Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Maria Rojas Melo.
Hi Ana Maria, 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?
My story in the United States did not begin in Austin. It began in Miami, after making one of the most difficult decisions of my life: leaving Venezuela, the country where I had built my family, my relationships, and more than 25 years of professional experience.
Immigrating meant leaving behind much more than a place. I left a life I knew, spaces I had earned through years of hard work, and a professional identity that had taken decades to build.
In Miami, I started again. I worked for Florida Global University, and little by little, I began establishing myself, building relationships, and regaining the professional space that meant so much to me. I felt I was finding my place.
But life presented me with another important decision: I wanted to be close to my granddaughter, Miranda Sofía, who lived in Austin, Texas.
And so I started over once again.
I remember asking myself, “Again?” I had already left my entire life behind in Venezuela, moved to Miami, and begun building something of my own. Was I really going to leave it all behind once more?
It was not an easy decision. There was uncertainty, fear, and so many questions. When we immigrate, we do not simply change countries or cities; we also have to rebuild our relationships, our opportunities, and, in some ways, how we see ourselves.
Still, I decided to move to Austin. My love for my granddaughter was greater than my fear of starting over.
I arrived in a city where I practically had to rebuild everything. Although I had a solid academic and professional background, I realized that years of experience do not always open doors immediately. I had to introduce myself again, meet people, build trust, and create opportunities.
I will not pretend it was easy, because it was not. There were moments of uncertainty, moments when I wondered whether I had made the right decision, and times when I missed the professional and personal spaces I had already established.
But there was one thing I was not willing to lose: my confidence in myself and in everything I still had to offer.
I began connecting with the community, meeting women, and building new relationships. I founded a women’s personal growth group in Cedar Park, became involved with Amiga Hispana, and started offering mentoring and coaching sessions.
Through this process, I discovered something that deeply influenced my work: many women were experiencing their own new beginnings. Some had immigrated, others were navigating family or professional changes, and many were afraid to leave behind what was familiar and make decisions that could transform their lives.
I realized that my own experience could help me accompany these women on their journeys. Not because I had all the answers, but because I knew it was possible to rebuild, recognize our personal strengths, and choose ourselves again.
Over time, I also had the opportunity to work at Austin Community College, where I have continued my passion for adult education, promoting not only learning but also confidence, leadership, and personal development.
In 2025, I received recognition from Austin Voices for my contributions to adult education and for encouraging leadership and personal growth within our community. It was a moment of profound gratitude. I thought about the woman who had left Venezuela, started over in Miami, and, out of love for her granddaughter, found the courage to begin again in Austin.
My journey continued to open new doors. After many years of writing academic research, I fulfilled another dream: becoming the author of a book focused on human development. That is how La magia de la gratitud: Fe, ciencia y 21 días para transformar tu manera de mirar la vida (The Magic of Gratitude: Faith, Science, and 21 Days to Transform the Way You See Life) was born. The book reflects my experiences, lessons, and belief that gratitude is not about denying life’s difficulties, but about learning to recognize what is valuable even while facing them.
I am currently preparing a second book inspired by the stories and experiences of the women I have accompanied throughout my career. I have also completed writing my SER Method: Feel, Choose, and Fulfill, a methodology developed through years of experience, reflection, and professional practice. I have initiated the process of seeking intellectual property protection for this work in the United States.
Today, when I look back, I recognize that resilience has been one of the defining values of my life. But I have also learned that being resilient does not mean being strong all the time. I have experienced fear, doubt, and difficult decisions. What matters is that I have not allowed those moments to determine how far I can go.
That is why I now dedicate much of my work to accompanying women who feel they have lost their own space, who spend their lives prioritizing everyone else’s needs, or who hesitate to step outside their comfort zones because they fear starting over.
I want them to know that it is possible. Regardless of our age, how much we have built, or how many times life invites us to change direction, our experiences, knowledge, and ability to learn remain with us.
I came to Austin out of love for my granddaughter, Miranda Sofía, but here I also found the opportunity to believe in myself again, build new dreams, and discover that I still had so much more to accomplish.
And if I had to summarize my story in one lesson, it would be this: starting over does not mean losing who we once were. It means having the courage to discover everything we can still become.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has definitely not been an easy journey. And I believe it would be unfair to tell my story by focusing only on my achievements without acknowledging the uncertainty, fear, and loneliness that have also been part of it.
One of my greatest challenges was accepting that, after spending more than 25 years building my professional career in Venezuela, I had to begin again in another country. Immigration involves much more than changing where you live. It means leaving behind loved ones, relationships, professional recognition, and a life that once gave you a sense of security.
When I arrived in Miami, I started rebuilding my professional path. Just as I was beginning to feel established again, I made the decision to move to Austin to be closer to my granddaughter, Miranda Sofía. It was a decision made out of love, but that did not make it easy.
