In 1981, at just 17 years old, I decided I wanted to go into the Army National Guard Military Police Unit located in my hometown. I remember going to my parents and telling them I wanted to join and serve my country. My father, a Korean War veteran, was very proud I decided to take control of my life and was honored that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and join the Army. Both of my parents had to sign for me to go because I had not turned 18 years old yet. The training and discipline instilled in me at …
Posts Categorized: Team Members
Leaders Making History: Laura Quezada- Seargeant
You may not work directly with Laura Quezada- Seargeant on a daily basis, but you know the name. Laura and her team have an unmatched work ethic and a winning mentality. The Dallas Cowboys fan and hula hoop enthusiast inspires our ACV Desk agents by taking the lead in various Company initiatives, from canned food drives to performance-based contests. It’s no wonder why she has topped many of the leaderboards at TMX Finance® Family of Companies since starting as a District Director of Operations in Training. “I came in as a DDOIT (District Director of Operations in Training) and remember …
The Importance of Celebrating Heritage and Continuing Traditions
One thing that I always try to teach my children is that although we are American, understanding our heritage gives us an idea of how our ancestors lived and how and why our traditions came to be. I believe it is very important to learn our culture and where we came from, especially from a familial perspective. Understanding where we came from allows us to share how things came to be–through necessity or through old traditions and beliefs. I learned at an early age to participate in cultural activities because it creates a bond that we all share. Here are …
Food That Feels Like Home
You can’t talk about Peru without talking about our food. Recognized as one of the best gastronomic destinations in the world, our cuisine has contributed to the growth of social development in our country in the last decades. In the last few years, world known chefs, award winning restaurants, hundreds of community events, new cooking schools, and a whole new perception on how our food represents our culture have been created. Our cooking scene is one that is constantly evolving, while always maintaining the traditional flavors and ingredients. Chefs have brought to our attention the faces of every person involved …
The Amazing Country of Chile
This month is Hispanic heritage month and I‘d like to talk about the amazing country my family is from, Chile. Chile is located between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It’s the long strip that borders “The strait of Magellan” on one end and the Andes Mountains on the other in South America. Culture In the arts world, Chile is known for its incredible literary tradition. Some of the world’s most widely acclaimed poets came from Chile, including Nobel Prize winners Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda. The poetry scene in Chile is also a major venue for Mapuche artists, who often work …
Food and Family: The Cornerstone of Our Traditions
I have always believed the true sign of a wealthy person is not how large their bank account is, but by the amount of love one has with their family and friends. I come from a proud Hispanic family. My parents worked very hard to ensure that my siblings and I never went without. More importantly, they made sure that we always bonded in making life long memories with each other. I have three brothers and two sisters spread across the state of Texas. Our lives can get pretty busy with everything we have going on– from school, work, and …
From One Working Mom: Achieving Work-Life Balance
Balance: an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. With more and more moms in the workforce, there is naturally a ton of buzz around attaining the seemingly impossible notion of a work-life balance. I am one of those moms. A working mom to two sweet boys, an almost 3-year-old toddler, Jackson, and an 8-month-old tornado, Rhett. Managing the workload of a career, family responsibilities, friendships, and carving out time for my own self-interests can be at times… daunting. Although this sort of juggling act requires energy, time, dedication, and attention, it’s important to …
My 2019 Health Goals
“I don’t run. If you see me run, you too should start running because something is probably chasing me,” was something I always said when my friends would ask me if I wanted to go for a run or participate in a 5K road race. Running was not part of my routine life and I was completely okay living my best life without running in the picture. Then came my late-20s-approaching-30s where I found myself gaining weight and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. My normal routine of lifting weights and dog walking were not helping me sustain the healthy …
Popping Biscuits and PTSD
*Content may be upsetting to some. Please read with caution. I opened a can of biscuits, all by myself!! Doesn’t sound like a big accomplishment, does it? To almost 8 million Americans, that simple task could have meant DAYS in the protection of a dark room on high alert. Seems crazy, right? My name is Bridget and I live with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Here’s my story and what I want the world to know… I am a survivor. Make no mistakes, I spent 23 years as a victim living in disgrace, ashamed of what I had been through, …
Pride
Pride is defined by Dictionary.com as confidence and self-respect as expressed by members of a group, typically one that has been socially marginalized, on the basis of their shared identity, culture, and experience. Pride to me is a sense of freedom and expression, much like our constitutional right and first amendment: Freedom of Speech. It took me some time to understand the power of pride, being that I “came out” at the age of 16. However, after experiencing my first Pride Parade that same year, it really hit home. These people, my people, celebrating all day and night about Love. …