Today we’d like to introduce you to Emelen Cedillo.
Emelen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hailing from Lawrence, Massachusetts and a child of immigrants parents from Dominican Republic, I grew up in a loving and safe two-parent home. My half brother who lives in DR, and two older sisters, who lived in the home with me. My parents signed me up for all the things. Ballet, T-Ball, Dance Team at church. Growing up we loved dancing to bachata and merengue every chance we got. When I began my relationship with Jesus at, 9 years old, I started singing and writing my own songs. I was a High Honor student and every school year I received an award known as, “Student of the Month”. As the years progressed, as a tween, I was bullied in school, and sexually assaulted at home. This caused me to become full of shame and guilt. I felt utterly scared, unsafe, and traumatized in my own body and home. Now, with knowledge and hindsight I understand how I built protectors to help me and this changed the way I looked at my life and others thereafter, I began dating (as this is normal for Latin@s) to find protection. I also began suppressing my emotions. The light of my creativity was dimmed immensely. Thereafter, my teenage years were filled with rage, anxiety, depression, shame, low sense of worth, to mention a few. All while trying to please those around me and continue on with a smile.
Self-talk and criticism flamed the feelings of, “not good enough and rejected”. Even throughout this time, I noticed there were many people around me who DID SEE the best in me, my parents for one. These individuals encouraged and empowered me. They took me by the hand and placed me in new rooms I needed to be in. After having the option to stay in Lawrence on my own or following my parents as a 17- year- old both to Florida and then San Antonio, Texas, within 2 months of graduating high school, I found myself in a new state thousands of miles away from the 7- square- mile city I had been born and raised in. To say I felt lost is an understatement.
The new room for me was a Community College Advising Center, since after I graduated High School in Lawrence High School, MA., I had no future planned. I was living a life full of worries, anxieties and fears. With no hope for a future, completely lost and disconnected from myself. This simple trajectory of becoming educated completely transformed my life in so many ways. After being held by the hand in my educational journey, and through many peaks and valleys from 2005 to now, I have continued my professional development and my career and I have grown in confidence.
One of those gifts came in the form of a small business. Being married to a professional musician we understand the “gig life”, which are jobs you attain and work and then move on from. The “gig” can range from days, weeks, and most recently my husband just gigged around the world for over 100 tour days last year! One of the encouragements I would often overhear my husband telling his musician friends and mentees was always to “be the gig”. We are not looking for gigs here. Then the vision and strategy between myself and Ambar, our amazing Co-founder. We know who we are, our value, what we offer and contribute. None of that changes based if people see your worth or not because… YOU ARE SEEN and you deserve to “EXPERIENCE THE GIFT OF WHO YOU ARE!”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Once you walk in your purpose, it IS worth it. Is it easy? NO WAY!!! I have seen true bitterness, jealousy (and more) arise while achieving success. I have had to stay covered, protected, and walking with people who affirm me, accept me, and are my allies both physically and spiritually. It has been a challenge. You need support and to pray for clarity and discernment. It’s a fight! I am a Momma Bear though! I have two sons and this fight is for them! They will not have to fight the same curses I have had to because they end with me! No more silence, no more shame! This is for my children’s children’s children’s children….
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love all things learning, all things style, and all things creative. Whether it is fashion, music, dance, art, education. I became a Mental Health Educator and Advocate on 2016 and since then I have been able to turn all my pain into my purpose by advocating for my anger and helping educate others on topics such as stress, mental health and youth, generational trauma, and more. As a Master in Social Work (Trauma-Informed), Life Coach and Mental Health Coach, my mission is to help be a hope agent and to meet others where they are as they realize they created fearfully and wonderfully and for a specific purpose designed for them.
Co-founding Be The Gig (BTG) has fueled my passion and has helped me connect to empowered individuals who are living in and on purpose. We started off as an online sunglasses store and now, we are so much more! We are a community of men and women who do life together and find joy in the midst of trouble and the lesson in every little thing knowing we are not alone. We do not despise small beginnings. We do not have to see the entire path, but will get shown the way as we keep moving forward. Now, we not only sell sunglasses we have been hosting Women’s Retreats and are planning more events to get to know as many entrepreneurs and individuals as possible to spread this message of shining for you, shining for others, but most of all, letting God shine through you.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I would love to connect with your communities and learn from you and see how I can help meet your needs based on Trauma-Informed Life Coaching and Mental Health and community support and care. If you are looking to join a women’s retreat you can learn more at bethegig.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bethegig.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethegigdotcom/
- Facebook: BE THE GIG
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BETHEGIG
