Understand Your Story To Unlock God's Glory For Your Life! With Jessica De La Cruz
When you understand your story, you’ll know what God placed in you so you can help others. This episode’s guest is Jessica De La Cruz, the principal for Ombudsman Educational Services at Goodyear. Jessica shares how overcoming painful, traumatic experiences helped her become a passionate purpose-driven individual. Her desire to watch people succeed energizes her to keep helping people daily. Tune in and be inspired to use your God-given strength to help others move forward towards a future full of hope.
---
Listen to the podcast here:
Understand Your Story To Unlock God's Glory For Your Life! With Jessica De La Cruz
I’m excited about this show because not often can you say in a time of COVID that I’ve hugged this guest. One of the great joys of my life to welcome Jessica De La Cruz to our show. I’m looking forward to our conversation. Welcome, Jessica.
Thank you, Rich.
Can you talk about who you are, what you do for a living and who you work for so everybody has a context of where we are starting?
My name is Jessica De La Cruz. I work from Ombudsman Charter Northwest High School. I work with students from the ages of 14 through the age of 21. I am the principal of the building.
There are some faces in the corner on the frame that keep you busy. I want to dig into that a little bit in a different way. I want to take you back to six-year-old Jessica instead of your own children. Think about what is it that you loved to do when you were six? What gave you great joy and happiness when you were six years old?
Understand Your Story: When you’re feeling drained, do something that's going to bring life back into you so you can continue to stay motivated for the next day.
I love the outdoors. Anything that I could do to be outside, whether it was riding bikes, playing sports or going fishing with my family and my dad. Those were the activities that I loved at that age. I can find memories from that age. A few of them and all of them have to do with the freedom and the joy that our kids don’t have which is being able to be out there, riding a bicycle, using your imagination and making the best of what life has to offer, at the age of six.
My life was the same. I would probably answer the question the same. If you flash forward, how does that connect to what you love most about your life and the work that you do now?
As far as my life, with my children, I want to give them the same experiences that I had as far as enjoying time outside, enjoying time as a family, going up to the mountains and experiencing that. That is something that I do with my children. As far as who I am in my career, there’s also a lot of background information that I didn’t mention earlier regarding my six-year-old life and going forward. That connection that I have with my career is understanding my students and my families. Knowing exactly, and not all the time, God-willing, it’s based on how he guides me but being able to help one student at a time. Letting them know that I understand what they’re going through. Letting the families know that I’m here to support them and guide them. That is how it’s connecting my life to my career.
What’s the opposite end of that scale? What are some of your most painful memories when you think back to your childhood when you were growing up?
Although there’s a lot of memorable memories with my family and parents, there are some painful memories that are included. Those are the difficult ones that nobody wants to speak about, but they’re important especially when it gives you the drive and purpose for the life you currently have. Painful memories were the emotional, physical and verbal abuse that my father had with my mother. The verbal and emotional on his children. I like to think of him that he was a tough dad. Sometimes not for the best. There are things in life that guide you to be the person and gives you the character that you’ve developed to become who you are now.
How does that play out into how you become who you are now? How are you different because of that?
It’s given me some gifts and skills that have allowed me to see things from a different angle. What I mean by that, when I’m going to go back to my career, is being able to understand my students, even my staff members or the parents. I have become a passionate, purpose-driven individual. That gift is what keeps me going. I feel like I have an engine that never gives up, never gives out. At times, I can see when it’s trying to run a little bit out of oil, but it gives me that drive to be able to help others and that ability to enjoy when I witnessed the change in others. When I witnessed that something that I have said or have done has given them hope for a better future. That’s what energizes me every single day.
It’s funny that you end on that word because that’s the thing that I know about you, from when we’ve walked and talked together and we spent time together, but you finished with the word energizes. You’re an energetic person. You transfer a lot of energy into those around you. What refills those batteries? What keeps your energy level up and energizes you to be able to keep going on a day-to-day basis?
I don’t want to say that it sounds silly to think this way because it’s what gives me my purpose. I love watching people succeed. I love training, teaching, mentoring. You can see it even in my own home, with my friends and even with my staff members at work. If I can help them go the extra mile to reach another goal that they need to reach or with my students, I’m helping them out. Even finding a job that’s going to make them happy, that they enjoy. It’s that mentorship. That what drives and energizes me is seeing change. Seeing a good change in others and for them to be able to see that we can either choose not to move forward in life and settle or we can make something of life and make our choices be what strengthens us and keeps us moving forward. I can honestly say that even if there wasn’t an individual at the moment for me to mentor or teach, I’m always looking for a way to mentor and teach myself. Find a way to continue to move forward so that I can help someone else later in the future. It’s part of who I am and it’s part of my DNA now.
