I am a Bulgarian immigrant who lives in the great state of Texas, United States of America.
What shaped me:
Whenever I was a child, my country went through a transitional period from Communism to Democracy. Due to an economic crisis at that period, there was a shortage of food in the country. Because of the increasing uncontrolled inflation, my mother, who worked as a teacher at that time, was getting a monthly salary equivalent to $ 7 a month in Bulgarian money.
That meant only one thing to my family and me: Struggle.
Because my mother was single and cared for my twin sister and me, she faced one of the hardest decisions a mother could make. She enrolled my sister and me in a governmental program meant to keep children from an unstable family environment in orphanages. During that period of crisis, 10% of all of the Bulgarian children were in orphanages.
For me, that meant a different world. Lacking the family’s protection, I needed to learn to communicate effectively and be resourceful to survive. I learned empathy because that happened to be the most excellent communication tool, and I felt empowered with it.
I started working at a very young age of 14 in the manufacturing industry in a chemical and flavor factory. My duties included producing beverages under pressure in glass bottles that would often break and slice my hands and body. I worked deferent full-time jobs (most of them in hazardous conditions) while studying graphics and textile design.
In 2004, I was lucky to find a job in a small Bulgarian advertising agency. Soon after I started working there, I got promoted. My duties included: sales, project management, event organization, graphic design, and more.
Because of my contribution, ideas, and projects, the business grew.
In 2010 I moved to the US with a green card.
I enrolled in Brookhaven College with a major in Computer Science. I found a job in my college. I worked as an assistant to biology professor Andrea Bayley who later became my friend and showed me many different US life aspects.
I had several US jobs that required some element of project management, graphic design, or both. In 2020 I wanted to gain a better understanding of the design process and the human-centric design. That is what motivated me to choose UX/ UI design as a path in my career.
I decided to do Web Design as a specialization because I already have accommodated some visual design and research knowledge.
What is Next?
I am hungry for work.
My ideal future job will include an element of philanthropy or working for a good cause. I want to serve humanity and build apps and integrate programs that change people’s lives.
My free time: I spend my time with my loving family, including my husband and five children. My hobbies include: playing music on several instruments, baking, and doing art projects.
