Gentlewoman, Monica Ceja

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.