Sí Se Puede, You Can Do It

By Jackie Spencer
University of Texas, Arlington
Major: Advertising, Class of 2019

I was raised in a small border town called Presidio, Texas. My dad was a farmer in Ojinaga, Mexico and my mom was a teaching assistant at an elementary school. Attending college and pursuing a career was always a dream that felt so distant at the time. Growing up Hispanic, my parents worked endless hours and my childhood consisted of spending more time in Mexico than in my actual hometown.

Fun fact about me is that I began school in Mexico, learned how to speak Spanish and also learned to dance Mexican folkloric.

Years later, I began thinking of where I wanted to go to college and how much it would cost. I remember feeling so overwhelmed and discouraged after finding out tuition and fees. Each day, I dedicated time to earn good grades and apply to as many scholarships as possible. Luckily, my grades in high school paved the way to a full-ride scholarship at Midland College where I graduated with an Associate of Arts in General Studies (thank you, Legacy Scholarship).

Little did I know that I was about to be the recipient of not just one, but seven scholarships. #SiSePuede After Midland College, I was accepted at the University of Texas in Arlington where I graduated (debt-free) with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Minor in Business Administration. While I was attending UTA, I had the opportunity to intern at LATINA Style Magazine where I’d soon land my first gig as the Social Media Coordinator.

At LATINA Style, my role is focused on curating social media, copy and scheduling media posts across multiple platforms. I also help coordinate the LATINA Style Business Series, a program for entrepreneurs that takes place four times a year across the country. Each day, I’m surrounded by so many talented and hard-working Latinas who have empowered me to continue challenging myself. Another fun fact about me is that when I’m not in the office, I’m a beauty influencer. Under @spencerjackiee, I manage my own social media channels and the development of original content such as beauty tips and make-up tutorials. A few of my role models include Dulce Candy, Styled by Ale, Daisy Marquez, Iluvsarahii, and BeautyyBird. They have inspired me to be the best version of myself and continue pursuing my dreams. Achieving success takes hard work and sacrifice. My goal is to utilize my degree doing something I love. UTA opened many doors for me and I will soon be moving to New York City to work within the beauty industry. For anyone reading this, I hope this article inspires you to work hard and follow your dreams.