I remember asking myself, “Do I really have to start all over again?” Because talking about resilience is one thing, but living it is something entirely different. It means knocking on doors again, introducing yourself, building relationships, and demonstrating your abilities in a place where very few people know your story.
I also had to confront my own fears: the fear of not finding opportunities, of feeling that my years of experience might not be enough, and of wondering whether I still had the energy to build a new chapter of my life.
One of my greatest lessons was understanding that education, knowledge, and experience are valuable, but they do not eliminate the vulnerability we feel when facing major life changes. I have doubted myself, experienced difficult days, and wondered whether all the effort would be worthwhile.
However, I learned something that I now share with the women I accompany: we do not need to feel completely confident before taking the next step. Sometimes, confidence develops as we move forward.
Perseverance, faith, gratitude, and the people I have met along the way have been essential. I learned to recognize small opportunities, value every new connection, and understand that not everything needed to happen according to my expectations or timeline.
I also discovered that stepping outside our comfort zones is not always an exciting choice. Sometimes, it is a necessity that challenges our insecurities and encourages us to discover personal strengths we did not even know we had.
Today, I do not see those difficulties as failures, but as experiences that have deepened my understanding of others, especially women who believe they have reached a point in life where starting over is no longer possible.
And there is something I consider essential: gratitude has not prevented me from feeling sadness, fear, or frustration. Instead, it has allowed me to recognize that even during difficult times, there are still possibilities, meaningful relationships, and reasons to keep moving forward.
If this journey has taught me anything, it is that we never truly start from zero. We begin with our experiences, everything we have learned, and, above all, the decision not to give up on ourselves.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sendero Emocional. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
work is not based solely on concepts or theories. It is also shaped by my own journey of starting over, facing uncertainty, rebuilding my professional identity, and discovering that transformation is possible at different stages of life.
My approach is personal, respectful, and deeply human. I do not offer magical formulas or promise immediate transformations. I believe in meaningful processes, personal responsibility, conscious choices, and respecting each person’s individual pace.
What makes me particularly proud is having created a practice with its own identity, one that truly reflects my values and purpose.
To me, Sendero Emocional Academy is much more than a business. It is a way to share what I have learned and accompany other women as they discover that they still have dreams, strengths, and opportunities waiting to be explored.
I want women to know that they do not have to wait until everything is perfect to begin choosing themselves. They can experience fear and still move forward. They can spend years caring for others and still discover a meaningful space for themselves.
That is the message I want to share through my brand and every program I create: it is not about becoming someone entirely different. It is about recognizing who we are, making conscious choices, and finding the courage to fulfill what truly matters in our lives.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is my family, the love that connects us, and the opportunity to live a purposeful life while remaining true to who I am.
Throughout my life, I have learned that professional achievements, recognition, and personal goals are valuable, but they take on a different meaning when we can share them with the people we love.
My family has always been one of my greatest motivations. In fact, it was my love for my granddaughter, Miranda Sofía, that led me to leave the stability I was beginning to build in Miami and move to Austin to start over once again. That decision taught me that some of life’s most important choices are not made out of comfort, but out of love and the values we hold closest.
Freedom of choice, human dignity, and the opportunity to continue growing, regardless of age or circumstances, are also deeply important to me.
I strongly believe that no woman should feel she has to give up her own identity to meet the expectations of others. We can love, care for others, build meaningful relationships, and still honor our own dreams.
That is why my work is so meaningful to me. Accompanying women as they recognize their worth, rebuild their confidence, and find the courage to make important choices allows me to share the lessons I have learned through my own experiences.
And there is one value that connects everything I am and everything I do: gratitude. Not as an obligation to always feel happy, but as the ability to recognize what we have, appreciate what we have experienced, and discover possibilities even during difficult times.
Today, more than accumulating achievements, I want to continue building a life aligned with my values, enjoying my family, learning, and making a positive contribution to the people whose paths cross mine.
Because ultimately, what matters most to me is not simply what we accomplish in life, but how we live, whom we love, and how much of ourselves we can share without forgetting to choose ourselves.
Pricing:
- Sesión individual de coaching: $160 USD
- Claridad Integral – Método SER: $250 USD. Incluye evaluación de 28 indicadores y dos sesiones de acompañamiento.
- Programa Avanza SER: 4 sesiones por $640 USD
- Programa Transforma SER: 6 sesiones por $840 USD.
- Programa Renacer SER: 12 sesiones por $1,500 USD.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://senderoemocional.com
- Instagram: https://senderoemocional.com
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/latest/home?business_id=658648491775790&asset_id=11249252427539
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCu0Yd39gbs
