My degree gave me the foundation and tools I needed to get a vast understanding of the industry. It also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with aspiring editors, directors and videographers that currently hire me for jobs. I became friends with amazing creatives at the Art Institute, which I still collaborate with, and they are some of the most talented and inspiring people I know. I grew up watching the news and was amazed by the news anchors. I always viewed broadcasters as amazing storytellers and was fascinated by their confidence and their ability to connect and make a difference in their community. Growing up, I would sit in front of the TV with my hairbrush mimicking their every move.

I grew up on the stage, competing and taking every type of dance class imaginable. I remember watching Barbara Walters growing up and loved her work. My parents were always encouraging me in all my endeavors, and because of them, I knew I was going to make my dreams come true.

I got an internship at NB6 at the assignment desk and helped in the sports marketing department. I was 18 at the time, and was determined to learn as much as possible. I didn’t care that I was working long hours with no pay. I knew that the time I put into the station would be very important to my career. I also worked behind the scenes as a production assistant, was an extra on many TV shows and even pursued acting. I wanted to learn every facet of the entertainment industry, which prepared me for the long hours and serious competition.

It really was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I made it to the team when I was 19 years old, and they gave me a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel the world and perform for thousands of fans. It taught me discipline, showmanship, teamwork and professionalism. The organization was very strict about how we carried ourselves, and I’m thankful because I’ve carried those values with me everywhere I go. It also gave me an opportunity to see sideline reporters in action, which furthered my interest in sports broadcasting. While dancing on the sidelines, I was planning my next career move.

I landed all of these jobs because of my persistence and how I position myself as a professional. I made sure I had a hosting reel, headshots, website and credentials to make sure I was guaranteed a call back. I was relentless and never took no for an answer.

I had to reach out to the Florida Panthers organization several times before finally getting a meeting. My persistence and hard work paid off because I’m in my third season as arena host and Panthers Vision Reporter.

I’ve made it a point to understand the business and marketing side of the entertainment/sports media world. I’m also very passionate about social media, and leverage different platforms to network within my industry. I don’t just look at myself as on-camera talent, but as a brand, which gives me the chance to explore business opportunities further. I’m also fluent in Spanish and make sure I take dialect classes and voice technique classes to make sure I’m on top of my game at all times.

I’m very much a planner. I need to write everything down and try to strategize how I’ll accomplish everything that I have on my plate. I love Post-its and don’t know where I would be without them. I’m constantly recording my ideas and scripts to make sure I have access to them at all times. I’m incredibly practical when it comes to getting ready to tackle my next event. If that means driving in my car with rollers in my hair, then so be it. I’ve also learned the importance of delegating and have surrounded myself with people who get my vision and help me accomplish it.

I get this question all the time. It took me a while to learn how to not show my anxiety before show time. My mom would always tell me that I made funny faces when I was nervous. It’s all about preparing ahead of time and learning how to have fun. There were times when I would get inside my head and stress out about messing up my lines, which didn’t allow my personality to really shine. When I finally was able to let go of the concept of perfection, I was able to embrace the moment and truly use my personality to bring a story to life.

I make sure I focus on telling a story that I would want to hear. I do tons of research, then I just write. I don’t worry about mistakes or grammar, I just try to let my creativity be a part of my stream of consciousness and let it flow. Once I feel like it’s all on paper, I go back and dissect it and put it back together and identify visuals I want to incorporate in my story. I may do a little brainstorming session with my trusted team, then I’ll go back to put on the finishing touches. I love when I have a script ready to execute and bring to life. There are days when I only have a couple of hours to take a concept and put it together. Once the project has a foundation, it’s time to film. The set life is always incredibly hectic, but I love it. I’m usually in my makeup chair getting my hair done while trying to finalize my lines, while having a blueberry muffin in my hand and updating social media. It never gets old!

I really love producing because there are so many aspects of my creativity that I can work with. When you’re talent, there isn’t room for your feedback, and that’s okay because it’s nice to walk on-set, deliver your lines and say peace out. But it’s incredibly fulfilling to produce something that was just a mere concept, trying to become reality.

I started a blog a couple of years ago, Media-Gypsy. I wrote about my behind-the-scenes lifestyle, my inspiration, style and offered industry tips that I wanted to share with aspiring talent. I was getting messages from people who wanted to know more about how I got started in my industry. I then started receiving invitations to speak at conferences and universities. My following grew and before I knew it, I was teaching on-camera workshops for aspiring creatives and brands that wanted to expand their reach with branded video content. It’s incredibly fulfilling helping people with their brand, marketing and talent. I never had anyone show me the ropes or the do’s and don’ts. It’s an incredibly difficult industry to be a part of, and if I can help people find their way and stay inspired, then I feel that’s where I belong.

I want people to be inspired and believe that they can do whatever their heart desires. With hard work, dedication and authenticity, anything is possible. I’m a prime example of that and the best part is that I’m just getting started. I always try to keep centered and focused on the integrity of everything that I do. I don’t believe in short cuts and try to stay humble regardless of what’s going on around me. I’m in this industry because I have an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives with the many media platforms I’m involved with. I want to be able to speak for those that can’t speak for themselves. I don’t take things for granted in this business because it’s so unpredictable. I truly enjoy every second I get to do what I love and work with people that inspire me to be better.

I want to continue to grow as a sports broadcaster and use my background in television, marketing and branding to grow my creative coaching business, Media-Gypsy. I’ll be focused on teaching on-camera workshops for aspiring creatives and building my online on-camera classes for those that can’t attend my workshops in person. I’ll be working with Palm Beach Broadcasting as their Digital Content Creator for their radio stations. I’m incredibly excited to take my brand as a television host and reporter, social media expert and creative coach to the next level. They don’t call me Media-Gypsy for nothing—With Guts & Grace Anything Is Possible!