Interview by SD Voyager

Updated: Mar 30, 2021

MAY 11, Meet Priscilla Amezcua of TransforME Project

Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscilla Amezcua.

Priscilla, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far. Life wasn’t easy for me from a young age. When I was eight months, I was diagnosed with epilepsy and dealt with that diagnosis for 12 years. Doctors also told me that my life would not be normal. I went to kindergarten almost by the age of seven years old due to my illness. During those years, I honestly did not know what was worse: being epileptic or being bullied for being an epileptic. At the age of 12, I received my miracle and was healed by my epilepsy. Nevertheless, I still carried the trauma of being bullied all those years and allowed those words to carry weight to my mind, heart, body and spirit for a long time. When life got better, I began to speak about my story. But then, while I was in college, at the age of 23, I had a surgery in my spine and my life was on pause for eight months. Doctors also told me that life wasn’t going to be the same. I remember them telling me things like, “You can’t run, jump, carry heavy things, you can’t sit for a long time, you’re going to be uncomfortable if you stay in bed for a long time. Your surgery wasn’t meant to fix you; it was so that you can survive and somewhat feel normal.” I had to learn to be okay with having family help me to dress up or take a shower. Nevertheless, I tried to pick myself up and even changed my career. In 2015, I graduated from Bellus Academy as an Esthetician, then continued at California Advanced Esthetics for my Masters Esthetics Diploma (@Divancysparoom). I usually had more women than men clients and I notice that facials and the beauty industry overall were therapeutic for many women. So I began to empower women in any way I could. I began to do small events in my home. It was right then and there where things were beginning to shift for me. I was facilitating all these events while I was finishing school. Two weeks before I was done with school, I lost seven people in my life in less than a year; Four family members and three family friends. During that season, I also lost two of my best friends and the person I thought I “loved”, who with finally I felt we had something real. I remember that relationship ending with him telling me, “you’re not enough, you don’t fill up my cup anymore, where ever life will take me you’re not enough for that either”. So there I was, hurt, confused, empty, and sad. My brokenness didn’t stop me from finishing school, but it did stop me from going to my graduation. It was that moment where it was very clear to me I fell into a chronic depression. For eight months, I gave up on me. It was the darkest season of my life. I could not and did not want to see the light. Thankfully, with the support of my family and one new friend, I was able to hope again. I remember my dad taking me to the doctor and saying to him, “Bring her back, she’s not the same. Please, is there anything we can do?” The doctor asks me for my name, can you imagine, I couldn’t answer the question? Then something happened in that moment. Something inside of me questioned, “Is this how I want to end? You want to give up now after everything you have been through?” After that day, I decided to fight for myself. I begin to celebrate the smalls things and small events such as getting out of bed, taking a shower, cooking for myself, driving more than just a block without having anxiety attacks. Then, I began to write in a journal every day on topics such as “What I was grateful for?” I wrote each day in my journal for a month and as I wrote, I began to remember that depression knocked on my door since I was 17 years old when my family decided to move to USA from Tijuana. I remembered how I used to have plans to be a psychologist and help people. But all that died since the first day I went to high school and I was bullied for my language and skin color. It’s true what they say “Depression is excess of past and anxiety is excess of future”. So, I began to discover myself again and grow more knowledge on two subjects: 1) Bullying and 2) Depression. I took several courses and began to dream again. I began to own my story and was invited to share it at conferences, youth camps and school events. In November of 2018, I received the keys to the office we share to begin with our Transforme Project support groups for women. Every woman from our community/City was welcome to our program such as teens, College girls and moms! In 2019, I was invited to be the mentor of the US Women’s Rugby League for six months and I also had the honor to mentor some other community leaders. We continue to expand and now we have a three-month program for women. Every October, we have a beautiful graduation for our ladies who finish our program. Just because I did not have my graduation doesn’t mean I don’t like to celebrate others’ wins! We begin to have more volunteers and now we also have our website, merch, offices and community events. Our dream is to minimize the statistics of women in San Diego who are going through hardships in life and prevent them from falling into chronic depression. We have also partnered with amazing professionals who have become part of our Board Members. One of TransforME’s new friends is Priscila Padilla. She is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician. With her, we provide Online Therapy in a very affordable price in both languages: English and Spanish! Our volunteers are amazing and have their own inspirational stories to share as well. We want to serve our community by walking with them in their journey. I know that in my journey for most part, I felt like had no one and I do not want no one to ever feel that way. I want to be part of the solution and help one woman at a time. Currently, I’m finishing the first Transforme Program Workbook! and I am very excited to be alive, hoping again, working hard and dreaming more. @transformeproject P.S. I know you all read eight months or the number 8 a lot. Funny thing is that I didn’t know that number 8 means NEW BEGINNINGS.

Has it been a smooth road? I think the biggest challenge we could have is to not to believe in ourselves. People follow realness. I don’t think my struggles make me weak. They make me real. The first hard step was to accept that this was going to be part of my story. Maybe not the whole book of my life but definitely 1 to 3 chapters of it. Now that I am working on this full time, I see that it’s hard to find sponsors. People won’t support new things and that’s okay. But now I have more grace for new businesses and projects because I know how hard it is to build something. Lastly, I will say never stop learning and growing. There’s no such thing as “I made it”. because “new” can also be trendy, but how about perseverance? How about expanding? How about evolving? So I learn that it’s okay to learn from others, to do collaborations and expand my knowledge. #workhardstayhumble

So, as you know, we’re impressed with TransforME Project – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others. We are a city project that will help through our three-month program/support group to share their experience and give women tools against depression. Our group sessions is very unique since every lady receives a gift once they start. We have motivational games, a class on topics such as loneliness, low self-esteem, stress and anxiety, anger management and some much more. In one of our classes we also give our participants a makeover with professional makeup artists! We give them time to express how they feel and encourage them with their journey. Lastly, we also provide some bomb snacks. Our Vision is to transform lives by preventing women from getting chronic depression. Our Mission to rescue victims from bullying and depression, as well to minimize the statistics in San Diego. We want to give every young and elderly women an opportunity to see life in another perspective towards their education, life vision, hope and influence. Follow and Join our Social Media Campaign with #SPEAKPURPOS3

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least? I love San Diego! It was the place I was born. I have seen the power of unity and community. I have visited the beautiful places, homes, and restaurants. I have such respect and admiration for our city. I guess the thing I least like about San Diego would not be the city but the depression that hit our city. It doesn’t respect age, social status, work titles if your single or married. Together I think we can beat the statistics and help our community the right way.

Pricing:

The first year was for FREE

Second year we had a donation fee for $150 per person, for the 3-month program. Highschool Students get a discount.
Do to the collaboration with Priscilla Padilla our Professional Online Therapy is for $45.
Online 3-month Transforme Program, donation fee of $100
Transforme Program Workbook $25