Today’s
gentlewoman is an i-n-d-e-p-e-n-d-e-n-t Latina named Monica Ceja. We’ve heard many singers talk about being
independent and well, this girl right here is the poster child of what it means
to be an independent woman. A graduate
of Southern Methodist University, Monica landed a job most people would kill
for. Monica is educated, successful and
beautiful. Aside from that, Monica remains humble and ultimately, a true Daddy’s
girl.
We all take
different roads and paths when it comes to where we end up in life. Some of us choose the career, some of us
choose family and some of us try to balance both. What I love about sharing each Gentlewoman’s story
is that the truth is there is no right or wrong way to live your life’s
journey. We are all different and we all
have a different road to travel. Monica chose education and a career. She’s thriving and enjoying her life. As her mom once told her, “A husband and
children will eventually come.” I think
her mom is right and I think when the timing is right Monica will have it all.
Oh, and
please help me in continuing Monica’s birthday celebration by wishing her a very
happy belated birthday.
Enjoy!
1.
For those who don’t know you, can you tell me about yourself? My name is Monica Ceja, I'm 32 years old and I live in Dallas
Texas. I'm Mexican American, an only child and consider myself to be loyal, fun
and independent.
2.
You have a job that most people would kill for. Can you tell my
readers how you landed the job with Jack Daniels, how long you have been
working there and what you do there? I started off as a promo
model for Jack back in college. I basically started at the bottom and worked my
way up to manager. I took extra shifts, cleaned storages, merchandised
accounts, etc. I did anything that would show them I was serious about
moving up. When I graduated in 2003 the position for the Hispanic division
opened up and luckily I landed the job. I now oversee the Dallas General and
Hispanic sales, marketing and promotional duties for Brown Forman. I am a Brand
Activation Manager for Dallas and this is my tenth year with them.
3.
Sometimes our own friends, family and/or race can tend to judge or
criticize us the most. As a Hispanic female, do you feel you get any criticism
for focusing on your career rather than choosing the route of husband and
babies? No.
Thankfully my dad (traditional Mexican) never imposed that on me. He and my
mother always stressed that education and a career were more important. My
mother was a kindergarten teacher that graduated from TWU so she always told me
that a husband and babies would eventually come, but I needed to focus on
myself and being financially independent first. Both my father and mother came
from poor Mexican families (dad - Michoacán / Mom - Corpus Christi) and so they always wanted better for their daughter. They never wanted me to miss out on any opportunities and preferred I explore all those options before settling down.
4.
I don’t mean to bring up past hurts, but I did want to ask you
about your mother who you lost a few years back. Losing someone is always so
difficult. I can’t imagine the pain you feel when you lose a parent. As a woman,
I turn to my mother for just about everything. Can you tell me how you were
able to get through that season of sadness and loss? I'm not going to lie and
tell you that it's going to get better because it doesn't. I mean it gets
easier but never better. Holidays, videos, pictures, songs, memories....any
little thing can take you right back to that sadness because you never really
get over it. For an entire year I was depressed but my ex fiancé was the only
one who knew. I vented to him and only him because as an only child I had to be
strong for my dad and put a happy face for my family and show them that I was
ok. If I could I would have cried and screamed and let it all out every single
time I missed my mom but I didn't. All I can encourage people to do if they
ever find themselves in this situation is to let it out and lean on as many
people as possible. Holding it in and storing it away is only going to hurt
you. It took me about 3 years to make peace with my mom’s death and to tell
myself I wasn't that strong and needed support too.
5.
What or who has been your biggest inspiration and why? My mother - like I said she
came from a small town and poor family. She pushed herself to go to community
college then come to TWU and become a teacher. Her family told her it was a
waste of time but my mother never gave up on her dream. She pushed me every
day. My mom was just the perfect mother. She used reverse psychology on me and
my cousins a lot now that we think about it lol. She never refused anything I
asked for BUT I had to meet all her expectations and standards in order to get
it. She taught me the meaning of standing up for myself, being independent,
fighting for what was right and to never give up on my goals. She will always
be my inspiration.....and I will continue to make her proud even though she's
no longer here.
6.
You were a recipient of the SMU Dedman Scholarship back in 1999.
How did that scholarship change or impact your life? Honestly I couldn't have afforded to go to a college like SMU on
my own. I owe Robert and Nancy Dedman so much for giving me the opportunity to
better my education. I was accepted to state schools but I mean to be accepted
into a private institution like SMU is an accomplishment in itself. Going to
SMU opened doors of opportunity for me as well as molding me for my future. It
really opened my eyes to the real world and helped me mature as well.
7.
What do you think women in our generation need to hear? That they can be anything
they set their mind to be! Don't follow your friends, be original! Be
you, become something! Too many girls sell themselves short and want everything
so easy. Trust me the hard work will payoff in the long run.
8.
What are your dreams? To travel the world and take my dad to places he's never even
heard about. I just want my dad to be happy...that’s all I wish for.
9.
How do you feel you have changed in the last 10 years? I'm still the same in a way
lol. Still the hard headed, independent, social, nice girl I was ten years
ago....just with my own house and car now.
10.
What are you most proud of? Honestly myself....I've gone through a lot
these past ten years and I'm glad that I made it through everything and learned
things about myself along the way. I came out a much stronger woman.
