Meet Josephine Concepcion

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josephine Concepcion.

Hi Josephine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In October 1996, at the age of 32, I and my three young children, ages 10, 9, and 7 migrated to California from the Philippines through their father’s petition. Somehow, I was not excited even though they said this is the American Dream, that America is a land full of possibilities for success. I was scared and overcome by fear, but I didn’t show it to my kids.

Our life faced a drastic change inevitably. Being a mother raising them in a strange country with a different culture was a big challenge. It was scary not knowing where and how to start, but my first thought was to get a job. One of the moments I remember was walking in my slip-on I brought from my country on cold winter days picking up my kids from school. It was a pitiful feeling for me that I can’t even take care of my own needs, not even shoes to warm my feet. I was just thankful that we have shelter and food on the table, and I didn’t have to worry about paying bills at the time for their father was taking care of those needs. I didn’t have my own money. I never asked for anything for myself… I still don’t want to ask for anything. I need to have a job.

In a short time, I got referred to work as a part-time data entry clerk by my husband’s family at a freight company. It only lasted for a week, as I remember. I got fired, yes, because of the cultural gesture differences I displayed. Not to elaborate, I was lost in every way, embarrassed of myself. Next, I was referred by my husband’s friend to a diamond wholesale store. It was a devastating feeling that people you work with treat you as a minority, demeaning you with words and taking you as a slave as if you owed them a favor for having that job. I went for another job referral; I was thankful that my husband, who passed away in 2018 had a connection to take me in to work for the company they work for. But honestly, they’re the ones who would push me down. So, after all those dehumanizing work experiences, before the year 1997 ended, I decided to do it myself, with no referral. I said to myself I can do it, and I did as a customer service for a telephone company. I couldn’t choose what job to do at that time. I would’ve have done anything.

I have never stopped working and just letting these people demean my whole character as a person. With the mentally built of being scared the whole time, I was just addressing life for me and my children to survive. I had been struck with cancer twice, once in 2004 and 2020, but I still kept going after that.

In 2019, I think God was calling. The worst storm hit me hard, I got super sick and super stressed which was affecting my sanity. Believe it or not, I heard threatening voices everywhere. It was unbelievable that I couldn’t tell anyone else, and I didn’t think any scientific medicine could’ve helped. It was insane; I was afraid I was going crazy. With the help of my daughter-in-law, I was fighting it with prayers. I sorted out getting my mind busy, it was helping. The voices also hunted me in my sleep. I need to overcome this sickness. I was overwhelmed, but God is good. He led me to answer this one phone call to enroll in school. I had been inquiring from time to time for years about the things I wanted to bring out of myself, but I always procrastinated because of my situation and fear that built in my head – fear of the language barrier and racial discrimination from my experience.

Not that time; I did enroll. I started studying online while I was already working full-time as Payroll Specialist at DTLA and moved to Texas after the pandemic and got a new job as Payroll Administrator II.

At the age of 57, in the last year 2022, I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design at The Los Angeles Film School. Some of my projects were based on my experience, including the book cover I created, “Hearing Voices” with the summary. And now I get to travel and live a life I enjoy. I’m thankful that my children are well-settled now, which is one of their biggest achievements I am proud of as their mother.

My achievement is from perseverance, love, hope, and determination to make my family, children, and grandchildren proud.

As I am writing this, I can’t help but cry. But this time, I cry tears of joy at what I have become and how much more I can grow.

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?
No, If there is a word worst than a roller coaster ride, I would choose that. The struggles from the beginning I got in the US until I graduated school were inconceivable. Sometimes, I would cry silently in my sleep for every day that passed, thankful that we survived and woke up for the new morning with hopes.

The process of raising my children that I wish I could do more than I did to make sure they won’t go through what I went through was tough. I had sleepless nights during my school while working full-time during the day. I sometimes didn’t feel hungry and just kept on finishing all my office work and school deadlines. Learning and coping with the fast-evolving technology at my age is not easy. But I believe it will pay off.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been working as a Payroll Administrator II until now. I love working on numbers. At the same time, being a Graphic Designer, I am building my personal brand. I got into motion digital creation by leveraging the Adobo Creative Suites and YouTube Channel. I work freelance.

For the time being, I continue upskilling my knowledge on creating a title animation, creative thumbnails, editing for the reality TV show I chose, (Darcey and Stacey), and music promotion. I do this at night time and on weekends.

I am proud of having achieved my degree in Graphic Design, my passion at a late age through unmeasurable perseverance and determination. I am hoping my journey will incite people with a can-do attitude to progress toward their goals. I have this urge to do things not only for the money but make me happy and able to create something for people artistically and inspire them to the sustainable beautification of life.

I am empathetic and can understand people’s situations. I don’t give up on challenges that I persevere to get a great result for any goal I set. I am diverse in skills that I tend to develop more in hopes to contribute meaningful changes to anyone’s life.

“When Life Hits You Hard, Keep Thriving, Don’t Give Up”

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
First of all, I am grateful for my children’s support. They are my inspiration to keep going and for God’s guidance. My second son, John is always my proofreader. Second of all, I thank all LAFS’s staff and all my school mentors for guiding me all the way to earn my degree in the highest recognition. Each of them helped me to bring the best out of myself and know more about what I am capable of and helped me develop my interest in the creative field.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/joconcepcion
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-concepcion-921086191/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvyxL9nuqcn8iI0qXio6oA