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About Me

I was born in California, from immigrant parents (Argentina and Costarican). I moved to Costa Rica when I was 13. My mother owned a national balloon distribution business. At age 13 I chose not to pursue school instead to help my mother with her business.

After living a tumultuous life in Costa Rica, at age 19 I decided to move with my father in Oregon. My father encouraged me to obtain my GED. It took me a total of 2 weeks to study and pass the test. After I received my GED, I began to go to Portland Community College. I studied the field of Accounting. My father in 2003 passed away of Cancer. The experience changed my whole perspective of life. I then moved to California, where I lived in LA until 2005.

In 2005 I decided to go to New York Hyde Park, Culinary Institute of America. I always had a desire to cook. Then I moved back to Los Angeles in 2006 after my studies. Had a baby.

I examined my life and choose to look for stability. In the field of Insurance, i found great opportunity. As a certified Life, Health and Accident Independent agent, I have been able to help in the community and provide information and supportive services to low income, uninsured and Medicare population. I currently volunteer at the local elementary school.

I love to help.

Location:
United States, Westminster, CA
Current organization:
Apropos Insurance Solutions
Past organizations:
AltaMed Health Services, Arta Medicare , American Diabetes Association, Nordstrom
Gender:
Female
Languages:
Spanish
My website links:
youtube
Universities:
The Culinary Institute of America, Portland Community College
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More About Me

I'm passionate about

I am passionate about life. How we interact with each other. I love to explore what is fair and understand other perspectives.

An idea worth spreading

I get a much better feeling understanding someone, then I do judging them.


Talk to me about

I am passionate about passion. I love to read and listen to everything. I just want to know you exist and that I exist, your story is just as important as mine.

People don't know that I'm good at

I am good at being organized. Being an objective listener. Solving all kinds of problems, from systematical to emotional to organizational.
I cook good too. I play guitar, piano and sing.

My TED Story

I love watching TED talks. It just makes me smarter.

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +1.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • +1

    A reply on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 27 2012: Mary,
    that's awesome! It is really honorable of you to change.

    Recognizing the problem and actually changing is a BIG step. The bible helped me learn how to understand rules of life. The way you are treated is a reflection of the way you act. And its better to sign on the kinder side because, there is inner peace on that side.
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: Do we have choices in life?

    Apr 26 2012: I think we have free will, we choose the number. Society chooses the which numbers we can choose from.

  • A reply on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 26 2012: Greg, I can soo relate.
    When you look back, what do you think could you have done to convince that young boy to finish school? I am pretty sure someone somewhere said, stay in school or something like that, why didn't just them saying be enough for you to listen?

    I guess what I looking here is what do you tell your students?

  • A reply on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 26 2012: Chris,

    thank you for your kind words :D. My life has been a tough one, but I know many stories out there just like mine or worst. I am just another person.

    Once that situation happened to me, I was more incline to learn from other people. Many of us believe we are untouchable or "that won't happen to me" syndrome. I learned at an early age, "that could happen to me".

    I like to grow, and so I know I have to feel pain. That is what I think makes me change bad into good. I accept pain. I am not afraid to feel pain. I know and believe its a part of a process and can become a resource.

    I think my entire life is a work in progress. With all due respect Chris, I am no hero. Hero's are protectors of the world. I don't feel like I did much, I just got over an emotional issue, and it all paned out. But thank you big time for the props, It fed my ego for the year ;D

  • A reply on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 25 2012: So true!!
  • +7

    A comment on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 25 2012: I have to say it was a time in my life where there was no supervision. I was about 15 years old. My mom worked all day in her business. I was at home. Our neighborhood had a lot of robberies and my house got hit. I was in it when it happened.
    He knocked on my door. I lived in Costa Rica at the time, on a farm like town. Behind me was a coffee field, next to me was a duck farm. It wasn't poor, it was just simple.
    When he knocked, I opened and he asked for a glass of water. I said sure, I let him in. I didn't think anything bad. Next thing you know he had my knife around my neck. And it was about a 20 min struggle. I was bound and tide, left for dead (i don't say sarcastically). In a moment of clarity I thought to hold my breath and black out. The predictor thought I was dead.
    He then took stuff and left. I waited for about 30mins (maybe) and I untied myself ran out the back door and hide in the coffee field until I herd some neighbors knocking at my door and I heard them shouting out for me.

    I was in the hospital for 2 weeks with a concussion, a broken nose, black eyes, 2 stab wounds and cuts throughout my body.

    I recovered, I saw the predictor again at least twice.

    At age 20 I got clinical help in Oregon. If it wasn't for the program at OSHU, I wouldn't be able to live a stable and happy life today.

    I love life, I think this experience made me appreciate life in a different way. And I'm thankful it happened because I have a high level of compassion for people and victims. I learned a lot about psychology.

    AbdelRahman Siddig, Thank you for asking me, I rarely talk about this (actually never) this is the first time I EVER talked about it on the internet. I know I talk about it so briefly and casually, but actually I don't get sad talking about it. I feel empowered.
    So Thank you Abdel :D
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: What inspires loyalty within the organizations you work with?

    Apr 25 2012: What inspires loyalty from me as an employee is....fair, simple and clear direction

  • A comment on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 25 2012: I am just an ordinary person (a little corky) fascinated by smart people :D Thank you for taking the time to read my profile.

  • A reply on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 25 2012: Well its a pretty short story, some one came to my door while living in Costa Rica, and asked me for a glass of water. As i walked to the counter to pour the glass he saw a knife on my table and used it on me.
    So my lesson was a painful one, that I hope know one would go thru.
    Maybe the lesson is more circumstantial, maybe I shouldn't have let the person in my home. But I always felt that If the knife wasn't out, I wouldn't have been hurt so much.
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience

    Apr 24 2012: Always put away your knifes when someone you don't know comes into your home.

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