When you go home at the end of the day, and you’re drained. You don’t have much left. You have to reenergize yourself. What are the kinds of things that take away from your boundless energy?
You can go from one end to the other because I firmly believe that you got to balance life out and sometimes you forget that you’re supposed to balance life out. There’s always going to be the good and bad. There are days where you feel like you’re making no change or you’re causing no change in anybody’s life and you’re not impacting anybody. You can sit back and say, “What else am I supposed to do? Who am I outside of this person that wants to drive energy into others?” That probably the most difficult battle that I’ve had in life is trying to make sure that I go home and still feel like there’s value in my life. See the light in the darkness at that moment.
At the end of the day, we’re all drained. I’m going to take your question over to another end. The things that I know that I do when I’m feeling this way is set up some Christian music. I read the Bible. I do something that’s going to bring life back into me so that I can continue to stay motivated for the next day and keep going, to be able to be who God wants me to be. There are some times where it plummets down to that, “I’m completely drained. How do I move forward?” That’s when family members and friends come in. The Lord comes in. He speaks to me through his words and allows me to see that tomorrow is another day. There’s enough for ease today but tomorrow, we’re going to keep going.
You’re describing the you that I know clearly. If you could accomplish something in life that would change everything for you, what would be something that would change everything?
Understand Your Story: Use your God-given strengths and abilities to be able to continue to change others in a more positive way.
The part of helping others and my family is building a legacy for myself, my children and their children where we use God-given strengths and abilities. To be able to continue to change others in a more positive way. Bring life to them. One of my goals is to one day have a building where I can help battered women and their children. Hope for me to be able to move forward and continue to use the skills that I have here as a principal in this building, but not only in this building, not minimize it to one building with 240 students but everywhere, a bigger version of what it is here with no closed doors, no walls. That sent me to this specific group, even though I love what I do, I want it to go elsewhere. Being able to do what I do but in a much bigger version.
It’s interesting that almost everything that you define is about others, not about yourself. It’s how you’ll be fulfilled. The way that you’ll be fulfilled is by what you’re able to accomplish with and for others. That’s your measuring stick. That’s consistent with you in terms of everything that you talk about, including your family. It’s good, consistent, interesting and admirable. I’m going to make it a little harder yet because I like to. It’s fun. I did this with my son. It was amazing the things that I learned. Imagine that rather than meeting weeks ago, we met three years from now. You were so excited to tell me about the last three years of your life. What an amazing three years it had been. That last three years of your life when we meet three years from now, why was it so amazing?
It’d be amazing because I would have accomplished specific goals in my life. I’m always speaking about pouring into others. I hope that, if we were three years from now, that I would have the ability to say, “In the last three years, I’ve been able not only to coach, mentor, teach others and watch others become a better version of themselves. I’ve learned in the last three years to love not only what I do for others but what I do for myself. In the process of developing either an organization or having a building to help other women, children or other students in a much bigger capacity.”
In those three years, that’s where I would be, but not only would I have helped them but I’ve encouraged myself to believe in who I am, how I was created fearfully and wonderfully. I don’t know how to explain it. A version of this would be like an explosion of who I am three times stronger and more effective. I know that the word effective sounds a little awkward at this moment, but more effective in the way that I handle a move. This is very difficult. The change and meeting the goals that I need to meet. I’m only helping others by helping myself in this transition. In this walk-in those three years, if we would have met, that’s what I would hope to have told you.
There’s no reason that you can’t. There’s nothing stopping you from the work you’re doing the work. You’ve been doing the work we’ve done together. Part of it’s because we’ve started to raise it up a little bit in the conversation. The thing I find interesting is the time that you chose to say, “Yes. I want to do these things about my career and my vision. I want to tell you about how far I’ve gone in those three years. I also want to tell you about how I’m further along at being a stronger me, prouder of me, more sufficient me.” We learned a little bit about the words, “I am enough.” This discussion is when you first brought that in. That three years from now, you have a line of sight, a vision towards being able to put those two things together. What you do for others and how that affects yourself. Maybe, that’s why this was hard because of the second half, not the first half. There are lots of stuff that we’re proud of in our jobs and in the business that we do. What stuff are you tolerating or putting up with?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it tolerating. It’s like a rock in the way, a pebble in the way would be that I can express the love of Christ more openly in my career, the school setting. It’s difficult when I see pain, hurt and not being able to say, “Jesus loves you. Through Christ, we can do all things. You’re fearfully and wonderfully made,” in those specific ways. The most difficult part of my career is not being able to express myself in that way when I’m speaking to someone who’s hurting. I don’t think I would call it tolerating, but at the same time, that’s probably the best word that fits in that.
