At 25, Coleen Garcia has accomplished more than most people her age. In the last few years, we’ve seen her transform into a strong, confident, independent woman who goes for what she wants. But believe it or not, this hasn’t always been the case. Like many of us, Coleen experienced a rough patch; she doubted herself and questioned her life choices. There were even nights when she couldn’t sleep because of all the pressure—not just from the world, but also from herself.
Now that Coleen’s found a good balance between her career and her relationships, we asked her, what does she want to tell her 20-year-old self?
1. Focus on the right career goals.
For Coleen, it’s all about attaining longevity. “It’s not important for me to reach the top [or] to create a certain image for myself. What’s important is for me to be here [for] as long as I can.” She continues, “I want to try and experiment with as many roles as I can. So far, I haven’t really played the same type of role twice, and I hope to keep it that way. I just want to continue growing,”
2. Be confident in your own skin.
Transitioning from modeling and acting to doing live shows was what encouraged Coleen to come out of her shell. “If you’re not confident, if you’re not sure about what you’re doing, if you’re shy, if you have reservations and hesitations, your audience will know.” Though it was hard, it was a turning point for Coleen because it brought back her passion for acting.
3. Stand firm in your beliefs.
Unfortunately, celebs are constantly bashed—even for things they can’t control. “It was really bad," Coleen shares. "I’d wake up in the middle of [the night] and go straight to my phone, check each picture, and delete comments. And everything I did only seemed to make it worse.”
Since then, Coleen has learned to not let the haters get to her. “I fought really hard—for my career, my relationship, my character, my integrity. I tried to handle it the best way I could... And that’s one thing that I’m really hanging on to, that I got myself to this point.”
4. Never forget about the people who give you strength.
For Coleen, her biggest transformation was stepping up and taking care of her family. She says, “I realized that it was my responsibility to give back to my family [and] to anyone close to me who really played a vital role in my upbringing.”
Watch the video to see Coleen transform from being breakable to someone who’s truly strong:
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