When I finally got my license as a Realtor back in October 2016, I was scared but excited at the same time. It had always been part of my goal from the day I learned that my husband was going to America for work—that I would become a real estate agent here. We weren’t even sure we were going to stay for good at that time. I knew he would be there temporarily, but there was a chance we could stay long-term. Of course, my positive mindset and my strong belief in my husband were what mattered most, so I held on to my plan—to become a real estate agent in America.

Back in 2007, when I decided to become an agent in the Philippines, selling houses and condos was not easy for me. I didn’t have a car. I commuted at least two hours to get to my destination, and possibly more than two hours back. On top of that, I had a baby I was breastfeeding, but I couldn’t bring my baby with me because I was commuting. I experienced inflammation and sometimes fever when I couldn’t release my breastmilk for hours while out doing showings. But that wasn’t a hurdle. I kept going, doing the same things over and over until it didn’t feel as hard anymore.

The internet became my source for leads and clients, even up to this day. I never handed out flyers or stood in malls to man booths for leads. In the Philippines, we didn’t have open houses or exclusive rights to sell, so you had to be resourceful and work twice as hard. Despite all that, I gained several clients and closed deals—enough to help pay for extra expenses like my kids’ school tuition and even start a small business while doing everything at the same time. When I was about to give up on that business, it turned out to be perfect timing for our move to America. That “unsuccessful” business became a valuable learning experience.

Moving to America was a big adjustment, but thankfully, the kids and I adapted well. We enjoyed everything—our apartment, which was our first home as a family of four. Having two bedrooms, our own kitchen, and a living space felt like a huge upgrade from living in Carlos’ old room. The parks, the schools—which felt even better than private schools in the Philippines—everything exceeded my expectations. We loved it.

It took me some time to get back into real estate. I started as an insurance agent, then became a preschool teacher. When we bought our first home, I asked our agent how I could become licensed, but she didn’t give me a clear answer. She simply said, “You don’t need to be an agent—you can just refer people to me.” At that moment, I felt shut down. I told myself, “Maybe I’m not ready anyway,” so I let it go and focused on enjoying our new home.

Later, my visa changed, so I had to stop teaching. I stayed home, continued blogging as a side job, and eventually became a Zumba instructor, teaching classes while waiting for my new visa. Becoming a Zumba instructor was a big step for me—it helped me grow my network and connect with more people.

A few months later, everything changed. At a dentist appointment, I ran into Ms. Donna, my daughter’s kindergarten teacher. She told me she was no longer teaching and had become a Realtor. That moment felt like a door quietly opening. After talking to her, I finally understood where to start. Ms. Donna became my mentor, and I will always be grateful for her patience, support, and belief in me.

Fast forward to today—it has been 9 years and 5 months since I became a licensed Realtor. I’ve been able to serve people, build meaningful relationships, and continuously grow as a person. My life has changed for the better. I’ve been able to give back, make people happy, and most importantly, create a better life for my family.

Every year, when I receive an award (for 8 consecutive years now), I’m reminded of the hard work behind it—my friends’ support, and my husband constantly lifting me up in every possible way. Nothing I have today happened by accident. I didn’t get lucky—I made it happen. I worked hard. I cared. I sacrificed. I loved. I failed, and I stood back up.

I never expected much in return, but I’ve been blessed with more than I imagined—and I will never take that for granted.