Queens, New York, November 10, 2025
As a first-generation Latina in college, I have always felt a deep responsibility to become a successful woman in America and help fulfill my parents’ “American Dream.” As the eldest daughter in an immigrant household, paving the path for my family often meant figuring things out alone while trying to understand a world they could not guide me through.

Throughout high school, I struggled to envision my future. While many of my peers eagerly planned life after graduation, I felt lost and unsure of what direction to take. Everything changed during my junior year when my counselor recognized potential in me that I had not yet seen in myself. With his encouragement, I began setting goals, taking my academics more seriously, and exploring extracurricular opportunities. It was during this period of growth that I found First Tech Fund (now called Honor Your Dreams), a discovery that sparked motivation, passion, and a newfound belief in my own possibilities.

Now, three years later, I am an Operations Management and Marketing Intern at Kurated Kultura, excited to continue developing my skills in business through the mentorship of Founder Alexa Zapata. The path that brought me here began long before this internship, and Honor Your Dreams played an important role in helping me reach this point.

My Journey Before Kurated Kultura

At sixteen, I had more questions than answers. I worried about choosing the wrong path and not knowing what my future should look like. These concerns eventually led me back to my counselor, who introduced me to Honor Your Dreams, a program focused on mentorship, college readiness, and helping students like me build confidence in our abilities.

Honor Your Dreams supports students who are underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation, and who often struggle with opportunity gaps. After hearing founder Jouse De Paz speak about his own experiences, I felt seen for the first time and inspired to pursue the High School Fellowship. I was selected as one of one hundred participants for the 2023 to 2024 First Tech Fund Fellowship, an opportunity that exposed me to a wide range of skills, professionals, and environments I never imagined having access to.

The fellowship provided me with mentorship, workforce development opportunities, a strong network, and a supportive community. These experiences broadened my understanding of the career possibilities available to me. For the first time, I could imagine myself pursuing higher education confidently rather than feeling overwhelmed or lost. This experience served as a strong foundation that helped shape the direction of my academic and professional journey.

Previous Cohort finishing an Honor Your Dreams event in New York City with Jouse de Paz and his team  (Honor Your Dreams)

As I transitioned into college, Honor Your Dreams continued to support me. I began freshman year believing I wanted to pursue engineering, especially since that career path had been reinforced by the skills and exposure I gained during the fellowship. However, during my sophomore year, I encountered new experiences that shifted my interests. I realized that my passion leaned more toward business, specifically data analytics. Although changing my major was a difficult decision, Honor Your Dreams taught me to trust my instincts and follow what felt right for my future. Even during moments of uncertainty, they encouraged me to stay confident and reminded me that I was capable of forging a new path. When I questioned what my next step should be as a Latina entering the business world, Honor Your Dreams immediately stepped in with resources and opportunities aligned with my pivot. Among those opportunities was the internship listing for Kurated Kultura. With their support, I applied, interviewed, and eventually gained the opportunity to work alongside Alexa Zapata.

Kurated Kultura: The Journey Begins

Kurated Kultura’s mission to amplify AAPI-owned businesses, highlight Filipinx makers, and give small creators a stronger platform resonated deeply with me. I have always valued community-centered work, storytelling, and intentional business practices, so the organization immediately felt like a space where my interests and values were aligned. This connection was strengthened by my previous internships and my leadership experience at my university, where building and sustaining community is central to my role.

Now, during my sixth week as an Operations Management and Marketing Intern, I have developed a deeper understanding of this field through Alexa’s mentorship. I have supported brand strategy and operations, learned about cultural e-commerce systems, and helped create content that connects audiences with Filipinx and AAPI-owned businesses. The patience, guidance, and trust Alexa has given me have helped shape my confidence and opened my eyes to how meaningful an impact-driven business can be. This internship has allowed me to grow professionally and personally, reinforcing that my decision to pivot into business was truly the right one.

How Honor Your Dreams Prepared Me for This Moment

Honor Your Dreams has been supporting me since I was seventeen, and many of the foundational skills I developed through the fellowship have directly contributed to my success at Kurated Kultura. The program helped me build confidence in communicating professionally, asking questions, and connecting with people in a meaningful way. These early lessons prepared me to step into professional environments with certainty and curiosity. The fellowship also instilled in me a sense of belonging in spaces tied to business, technology, and mission-driven work. Because of this support, I now feel empowered academically and professionally, and I approach new challenges with resilience and motivation.

Looking Ahead: My Goals at Kurated Kultura

As I continue my internship at Kurated Kultura, I hope to further develop the skills that will empower me in my future career. I aim to strengthen my operations and marketing abilities through hands-on guidance from Alexa and deepen my understanding of how e-commerce functions within mission-driven small businesses. I am also excited to continue growing as a storyteller through the blog posts I create and the content I help publish. Most importantly, I hope to contribute to consumer experiences that are thoughtful, culturally rooted, and supportive of the communities Kurated Kultura uplifts. Every project so far has guided me toward the type of professional I aspire to become.

“First Tech Fund showed me what was possible. Kurated Kultura is helping me take the next step.”

Written by Jomayra Carchi