#sparkchamber 053121 — Franceska Rolda
Fingerprints. Evidence left behind of life’s journey. Anywhere we go, everything we do leaves a mark on — and alters the trajectories of — who we are, and those we meet. Knowingly or not, we each make so many differences every day. That’s what #sparkchamber is celebrating today, as we welcome impact therapist, Franceska Rolda. In her own words:
My story starts with my mom. Immigrating from the Philippines by herself to make a living in the U.S., working 16-hour shifts in the hospital to make sure I could have a better life.
She laid the foundations for me to stand on my own two feet and instilled a drive in me to make a difference the way she did for me. I became fascinated with people and how human connection always brought us together and could also tear us apart. I studied social work and became a therapist working with at-risk foster youth in a short-term residential treatment program. As I’ve transitioned from therapy into nonprofit management, human connection has stayed at my core. At Every.org we foster connection with givers and nonprofits online, and I am proud to be a part of an amazing community of driven people.
I am inspired by experiences and people. I am always hesitant at first, but when I truly let myself trust a process, doors open and new experiences arise. I’ve taught 5th graders in Honduras, reunited with old friends, fought in a mixed martial arts match, created a documentary on mental health, was stranded in Nicaragua, have experienced loss and growth, and all of these experiences have shaped me to be who I am today.
1.] Where do ideas come from?
Silence and solitude. Excitement and Energy. Collaboration and community.
Ideas can come from a million different places, but these are where I’ve found my mind most creative. Sometimes the day-to-day can get overwhelming as projects and deadlines start to pile up. When I take a moment for myself — whether that’s a walk at the park, eating with no screen on, or journaling — my mind comes back to me and I can see the little lightbulbs that were trying to show me something. Sometimes it’s in the chaos that an idea can form. One idea sparks another and it becomes a chain reaction moving so fast that I can’t keep up with my own thoughts. So I let that energy flow through me and trust that the end result will form itself. Other times it’s through connecting with community. Iterating and ideating with others to feed off of each other’s creativity.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
Growth. As a plant enthusiast with 30+ plants I think growth is a form of creation, shedding the old and forming something new, or maybe a mixture of the old and new. Right now, I see growth as learning and unlearning so many things about myself and how that trickles into my personal and professional life.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
Well-being takes priority. After working with clients who were suicidal and homicidal, I learned how important it was to have boundaries for myself and my well-being in order to come to work 100%. For me, that looks like knowing when to rest, working out, reading, and spending time in community to name a few. Ideas can come from all sorts of places, so I try not to neglect these parts of my life.
I am a creature of habit so having a routine helps my mind get into a better flow. Mondays I plan the week ahead and goals I want to accomplish for the week. Then every morning I write out my daily tasks and try to incorporate one of the goals for the week. If my plate is still full by the end of the day, I list out what I didn't get to and prioritize them for the next day.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
“I’m done” can be seen a hundred different ways. “I’m done!” could look like yes! I had a solid work day and crossed everything off my list. It could also look like “I’m effing done.” And burnout and fatigue are screaming for your body to rest.
Both have happened to me and both will probably continue to happen. This is where boundaries come back into play and knowing when to rest has helped me be more balanced and not have to feel like a pendulum swinging between the two extremes. Awareness is a muscle that also needs to be worked out. It’s taken me years to get to a point to know the nuances of my mind and body when I feel accomplished or burned out.