Ashley Blanco shares about her upbringing in San Francisco and why she likes working with young people.
There was something special about growing up in the Ingleside district of San Francisco in the 1990s and 2000s. My family didn’t have much. Many of the adults surrounding me experienced some form of emotional distress and economic strain. But we found ways to take care of each other. My mother was one of the first people to show me the power of presence and generosity to family and friends despite life challenges.
My father was my first teacher on the importance of discipline by outlining the steps to any tasks and making sure I did each one. I wanted to follow their examples, and I was hopeful that having a college degree could help me achieve that goal.
Like many first-generation, low-income students looking at college as a broader way into life. I had to learn to rise above the mental barriers of my circumstances. We didn’t talk about mental health the way that we do today. Along the way of childhood and adolescence, I internalized the pain of my parents and other adults in my life. Unresolved emotional pain was my compass before shifting to purpose and personal power as a guide.
Today, as a kids’ life coach and educator, I get to connect to the work of my father as my first coach. He was very confident in my ability to work hard and excel. Like him, I can see the impact as I work with my students. I also expanded on his coaching style, by teaching kids how to manage distractions, learn from mistakes and expand their problem-solving abilities.