Beatriz Eugenia Vasquez

I attribute my success to consistency and not quitting. One of my biggest mentors has always told me to just keep on doing it, to keep on doing what I'm doing, because you never know what might be at the other side of the corner. It seems like people quit just when they're about to make huge progress or when they're about to do something really, really nice. I have really followed his advice and stayed the course - I just keep doing it and find the motivation to keep doing it and not quit. Sometimes people jump from one thing to another too soon and never give enough time to that one thing. For me, the key has been consistency. As you stay in your profession, you start with a lot of people, and then eventually those people start going different routes. All of a sudden, you have a specialty because you have stayed at it for so long. You learn to navigate your profession just because of the mere fact that you stayed at it for so long. Practice makes perfect.

The best career advice I've ever received is to just keep on doing it, to keep on doing what I'm doing. One of my biggest mentors has always told me this, because you never know what might be at the other side of the corner. It seems like people quit just when they're about to make huge progress or when they're about to do something really, really nice. I have really followed his advice and stayed the course. I just keep doing it and find the motivation to keep doing it and not quit. Just not quit, because it's consistency that keeps you going. Sometimes people jump from one thing to another too soon and never give enough time to that one thing. For me, the key has been to keep on doing it. Eventually, as you're in your profession, you start with a lot of people, and then those people start going different routes. All of a sudden, you have a specialty because you have stayed at it for so long and dealt with so many things that come your way. You learn to navigate your profession just because of the mere fact that you stayed at it for so long. Practice makes perfect.

My advice would be to really find what it is from your profession that you love, and what side of it really resonates with you. Stay true to it. Within dance, there are so many different avenues and dance styles. For me, it was theatrical dance and performance dance that really captured me, not commercial dance like backup dancing for famous singers or music videos. I stayed true to who I was within my field, even though people told me I should go into commercial dance because that's where people are really getting the jobs and making the money. But I couldn't envision myself working and going to rehearsals listening to music or concepts that don't resonate with me. So I chose to stay true to my call and my passion, which was theatrical dance and performance art, being on stage more than being in a music video. And it worked for me because I stayed true to myself. I found a way to make it work, and work found me as well. Sooner or later, it will pay off because you're truly doing what you love. When you're really doing what you love, you don't feel the weight of it. You don't feel the long schedules or long rehearsals in a theater because that is what you love to do and that is the one thing that calls you. I've accepted jobs where I discovered I didn't really like the music or the concept, and I just couldn't wait for it to be over. It was such a horrendous feeling to be in the field that I love but hating the process because it was not my thing. I didn't listen to my gut instinct. So my advice is to stay true to who you are and what you truly like, even if it seems crazy, even if it seems like you're not going to find work in that. You will, because you're passionate about it, and it'll come to you.

The values that are most important to me in both my professional and personal life are authenticity, persistence, and a deep passion for the work I do. I am also strongly committed to mentorship and to helping students recognize and pursue diverse pathways to success.