It’s alright because it’s such an important part of your own life. You have to hold it back. You’re tolerating the restriction. You tolerate lions that you’re putting up with because they’re not you. I’m finding a little almost the opposite in that. All of the people that I work with as clients, CEOs, founders, business owners, they’re working from their homes. They’re not in an office. They don’t have the Head of HR in the office down from them. They don’t have their people all around them. They’re in a comfortable home setting.
I’ve had more faith conversations over Zoom in a business context than I’ve ever had within an office because in an office, it was against the rules. We don’t talk about religion. We don’t talk about faith in a business. You don’t talk about it in a school unless you’re going to a Christian school or a religious-based school. People have softened up and have changed about that when they’re in their house. You’re in a formal setting and you work not only for a school but for a company. You have rules. That’s harder.
In your position, it’s such a blessing to be able to share that with other believers. That’s amazing and awesome to know.
It’s different. It honestly surprised me. I doubt that you are often, but on the rare instance that you are, what bores you?
Sitting around, doing nothing. I’m not the type of person that’s going to sit there and watch TV. Although I do enjoy movies, my mind is always going, even when driving. One time, we headed up to Sedona. On the way back home, I finished a book. It’s who I am. I’m not easily bored. I can say that I find sitting at home doing nothing that’s boring to me. I will find something to do, whether it’s reading a book, cleaning something that’s already been cleaned, experimenting on cooking, something new that I’ve never done before, something outside of what I’m used to or even going outside for a walk. I’m not easily bored because I try to find something to do. That’s a blessing. Sometimes it could be the complete opposite. At this time, I’d like to believe that I’ve been blessed with the ability to find an alternative thing to boredom.
In all the things that are going on in your life, what are the 2 or 3 things that are working best for you?
I’m going to mention this one first before I go to those two things, is focusing on myself. It’s one that I’m working on. The two things that work for me at this time is making sure that my life is organized that I don’t burn out. Making sure that I’m around people that love me, support me and gives me joy. That’s not always the way it’s going to be but that’s a goal of mine is to be around that. Making sure that I don’t burn myself out and that I’m around people that love me and that I love, too.
Flip the coin. What’s not working?
Putting too many things on my calendar, overbooking myself at times. I’m working on some stuff for myself. I would love to take care of my health a little more. Exercise a little more often. Burn out some of that energy. Going out for hikes. Things that I love to do. I’ve always liked running and hiking, but I find myself putting them aside for other things and people.
It all falls into a category of prioritization. What role does faith play in your life and work?
Primary goal. It brings life to me. It’s what keeps me going. God has shown me the purpose and the reason for me to be here. He continues to guide me and bless me in that way. I can say that my life would not be what it is if it wasn’t for Jesus. He is my number one. It’s what has changed my life for the better. That is something that I’m always willing to share and encourage others to do because I know what it did for me. I know what that relationship did for me, inside of me, in my heart, in my mind, in my person. I believe that I am transformed, renewed and that’s how I want to live the rest of my life.
It’s a big part of the reason that you give back as much as you do.
Thank you, Rich.
I am blessed to have you as a friend. I know people that I say this about them. I don’t understand and can’t imagine not knowing them. I don’t know what my life would be like if I hadn’t met them. My life is better because of them. You are and will always be one of those people. I hope that everyone who’s reading this show has a better taste and feel for you, what you’ve accomplished, what your dreams are and what kind of a person you are inside. I’m pleased that you joined us.
Thank you, Rich. With me, I am a forever friend. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Thank you, Jessica. Have a wonderful day.
You, too.
Important Links:
Jessica De La Cruz - LinkedIn
About Jessica De La Cruz
Jessica De La Cruz, Principal for Ombudsman Educational Services in Goodyear, Arizona, serves nearly 240 disadvantaged young people with a full academic high-school curriculum plus lessons for life. Every day, Jessica is impacting these teens’ lives, literally as the last line of hope in their lives.
Born of migrant parents working the fields of America, she had the ambition and commitment to be the first college graduate in her family. To make the maximum contribution to the teens, she needs a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership K-12. With her current loans, there is no way she can even dream of going for this Master’s degree.
Here is our chance to extend a helping hand to a super-giver by raising $150,000 to cover her college education to help her be in a position to maximize her impact. Your contribution will help Jessica and make an impact on every struggling teen in her school.
Help Jessica help her 240+ students: https://lnkd.in/dbyD7Bw
