I was born 1963 in El Paso, Texas to two amazing people, Gumercindo and Maria “Fita” O. Dad and mom had been traveling across country when suddenly I wanted to come into this crazy world. We returned home to Chicago, Illinois where I was raised with 2 brothers and 4 sisters. It was my parents’ struggle and dream to come to the land of the “free” and give their children a window of opportunity that gave me the ambition to become my own success story.

It all began in an inner city ghetto on the southwest side of Chicago where poverty had no shame or respect for humankind. As a young kid, I performed along with some of my brothers and sisters for mom and dad, as we didn’t own a TV. Playing outside with dirt and sticks was our form of entertainment. Dad as a blue-collar worker taught us that hard work provides a roof over our heads and food – the bare minimum for the large family he had. It was this that gave me the desire to excel in school as I longed for a better way of life. I soon earned numerous awards for a variety of competitions in English, Math and Science. At the age of 12, I was enrolled in a small theatrical group for children at Morton Grove West H.S.. We performed dance routines and plays throughout various community centers. It was this experience that gave me the courage to apply and gain acceptance to enroll in Whitney M. Young Magnet H.S. for the performing arts. This is where I studied as a major the craft of dance and acting with a minor in accounting.

During my struggle to succeed in theatre, my life changed completely when I became a parent four months from my 18th birthday. My dreams of becoming an actress/dancer soon faded as realization set in that life would have to be different now. My vested time in trying to succeed, I felt, had just been sidetracked – or so I thought. Only God knew why and what he had in store for me. It was my daughter, Patricia AKA “Patti” who lit that flame inside of me that could launch a rocket ship from Cape Canaveral. I knew my course in my journey of life was about to change big time. I changed my study of concentration to something more lucrative - Computer Science. I knew that I could not afford the luxury of a life of a starving aspiring actress with a child.

It wasn’t easy pursuing a degree while having to work and raise a daughter. However, I had the blessing of my mother to care for her while I ventured off to fulfill my mission. Every day needed to count for me since I was leaving my daughter all day to pursue this mission. The average day for about 6 years straight was – get up at 5:00 a.m. to feed my daughter, head off to school, go to work, come home and do homework and hold my daughter for reassurance. Throughout this period, I altered my schedule a little. I decided to attend school on a full-time basis and work part-time. It didn’t make much of a difference as I still worked 30 hours a week. I still needed to juggle my classes in order to fulfill my daily work schedule. I found myself going to classes during lunch and after work. I would return back to work to complete my computer programming assignments as, of course, I didn’t own a computer. My drive was so strong in my mission to provide my daughter with a better way of life that I got the courage and strength to stay a couple nights a week at the office in order to save time on the commute. With all this perseverance, I earned an accounting certificate, B.S. in computer science and many certifications in technology. After having worked in technology for 18 years, I became my own boss at age 35. In 1998 during a time when the technology arena was steaming full force, I received managerial contracts from some of the larger corporations here in Chicago, Illinois.

Now, that technology has slowed; I have found that my other professions are entering center stage in my life. I’ve taken on numerous clients as their personal lifestyle consultant. This training incorporates good nutrition, weight training and cardiovascular activity. This has led me to where I am today – seeking to combine a prior passion for acting with my fitness expertise.