Today we’d like to introduce you to Yesenia Calderon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up as a child of migrant and seasonal farm workers. My family followed the harvest season in different communities across North Carolina and Florida twice a year. When I reached the age of 11, my parents made the challenging choice to settle in a small town in Florida. During my upbringing, I was exposed to a household where there was a significant amount of both verbal and physical abuse. My mother was a victim of this abuse for 24 years.
When I was 17 years old, my mother finally decided to divorce my father. Because of her limited ability to speak English, I helped by translating during the whole divorce process. Witnessing the lack of affordable and Spanish-speaking attorneys firsthand ignited within me an unwavering determination to provide help to others facing similar challenges. I applied to every scholarship available, and I embarked on my educational journey, earning my bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida.
In 2014, I was selected by the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association to partake in a Washington, D.C. internship. I was placed in the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, met President Obama and was featured on NBC Nightly News during my internship. In 2018, while working a full-time job at a family law firm as a law clerk, I graduated with my Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Board College of Law.
During this time, I co-founded LPHSHS (Lake Placid High School Hispanic Scholarship), an organization that strives to empower young Hispanic children through scholarship opportunities. After I passed the Florida Bar, I dedicated my efforts to helping children seeking asylum, advocating for their safety and well-being by working for a non-profit organization for a few years. While my work in humanitarian law was rewarding, during COVID-19, I realized that I had lost my spark and needed to return to my true calling, family law.
During the same time, I also lost my brother in a car accident. Losing my brother made me realize that life is too short, and one should try to live it doing what they most love. Soon thereafter, I made the decision to transition back into family law. Currently, I am an associate at Troy Legal P.A., a law firm specializing in family law. Every day, I am fueled by a genuine desire to help my clients navigate the complexities of their circumstances.
Most recently, I was featured on “Latina Leadership Lessons: Fifty Latinas Speak”. This book is a powerful and intriguing collection that introduces an impressive group of women who have reached the pinnacle of success in their work, despite having to overcome obstacles related to gender, ethnicity, and sometimes immigration status.
Additionally, because of my story, I am sought out as a motivational speaker, and I get to speak to students occasionally. I have learned that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope. My story serves as a reminder that by pursuing our true passions, we can make a profound impact on the lives of others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.troylegalpa.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100061857986126
