Shanice

My name is Shanice Matos. 

To me, I feel like a regular smegular girl from the Bronx. I was born the product of a Puerto Rican father and an Indian mother. As a child, I didn’t see my multiculturalism as a thing. When they say New York is a melting pot of all cultures they mean it.  

When I was 16 years old, I decided to pursue a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. However, it didn’t take long to realize this was the worst job ever! This was my main motivation from becoming a Nurse. At the age of 17 I decided to pursue my Nursing Degree at Long Island University. Immediately my whole world changed. For the first time in my life I was able to know what it means to embrace the different aspects of my culture. I was exposed to music, dancing, and even learning to embrace my Spanish side. Dancing was always a huge part of who I am. When I dance I feel free. It brings me balance, and for a long time it defined who I was.  

At 21 I received my BA in Nursing, and immediately I knew it was only the beginning, and I wanted more, but I didn’t know what I was. I even dabbled in modeling for a couple years. The thing I realized about modeling is that “beauty” is subjective. As a model you have to portray beauty as perfection; as an image that all women should strive for. I am not perfect. I am Shanice. The girl that grew up in the Bronx and became a woman, a Nurse, and mother. Mothers are expected to have all the answers and handle all the angles. In my life, I'm a mother who is finishing a masters degree. I study while I cook, I study while I clean my house, and I study while I play with my daughter. I have flaws. Sometimes I fail. Sometimes I fall. Sometimes I’m tired.  Sometimes I’m sad. In the end, I decided when I was young that I wanted more. Today’s battle is tomorrow’s triumph. I don’t know where my story is going to end, but I do know there is no top to my mountain.