with me. I can proudly say that I have helped veterans, ran a house painting business, work on important city projects, travel often, and will be graduating in May 2019. I have been very successful in my academic and professional careers, but there was one thing I still needed to work on. Myself.
We all have that dark moment in life where we feel like we have hit rock bottom. And if you haven’t, don’t worry because in the end everything will be okay, and if it’s not, then it’s obviously not the end. That moment in life was the stepping stone to where I am at today. My amazing boyfriend Jonathan introduced me to an organization called Outlier Transformation. I went to their basic and advanced course and I have to say, BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE. I saved myself thanks to these amazing people. I became so in love with life that I never wanted to let it go. I wanted others to feel what I felt! So, what is the best and cheapest way to reach out to others? YES, social media! My good friend Drenick from The Portrait Culture introduced me to modeling and photography. I wanted to inspire others and to teach others what I have learned through my experiences. In every photo that I share on social media, I write my two cents. These can be quotes from my favorite book, short anecdotes with a life lesson, some motivation for the day, or even questions to get you thinking. My page wasn’t growing much and I wasn’t receiving much feedback from my audience. I was getting a little discouraged until… a little girl told me I was her role model. Then a follower thanked me for the motivation because it actually got him up off his a**. Slowly but surely, my voice was being heard and making an effect on people’s lives. Today, I aspire to inspire others, to get themselves out of that depression, that hole or that mindset that is preventing them from loving life, loving others, and achieving their goals.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nothing that is worth it and great is ever easy to obtain. An empire cannot be built in one day out of sticks and stones! There have definitely been moments where I have wanted to quit school, work, and even life, but the people that surround me, my family, my boyfriend, and my friends would never let me be unhappy. It is important to realize that it does not matter how many people are cheering on you and support you if you yourself do not believe in yourself. Believing in myself was my biggest struggle. Being a girl is hard and the expectations we face make it easy to make us want to quit. The bullying, the judgment from others, the lack of women in leadership and science fields had been so discouraging for me, but like I’ve said before, in the end, everything will be okay and if it’s not then it’s obviously not the end. So, might as well just enjoy the ride and make the best of everything! Keep pushing and working hard no matter what others believe because what you believe is what truly matters. In short words, you need to believe in yourself.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Professionally, I am a soon-to-be SDSU graduate with a bachelors in Environmental Engineering currently working for the City of San Diego in the Storm Water Department. You can see me at La Jolla collecting water samples to test them for bacteria and water quality. I love the field that I work in because I get to be a part of a solution to water pollution. We are very passionate about the integrity of our ocean. Yes, I am a tree huger and will work every day of my life to teach others how to make life changes that will take care of mother earth.
As a side thing, I am known as the lion-hair geeky model/photographer/engineer! I don’t like to call myself a model because I have no professional practice, it’s just a side thing that I do to get my voice heard and to reach out to others. I am proud of the engagement I’ve had with my audience especially because I have not been able to spend so much time on creating content. Everyone seems to love the motivation, life lessons, and love that I share on my social media. I also like to promote brands that share similar values as I do, as well as participate in photography meetups to network and meet people. I am one of the few girls in these events that both models and shoots.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
The mindset of “that’s just how it is” is the biggest barrier for women today. “Women are supposed to stay at home and cook because that’s just the way it is,” said an old man. The United States does not have a female leader because the country is not ready to turn away from that mindset. The media as well as older generations keep a woman at lower expectations in regards to leadership careers but keep us at very high expectations in regards to looks and etiquette. The day we begin to educate new generations on equality and respect for all men and women, is the day that barrier will fall and women will rule the world. I’m just kidding, women just want to be valued for their hard work, not for the size of their skirts.
Contact Info:
- Website: instagram.com/alisomnia
- Email: alislabs.u2@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/little_alis3
Image Credit:
Drenick Quiogue, Albert Maravilla, Patrick Andrada, Miguel Palo, Noel Amador
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