Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Alvarez.
Hi Kayla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a first generation college graduate of my family. I come from a Hispanic/Mexican background. I am from the Dallas area. Growing up, I have always been in the community either volunteering or somehwere performing with one of my dance teams. I went off to college at UNT, and I got my Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry, Spanish, and Education, specifically secondary education, and somewhat of an emphasis on special education. After some time in the field, I went to Graduate school and graduated during COVID with a Master’s in International Development. Career-wise, the last 10 years, I have managed curriculum for classrooms and laboratories from the secondary science levels, community college/undergraduate, and graduate level. I have worked in an R1 Institution analyzing research data. And in my last position, I served as a Director of Clinical Education for a graduate program I helped build and get through accreditation. I recently started my own business, an online clinic that offers Speech, Occupational and Physical therapies, as well as STEM tutoring and specialized programs for standardized testing. We also have many resources for those students transitioning into college. The idea is to bridge the gap and provide pathways for students who are overlooked, often, because they aren’t as educated or given equal opportunity, because they are in the public school system, or have language/cultural barriers preventing success. I want students to see themselves represented in the field (of STEM and Healthcare) and be accepted for who they are, and know that there are reasonable accommodations for students with learning disabilities. They aren’t incapable; they just need more support. Grow; The Online Clinic. LLC https://growtheonlineclinic.com/
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. I had to grow my self-confidence over the years, because I have been overlooked when I am more than qualified to complete a task or fill a position because I was “too young” or inexperienced. I don’t think at the time those rooms were ready for change, and then COVID challenged that and that is when doors started opening for me personally. Speaking up and knowing you belong among those (in the conference room etc) is difficult and it takes practice to not doubt yourself. Having a growth mindset is what allowed me to believe in myself to want to start my business built on that foundation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I grew up in the outskirts of Dallas (still within the county), and I have seen a lot of bright students be overlooked, or not given the opportunities they deserve, because of their background. I want to change that, and I have capitalized on the inevitable change that COVID has brought, leveling out the playing field, if you will, when it comes to accessing my clinic, which is solely virtual. This allows us to reach a larger target audience throughout the state of Texas. I have worked online for half of my career and figured what works and what doesn’t for people and I am applying that to my business.
We specialize in learning therapies, whether that is assisting with learning and/or learning disabilities, speech impediments, occupational needs, and some physical therapies. In our business as well, we allow those studying to enter the field room to obsvere and shadow our skilled therapist. All our therapist have different niches, making our clinic versatile. And if I don’t have someone already staffed with the specification the patient needs, then I will go out and find it to be able to provide my families with the resources needed. We are also private pay, so we currently do not accept insurance, however, I have made our prices so competitive that it isn’t so expensive to continue with the therapy sessions recommended and it truly feels like an investment into the student/child. We also offer monthly adult sessions as well now.
I believe because of these points I purposely implemented into my business, that is what sets us apart. https://www.instagram.com/growtheonlineclinicllc/?next=%2F
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Being a part of something bigger than me. I grew up dancing since I was in elementary school, and essentially aged out. My favorite part was being a part of a community, and within that community, contributing to bigger purposes than just our team. We did a lot of volunteering and celebrating; for others, it was rarely about us. When we appeared at parades or festivals, it was in celebration of the community or a cause. We would also perform at Mavs or Stars games, and afterwards, we enjoyed the games together as a team, celebrating our accomplishments. We were a sisterhood. And in a lot of ways, I learned about girlhood and womanhood. To this day, I have childhood friends from some of the first teams I was on, and those in the distance. It is inspiring to watch them lead their own lives. Dance not only taught us a lot about our bodies physically, but also emotionally and mentally as well. And I think the morals our coaches instilled in us, we all still very much carry with us today.
Shoutout to my mom! Because that woman sponsored me like no other! She always made sure I got where I needed to be and was a dance mom to a lot of the girls. Getting to spend time with her, in hindsight, was a blessing and part of that favorite memory.
Pricing:
- therapy sessions start at $100
- tutoring starts at $45 a session
- both sides of services for the clinic provide packages and sessions come from recommendations from our therapist and tutors
- we can build whatever plan is needed or best serves our families and what they are looking for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://growtheonlineclinic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growtheonlineclinicllc/?next=%2F
