My name is Yazmin Garcia, and I was born on October 15th, 1992, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. In 2011, I had to leave school and return to Guadalajara to process my residency. I hadn’t been back since I was two years old, and the experience hit me with the deepest culture shock of my life.

But looking back now, I see it as a blessing in disguise. I was reintroduced to my roots, the richness of the culture, the warmth of the people, the flavors, the land, and the family I barely knew. In 2012, my paperwork was finalized, and I was finally able to return to the U.S. Things looked fine on the outside, but internally, I felt lost and disconnected.

Then 2020 happened. In the stillness of lockdown, I picked up a brush first with acrylics, then with watercolors, and eventually with digital art. While the world was unraveling, something inside me started to come together.

That same year, my grandfather passed away on my birthday. Losing him broke my heart, but it also gave birth to my first piece of artwork. In that pain, I found purpose. Art became the path I had been too afraid to walk, and it finally became clear: this is what I was meant to do.

Now, I create to honor my roots, my healing, and my journey. I create to inspire the next generation to take up space, tell their stories, and chase their dreams, even when the world feels uncertain.

A gentle reminder: You’re allowed to be a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time. Follow your dreams, embrace the mess, and whatever you do, don’t give up on yourself.