Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Castellanos.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jocelyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The story of who I am begins when I was just a shy, little kid who loved books. The coloring kind and the reading kind. My mom tells me stories of how I paid no attention to dolls and toys. I would let them sit there, largely untouched and organized. However, coloring books were a different story. I was fascinated with colors and bringing blank pages to life. I also loved the creativity of literature and how you could create a whole universe through words. I loved school. I loved learning. I still do. As I got older, I was fortunate to have art class as a constant in my everyday life. I may be biased but I had some pretty incredible teachers. They allowed me to express my visions, were constructive in their critiques and pushed me to experiment. All of the pieces I have created and will continue to create are what they are because of them.
Senior year soon arrived, and I was torn on my college plans. I’ve always loved structure and math but I also crave creativity and the chaos that comes with it. This led me to start college at the University of North Texas as a marketing major. I got involved in a couple of organizations on campus and grew to really like digital marketing. So much of it is so visual and beyond making a sale. It’s about building an experience thorough content, being strategic and making sure it reaches the right people. With the development and use of social media, I also grew captivated by branding. It’s incredible how two companies can provide almost the same service/item yet create completely different perceptions of who they are as a company and what kind of person buys from them. It’s the perfect intersection between strategy and creativity.
Graduation soon crept up and, unlike seemingly every single college student in the world, I wasn’t counting down the days. Throughout my time in college, I did everything I was supposed to. I got the good grades, I was involved, I worked while I finished school, I graduated a year early, so why did I feel so unfulfilled? For a month or two, I was trying to settle for jobs that I wasn’t excited about for the sake of checking off one of those major boxes: getting a job. Then, a switch flipped. Maybe it was time to start doing everything you’re not supposed to. I remembered touring an advertising agency and falling in love with the environment so I decided I was going to conquer the advertising world. The first step was to get an internship. I ended up taking three and that’s where my story leaves off. I’m extremely excited to write the next chapter of this story.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Everyone has struggles. They just all look a little different. I was a first-generation college student and I had no idea what I was doing. It’s a little like walking in the dark towards a lit candle 33 feet ahead. You can see a flicker of where you’re supposed to end up but you don’t have a sneak peek of the best path or any bumpy parts that you’ll stumble upon. However, I am so fortunate to have the unconditional support of my friends and family. Struggles are inevitable but knowing that I am not alone in them makes a huge difference.
There are also internal struggles. No one prepares you for how draining and defeating those can feel. As a self-proclaimed planner and perfectionist, I’m always looking ahead and comparing myself to others to find areas of improvement. This year, I’ve come to realize that if you’re happy with what you’re doing, know the purpose behind it and the role it will play in your overall plan, everything else shouldn’t matter.
As for the advice I would give women who are just starting out their journey? Block out the noise and keep going. It sounds simple but there will be days full of doubt where you will wake up and question what you’re doing. I’ve found that in moments of confusion when I have done nothing, those have been the worst. After all, the only way out is through. Swap out the notion that you have to follow a specific path in a timely manner and that you’re failing if you’re not. Take ownership of the path you’re on and don’t look back.
Please tell us about your work.
It’s hard to say what I do and that’s what I enjoy the most about my life right now! As a brand research intern, social media intern and marketing intern at three different places, I have the opportunity to wear a lot of different hats right now. I write articles, I create social media content for a client, I conduct industry research, I create graphics, I analyze research, I reach out to influencers/media, etc. I also love to paint. It’s really fun to experiment with different mediums but I always find myself coming back to oil paint. As far as my art endeavors go, I always welcome commission pieces and you might find me at an art show here and there. Painting is very much about the process and something that I find very therapeutic. I love getting lost in the details of a picture, especially with water. You learn to see colors and shapes that aren’t there at first glance.
In the past few years, like a lot of early twenty-somethings, I’ve constantly pondered and thought about what it is that I want to do with my existence. And I have come to terms with the fact that I just like to create. Whether that be art, stories, ideas; I just like to take a vision and bring it to life. Sometimes, I’ll have someone I work with say “do you know how to do this?” And my favorite reply is “no, but I’ll make it happen”. And I think that’s what sets me apart.
Who have you been inspired by?
The women in my life have been incredibly influential to who I am. I’m constantly in awe at the accomplishments of my friends and the women I work with. They inspire me through their kindness, drive, relentlessness, fearlessness, growth, and support. Many of them are making moves in industries where women aren’t very prominent. I am absolutely proud and honored that I have the opportunity to see them go through their journeys. With that being said, I couldn’t talk about inspirational women without talking about one of the most inspirational women in my life: my mom. I can’t even put into words how incredible her work ethic is, how clever she is, how selfless she is and, on top of all of that, hilarious. I am so blessed to have such an inspiring woman in my life that always pushes me to go after what I want.
The people we surround ourselves with and the energy they radiate is much more influential than we realize. It’s very exciting to see that women are becoming more visible in the media because, as this series emphasizes, incredible women are all around us and they are anything but one dimensional.
Contact Info:
- Website: Art Samples- https://www.instagram.com/artworkxjocelyn/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justjocelyn3/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelyn-castellanos/
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