Today we’d like to introduce you to Alba Villarreal.
Alba, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a first-generation Mexican-American woman from a low-income background who has always been passionate about working within my community to create change. In 2018, I graduated high school at the top of my class and received several scholarships that entirely funded my education. It is with these scholarships that I was able to attend college and focus on my studies. I attended Georgia State University and majored in Political Science with a Pre-Law Concentration and a minor in Journalism. Despite my college being paid for, I still worked several jobs throughout college. From my freshman year, I worked at least two jobs every semester to ensure financial stability. This is a universal experience for many people with a low-income background, but I recognize I was incredibly lucky to have the scholarships I had. It was through my jobs during college that I gained experience working in politics and communications with several non-profits as well as government organizations. I constantly wondered if my never-ending work and school cycle would be worth it after graduation. Luckily, it was because I was offered a full-time job at GALEO, and about six months later, I was promoted to Director of Communications. While the jump may seem sudden, where I am now is a testament to the sleepless nights and 40+ hour work weeks on top of a full college workload that I had for three and a half years. I was incredibly lucky to graduate early with Honors, Summa Cum Laude distinction.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. On top of working several jobs throughout college, I had the duties and responsibilities of being the oldest daughter in an immigrant household. As the only driver in my family, I had no choice but to commute to school for the last three years of school to be there whenever my family needed a ride somewhere. There were semesters when I had to leave campus right when my class ended to make it in time to take my brother to soccer practice. There were classes I missed to take my mother, brother, father, grandfather, etc., to doctor’s appointments and parent/teacher conferences. There was an entire month during my junior year when my brother, my grandfather, and I went to the hospital (at different times), and my commute shifted to going to school straight after the hospital. I woke up early to avoid traffic, missed out on extracurricular activities, and hoped that office hours were held while I was on campus. Familial commitments, internships, restaurant jobs, and a full course load were all extremely hard to manage. All of this, while coping with diagnosed but untreated ADHD, created challenges that I am forever grateful I was able to overcome.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I am the Director of Communications for GALEO & GALEO Impact Fund. They are sister organizations (GALEO, C3 & GALEO Impact Fund is C4). I handle communications for both organizations meaning social media, press, content, website management, etc. What sets me apart is my never-ending need to continue learning. If there is anything about me, I am a fantastic student with a great work ethic. I am constantly learning and growing and refuse to stay stagnant for too long. I am 23 years old, not even a year from graduation, and I am in a Director role at one of the non-profits I used to volunteer for. I was also awarded the 30 Under 30 Non-Profit Professionals of Atlanta award due to my work in this space. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have and never take for granted the long road it took to get here at such a young age.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Since I have always been the matriarch of my family, the idea of needing a mentor was alien to me. I always only had myself to rely on for everything I needed. But throughout college, I saw the importance of relying on others who have walked a similar road to you for advice and guidance. It took me a while, but what works for me when I am networking or seeking a mentor is to really pay attention to the people already around. We are often seeking others that are far from reach to guide us when we have people around us who are exceptional representations of the connections we need in life. Catching up with people you’ve known for a while can bring great insight. Introducing yourself to a lot of important people can be useful but what is most useful is when you nurture relationships you already have.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albalucerov/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alba.villarreal.750
