Victoria Cartagena
Some people are just born leaders. Our #SurvivorSunday feature, the lovely Victoria Cartagena, happens to be one of those people. Small in stature but a giant when it comes to fighting for what’s hers, Victoria is no stranger to overcoming adversity. Below, she shares with us what drives her to keep going and how those hurdles helped mold the unstoppable woman she is today.
Victoria’s Story:
When I was about 16 I started dating someone who was not the healthiest partner one could ask for. He was older, he drank … a lot. He had bad habits, and eventually he became abusive. I remember someone telling me that I would end up pregnant before I graduated high school and that I wouldn’t be able to chase my dreams because I was deciding to chase this guy.
I grew up watching people around me (people whom I love very much) settle and not chase their dreams because of fear, money blocks, other people and more. I remember the exact day I decided that I was going to do ANYTHING I put my mind to. I remember telling my grandmother that “NOTHING would get in the way of my dreams”.
I am 25 …
The first person in my family to graduate with my Masters Degree …
I’ve got dreams way bigger than my family could ever imagine …
Much more than a house and a car …
I’m going after legacy …
I pray everyday that whatever hold or barriers may be keeping my loved ones (family and friends – you too) in small thinking be broken …
I pray that God show them what He has already done for them … That he show them that everything they could ever want is theirs for the taking.
Studies show that children and adolescents who experience trauma are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, drop out of higher education, experience homelessness, and have serious trouble in healthy development mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally.
I said of all of this to say …
I could have been a statistic. I could have decided that my past was my reality and dwelled. I could have ended up in one of those situations (and I am very aware that I still can). But God … He is the only one I can give credit to … I did not do this … He did.
I don’t know what drives me …. I get asked that question at least twice a week “How do you do so much?”, “How do you stay focused?” … I really don’t know. The only thing I do know is that when I look back at my story the only thing that does make sense is that God was with me every step of the way … even when I was doing wrong, even when I was far away from Him .. He was there the ENTIRE time.
The message: Dream Big … and then Dream BIGGER ( a quote by my friend, Tha Koncept) Go after what is yours, be a good person, trust God and be grateful.
Here’s to the beginning of something amazing!
Shouts out to my mom and dad for being amazing, for the support, for all of this. 
Photocred: NAlan Smartt