Sasha is a certified trainer and specialist under the World Institute for Incurable Diseases, a center that seeks to help people from challenging health conditions through healing practices and exercises paired with life-mentoring.
She also works as a project manager and forewoman in construction projects at the MDP Village in Ilocos Sur. During her downtime, she loves to trek mountains, chase waterfalls, and have meaningful conversations whether that's on world affairs or spirituality or anything in between.
How old are you?
17 years old
I am most known for:
My hunger to learn and initiative to act.
And the fact that I moved out of the city life and conventional schooling to live nestled in the mountains with my education outside the four corners of a classroom; career and life path decided quite early on
I am most proud of:
myself for making unpopular decisions that make sense when I look back at them.
What do you think is the biggest challenge about being your age?
A challenge I experienced personally is that people can be more concerned about your young age rather than your abilities and experience. Getting a foot in the door is the more challenging part, but the proof is in the pudding when people have value added to their lives from the work we do.
Society generally does not see wisdom and children being on the same bandwidth. But maturity is not always determined by age. This, however, seems to be changing as young leaders are taking a stand and children are given the floor to contribute to bigger projects and concerns.
We are not only growing up in the age of social media, content overload, and cancel culture that corrupts and stunts our growth, but an increasingly volatile world of crumbling social structures and global superpowers up in arms that leaves us paralyzed and grappling with existential and survival issues while trying to discover who we are as young adults.
It's like feeling like you have to watch out for every step you make but not having guideposts or a path outlined for you. I think that the issue is not always that the youth are lacking freedom or good material things in life, but that we tend to be lacking the right guidance and support to navigate our lives and our roles in this changing world.
What is the best thing about being your age?
My age allows me to be dynamic and oscillate between jiving with older folk and relating with younger ones too.Â
It is liberating to know that there is so much room for growth and years ahead of me. Having higher energy levels, creativity, flexibility and a quick metabolism are all a plus too haha.
Whenever you reflect on your life so far, what is one experience that truly shaped who you are today?
The journey of getting out of my depression and suicidal ideation a few years back truly shaped me. It was not just that I was out of a rut but that I knew what I immediately had to do next, which was to guide others to heal and move forward just as I had. It was that experience that jolted me into action.
What are the best pieces of life advice you have ever received?
I get the best advice from Master Del Pe who has told me to always look to add value and functionality in life, wherever you are. When you walk into a room, find out how you can best contribute to the situation in a unique and impactful way. If you make yourself useful and do something that helps others, then you have the equity to receive the same when you need it.
Who are the women you look up to and how have they helped shape your life?
3 of my mentors, Vic, Rega, and Moni are women that are directors in international organizations, changing lives of thousands of people through healing and mentoring. Leah and Anna are forces to be reckoned with. Angel, my mom Mitch, and my grandmother Chita, have been guiding lights in my life. From them all, I've seen how to wield power responsibly with intellect, with wisdom in decision-making, having the confidence and composure to stay standing in challenging times, and always going for the greatest service that they can provide in their respective missions.
It's difficult to share only a few of the women who I have high regard for but they have taught me the life-changing power of having the right mentors and teachers that uphold the virtues you want to uphold, not just in theory but also in practice. It makes it easier to believe in yourself, and stay accountable knowing that they are also watching out for you and looking forward to your growth.
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