Today we’d like to introduce you to Joycelyn (JOY) Paige.
Hi Joycelyn (JOY) , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I think to really understand my story, I have to start with where I come from. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and I’m Mexican American. My mom is a permanent resident, and for a huge part of my childhood, I watched my mom spend a huge part of her life fighting for her residency and for the ability to build a stable life for our family.
I think watching her go through that shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand when I was younger. I watched her navigate uncertainty, sacrifice, and moments where she had to be incredibly strong even when things weren’t easy. She taught me what perseverance looks like, but more than anything, she taught me that you don’t give up on the life you want just because the road to get there is difficult.
A lot of who I am today comes from that foundation. I’ve always had this desire to work hard, to create something for myself, and to make my family proud. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve also realized that my story isn’t just about what I accomplish. It’s about who I become along the way and how I can use what I’ve been given to pour into other people.
That eventually led me to Austin, where I entered a completely different chapter of my life. But I think the courage it took for me to start over and step outside of my comfort zone started long before I ever moved here—it started with watching my mom do exactly that in her own life.
Another really important part of my story has been becoming a teacher. When I stepped into the private Reggio-inspired school system, it completely changed the way I looked at education and honestly, it changed the way I looked at myself.
Reggio really taught me to slow down. The children taught me that you don’t always have to rush to the next thing. Sometimes you can sit with a question, make something with your hands, notice something beautiful, or just be curious. That really shaped me.
And I think that’s something I’ve carried into this next chapter of my life. Now that I’m creating content, working with brands, and getting the opportunity to travel and experience different parts of the world, I’m trying to approach it with that same sense of curiosity.
Teaching taught me how to really see things. Now I get to take that perspective with me wherever I go. Whether I’m experiencing a new culture, trying something for the first time, meeting new people, or creating something with a brand, I want to be present enough to actually experience it, not just rush through it to get the next photo or the next video.
In a way, I feel like I went from creating little worlds for children in my classroom to creating stories and experiences through my content. And I love that those two parts of my life can coexist. The classroom taught me to be curious, and now the world is giving me so many places to take that curiosity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This road definitely hasn’t been smooth. It’s been a journey, and I think some of the hardest parts of moving to Austin happened behind the scenes, things that people don’t necessarily see when they look at my life now.
When I first moved to Austin, I was in a relationship, and eventually that relationship ended. At the same time, I didn’t really have a place to call my own or a clear idea of what my life was going to look like. I remember feeling like I had started over with almost nothing.
And honestly, that was really hard for me. I was leaving everything that was familiar in El Paso, coming to a new city, navigating a breakup, figuring out where I was going to live, and trying to figure out who I was outside of all of those things.
But I think that season forced me to become really independent. I had to learn how to trust myself. I had to find the courage to step outside of my comfort zone, meet people, create opportunities for myself, and build a life from the ground up.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful for that version of my story because if everything had been easy, I don’t know if I would have discovered the strength and confidence that I have now.
So when I talk about Austin, I don’t just think about the city. I think about the version of myself I had to become in order to make Austin feel like home.
I came here not really knowing what was next, and somehow, piece by piece, I started building a life that feels more like me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work has really evolved so much over the past couple of years, and I think that evolution is one of the things I’m most proud of.
I started as an educator, working in a private Reggio-inspired school, and teaching became such a formative part of my life. It taught me creativity, patience, presence, and how to really observe the world around me. But over the past few years, I’ve given myself permission to explore other parts of who I am.
Now I’m stepping into content creation, working with brands, creating campaigns, traveling, and sharing different experiences and pieces of my life through storytelling. It’s been really exciting to see something that started as a creative outlet grow into opportunities I never imagined for myself.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t really see myself as just one thing. I’m an educator, a creator, a storyteller, and someone who genuinely loves people and experiences. I bring all of those parts of myself into the work that I do.
I’m especially proud of how big I’ve allowed my life to become. A few years ago, I couldn’t have imagined some of the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, the brands I’ve had the opportunity to work with, or the experiences I’m having now. And it’s not just about the opportunities themselves, it’s about the confidence it took for me to say yes to them.
I think I’m most proud that I stopped putting myself in a box. I’ve allowed myself to evolve, to try things that scare me, to be creative, to travel, to build community, and to keep discovering who I am. And I think that’s what I’m continuing to build through my work.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy? Oh my gosh, that one is easy. God.
My relationship with God and being in tune with my higher power is where I find the most peace and happiness. Worship is such a huge part of my life. There’s something about being able to completely surrender, get quiet, and just be present with God that brings me back to myself.
I think when I’m connected spiritually, everything else in my life feels more aligned. I’m more creative, I’m more present, I’m more grateful, and I’m able to love and serve people from a much fuller place.
Of course, I find happiness in traveling, creating, teaching, meeting new people, experiencing new things, and all of the beautiful opportunities life has brought me. But underneath all of that, it really comes back to my faith.
I’ve learned that happiness for me isn’t about having a perfect life or having everything figured out. It’s about feeling connected to something bigger than myself and trusting that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @coachjoy
- Facebook: Joy Paige
- Youtube: @whoisjoy
- Other: TikTok: @youlovejooy
