Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola from Pao’s Postcards.
Hi Paola, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My junior year of undergrad, I embarked on a semester of study abroad. This adventure took me to Europe for the first time. I called France home for four months and explored neighboring countries, each trip opening my eyes to new cultures and ventures. I have always been an explorer but I would say this is when my true passion for avid traveling began. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to step foot on 41 countries.
In 2018 I took a gap year where I returned to my motherland, Peru, and traveled extensively throughout South America. I enjoyed posting my travels on social media but wanted to make it purposeful. It had to go beyond posting just for the sake of likes. So I created Pao’s Postcards with two main purposes in mind. The first being to showcase under-the-radar places, those that are off the beaten path and that many typically don’t know about. The second purpose was to empower women to leave their comfort zone, reminding them that it’s okay to go on that adventure or to take that solo trip.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As with anything, I would say the road has had its ups and downs. Growth isn’t linear and neither is what happens in real life. I have accumulated far more content than I can put out; it can become difficult to keep up and post consistently. I go through a screening process when I plan for content creation. I ask myself if the content to be posted serves a purpose, is it going to be useful or of value to my audience? There are times when the answer is no and I have to reorganize my content, which is completely fine.
Another thing is that, when the pandemic hit, my exploring was limited to Los Angeles and surrounding areas. I discovered more of LA in the last two years than I did ever before which is amazing. I showcased many LA hidden gems and got to meet a great community of fellow LA content creators. This also meant, however, that I slipped away from posting international travels. I do plan to resume this at some point, but want to make sure it continues to align with the purpose behind Pao’s Postcards. I also keep my audience in mind so I’d want to make sure it doesn’t confuse them as they have now probably become accustomed to seeing more local finds on my platform.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work in education; I received my M.A. in Educational Psychology from Chapman University. I was a School Psychologist for 11 years. This entailed working closely with the special education population. I was in charge of conducting psycho-educational assessments providing counseling services, among other tasks. This is my first year in a new role as Special Education Coordinator. I now lead the special education department at my school. I’m proud to have gotten here and, though still learning the ropes, am enjoying the new responsibility.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If anyone reading this article finds that their vision aligns with that of Pao’s Postcards, they can contact me at [email protected] for collaborations. I have found that a great way to show support is by sharing my Instagram page with others that may find it useful. It means a lot when I see my posts or stories being shared because it lets me know that others find it valuable or that it resonates with them in one way or another.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: paospostcards
