Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Caso.
Hi Daniela, 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?
So far, my story is one of optimism and rebellion. I’m Daniela, a small-town girl from Mission, Texas. I made my way to Austin in 2017. During the summer of 2019, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in philosophy from UT Austin. When it comes up in conversation, a common question I get asked is, why philosophy? I’ll tell you, it’s a short answer: law school. Philosophy prepares you for law school (take a shot every time I say law school — sorry in advance, ha!). I come from a family of lawyers, so for as long as I could remember, law school was always part of the plan. The plan was: study philosophy, attend law school, pass the bar exam and eventually, you guessed it, become a lawyer. Through studying philosophy I had become well versed in thinking critically and problem-solving; I devoted hours to matters involving ethics, logic, theory, and subsequently became a stronger writer. I had developed all the skills necessary to not only go through law school but to thrive there.
Career-wise, this was definitely the path of least resistance.
So I trekked on, this was the path that was paved for me; I was determined to follow through. Next step: study, take my LSAT (the law school admissions test), and become a student once more. That is until Covid hit. This was a period of time that changed everything for me, (as it did for many of us). I began to question everything. As I prepared to embark on this next chapter, I couldn’t figure out why I felt as though I’d hit a standstill– a mental roadblock. For whatever reason, the plan wasn’t looking too hot anymore. Maybe it was brought on by the growing fear the pandemic had instilled in me or the uncertainty of the future, but one thing was clear: something within me had shifted.
I realized I wanted to forge my own path, have *my own* plan.
In order to do that I had to reevaluate my career path. This was new territory for me. Where does one even start? I had to reflect and ask myself questions like, what am I good at? What do I like? Will this bring me happiness and fulfillment? Gulp. Maybe it’s because I’m an overthinker but these were hard questions for me to face. The fear was definitely there, but through this process I found something: I found freedom.
The months I spent hiding away from the world in quarantine allowed ample time for me to answer those questions. This was a time of isolation and introspection. I rekindled interests of mine that I hadn’t touched in years; art, drawing, water coloring, design, color theory, photography, photo editing, fashion, and reading. This also sparked new interests like being outdoors and connecting with nature, physical activity, cooking, and meditating. I felt like I was back in touch with myself and the things I valued. I had spent the last years forcing myself into a mold that I didn’t feel was authentic. I loved philosophy, I still do. But I wanted to apply all that I’ve learned in a way that doesn’t revolve around the law. With so many possibilities, for the first time in a long time, I felt like the world was my oyster. I was in control and I was going to find something that spoke to me. I was going to take this opportunity to do something for myself.
Which leads us to where I am today. I’m currently studying UX design, and so far it’s a beautiful fit. I have a keen eye for detail and I love being able to tell a story through visuals. Aside from being able to implement my knack for all things artistic, UX design is all about thinking critically to solve problems. This is to ensure users have a positive experience while using a product. People (users) are the heart of UX design and I think that’s important.
So what exactly does the future hold in store for me? Will I be a UX designer for the rest of my days, or is it a stepping stone onto something grander? I’m not sure yet, but what I do know is I’ve taken a step in the right direction. I don’t know how my story ends, but I’m learning, growing, and enjoying every step of the journey. The ending is going to be a spectacular one.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, I have definitely hit more than a few bumps in the road. Is there such a thing as a smooth road, a journey without a hiccup? When I decided I was going to break the mold and deviate from the path that was paved for me, it didn’t exactly go over well with my loved ones. I can’t say that wasn’t expected though. It was a shock to them for sure. Grappling with my own self-doubt was a struggle, too. But I just had to change my perspective. I had to remind myself to have some faith. To have faith in myself and my abilities and to wholeheartedly trust the universe. Everything that is meant to be will be and it’s that simple. People change directions and start over all the time, so can I. I’ve gone through tough situations before and have always come up on the other side, so what makes this any different?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As of right now, I’m on my way out of a transitional period. I’ve briefly touched on how I’m currently studying UX design (portfolio coming soon!) and it’s been fabulous. I’m working towards specializing in the visual design, writing, and research aspects of UX. Something else I do outside of UX is work with brands to create content on social media. I’ve had a number of brands reach out to me; I’ve built partnerships with a few of them (only working with brands and products I LOVE) and that’s been a lot of fun! I enjoy generating content on social media, these opportunities allow me the freedom to toy around with my creative side. I ask myself questions like, how can I best showcase this product? Is it visually pleasing? How can I put my own spin on this while still making it palatable? I think what sets me apart from others is my attention to detail and dedication to executing the vision I have in my head, no matter how tricky! I’m proud of that.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy? That’s easy! I’m an upbeat, enthusiastic person so it doesn’t take much to put a smile on my face.
Spending time outdoors makes me happy, there’s nothing better than being on a tropical beach or taking the scenic route on a beautiful day. These moments make me happy because it allows me to take a step back and be present in the moment; as corny as it sounds I really do feel connected to nature.
Interacting with animals makes me happy. I’ve fostered kittens in the past and they made me so happy my heart could burst. It makes me happy knowing I had a hand in nurturing them back to health and watching them grow to be loving, sweet babes. I’m a fan of all animals though, not just cats haha, I feel the need to clarify that I’m a dog person too. I actually had a bird-watching phase where I set up a bird feeder for a beautiful pair of crimson cardinals. Seeing them come to my window every day and hearing their sweet chirps made me happy too. I’m not sure why, haha I just love animals, they bring me joy.
I enjoy being around people and connecting with others. I like it when people ask me for advice. I like being able to provide that for them or conversely, being a dependable shoulder to cry on. I know how important it is to have a supportive, nonjudgmental person in one’s corner and I’m happy to be that person, that matters a lot to me.
Traveling makes me happy. I enjoy learning about other cultures and being exposed to new things and sights unseen. I’m so grateful for the trips I’ve made in the past and can’t wait to cross more off of my list.
Cooking a delicious meal makes me happy. As a reformed UberEats enthusiast, I love knowing I now have the ability to concoct something yummy with ease.
Contributing something meaningful to a conversation makes me happy because this combines two of my favorite things: connecting with people and talking (as you might have already guessed, I talk a lot).
Doing things the right way and not taking shortcuts makes me happy; discipline is hard in the moment but it’s always worth it in the long run.
Singing, dancing, and listening to good music also makes me happy. Each of these things feels therapeutic to me.
Taking in art makes me happy because art makes me think, and it makes me feel, it’s both cerebral and emotive. Creating art makes me happy because it’s a mode of expression and release. It’s quite nice to see the final product of something you put so much heart into.
All these things make me happy, among many others!
Contact Info:
- Email: danielacasog@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancaas/?hl=en
