Rebecca Ipina
My journey has been shaped by resilience and determination. After losing my mother at 11, I became a second mom to my sister's five children, caring for them throughout my teens. I went on to have four children of my own, though I tragically lost one in a car accident. Despite facing a learning disorder that initially prevented me from getting my GED, I never gave up on my education. I first pursued trade training in automotive at MTTI, and then, 23 years in the making, I finally earned my GED on my 40th birthday as a gift to myself. This achievement opened the doors to college, where I completed a bilingual early childhood educator program and began working toward my BA. Throughout all the grief, pain, and trauma I've experienced, I've accomplished so much by refusing to give up. I believe in showing others that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dull it may seem. I even created my own bookmark with that message. Now, I'm working on getting my memoir published and building my brand through social media. My superpower is being able to tell people that if I can do it, they can do it too. All you can do is grow and glow up, versus giving up and never knowing how far you would have gotten in life.
• GED
• Bilingual Early Childhood Educator Certification
• GED
• MTTI Automotive Trade Program
• Bilingual Early Childhood Educator Program
• BA (in progress)
• RI Education Collective
• EduChamps
• Dlcbilingual
• RI Stop The Wait
• TRYCAPS
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to never giving up, no matter how hard things got. Even through all the grief, pain, and trauma I've experienced, including losing my mother at 11 and losing a child in a car accident, I kept going. I didn't have my GED for 23 years because of a learning disorder, but I finally got it on my 40th birthday. That opened doors for me to go to college and pursue my education. I've learned that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, even when it seems dull. All you have to do is not give up and keep going. I use all my lived experiences to help me grow, and even the things I didn't accomplish taught me something valuable. My superpower is being able to show people that if I can do it, they can do it too. You just have to keep going and never give up, because unless you do, you'll never know how far you could have gotten in life.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up on yourself even when you get overlooked. Know your value and don't dim your light for any company.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You got this lead per example and show them they it needs to be done.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Moving up through the different departments when your to good at your job.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is never giving up and always believing there is light at the end of the tunnel. I've been through so much grief and trauma in my life, but I've learned that you can get through anything you set yourself up to getting through. I want to inspire others to keep going, no matter how painful things get or how long it takes. I believe in using my lived experiences to show people that there is hope. Even when things weren't meant for me, I learned from them and used those lessons to grow. My goal is to help others see that they can accomplish what they set out to do, just like I did. It's about growing and glowing up, rather than giving up and never knowing how far you could have gone.
