Sasha Merci as Josefina in “La Egoísta” by Erlina Ortiz at Philadelphia Theatre Firm. (Picture Supply: Mark Garvin)

Soy Demasiado, a particular situation for Juntos, celebrates Latinas who’re reclaiming what it means to be “an excessive amount of.” Learn the tales right here.

In a Dominican household, ladies are sometimes raised to be the glue that holds everybody collectively. From a younger age, we’re taught to be dependable, reliable, and emotionally steadfast. Our position is evident: assist the household, generally on the expense of our personal goals. In a tradition that locations a lot emphasis on familismo — the concept household comes first, all the time — I used to be raised to consider that my value lay in how effectively I might construct and keep a nest for others to relaxation on. Following goals that did not match into this imaginative and prescient for our household wasn’t simply discouraged; it was virtually unimaginable.

For me, the journey of embracing my very own goals meant difficult the very basis of these values. Selecting to depart New York and transfer to Los Angeles in 2018 to chase a profession in appearing and comedy felt like an act of rise up. It was essentially the most egocentric factor I might have achieved — or a minimum of that is how my household made me really feel about it. They might ask why I might select this unsure path, and each time I missed household gatherings or drama erupted again dwelling, I might get calls suggesting that issues would’ve been completely different if I had been there.

The choice to maneuver and the aftermath had been agonizing, loaded with guilt and self-doubt. Every missed vacation or household celebration was a reminder of the expectations I used to be defying. Because the particular person within the household who would set boundaries, I turned “the troublesome one,” the egocentric one. At occasions I questioned my alternative, however I believed that placing my goals first would permit me to interrupt a cycle and stay a life that set a brand new normal for what a Dominican girl might obtain.

As a result of deep down, I knew that if I had stayed, the generational points would’ve continued. My absence did not trigger them; it allowed me to see them extra clearly and validated my option to carve a brand new path.

In fact, creating a brand new path for oneself is not straightforward. Self-doubt creeps in, and generational trauma can persuade you to consider the very concepts you are attempting to interrupt free from. However I spotted that being perceived as an “egoísta” by individuals you’re keen on usually is not about malice; it is rooted within the worry of what failure may do to you. Dad and mom, particularly, wish to preserve us secure, they usually had been taught to outlive fairly than thrive. Life was meant to be taken severely, with roles assigned to maintain the household’s ecosystem steady. However occasions are altering, and Latinas could be no matter they select to be.

In my position as Josefina in a play I just lately starred in referred to as “La Egoísta,” I discovered a hanging reflection of my very own life. “La Egoísta” was written by Erlina Ortiz, produced by the Tony Award-winning manufacturing firm Edgewood Leisure, and directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo. I shared the stage with Maria Gabriela González, who performed my sister, in addition to puppeteer Marisol Rosea Shapiro. I’m deeply grateful to have shared the stage with such proficient individuals. This venture taught me the significance of placing artwork first; it impressed, moved, and inspired audiences to look inside themselves to see what they could lack or have to change into. Via Josefina, I got here to know the significance of embracing the “egoísta” inside.

Josefina, like me, is caught within the tug-of-war between particular person goals and household loyalty. Familismo is a phenomenal worth rooted in love and assist, but it surely can be a burden, particularly for ladies. For Latinas, these expectations usually translate into an unstated rule that our goals come second. Males are inspired to be go-getters, whereas ladies are anticipated to be nesters, all the time sacrificing for the household. I spotted that whereas familismo is nurturing, it could actually unintentionally restrict ladies from reaching our full potential.

As my profession in comedy and appearing took off, I needed to make sacrifices that many would not perceive. I missed weddings, birthdays, and different household gatherings. Over time, I got here to know that my boundaries had been obligatory — not an act of abandonment, however an assertion of self-respect.

It took years, however I’ve discovered to say no, shield my time, and prioritize my well-being and psychological well being over guilt. I got here to appreciate that by sacrificing myself, I wasn’t serving to anybody in the long term. To be my finest self and a profitable comic and actress, I needed to give myself permission to pursue what felt proper, even when it went in opposition to every thing I might been taught.

Whereas some family members have come to know, others nonetheless do not. Once I say no to large household occasions, their disappointment is palpable. I have been referred to as “an excessive amount of” for prioritizing my profession, however I am grounded by the data that by being true to myself, I am honoring my household in my very own method. I wish to present {that a} Latina can chase her goals, create success, and nonetheless love her household deeply.

Enjoying Josefina taught me a lot concerning the energy of alternative. “La Egoísta” gave me an opportunity to specific the battle many Latinas face: wanting to remain near our roots whereas additionally branching out to pursue our goals. Familismo is gorgeous, however for it to really serve us, it should evolve to assist each member of the family’s goals. Ladies deserve the liberty to dream large, to maneuver away in the event that they select, and to redefine what household means to them.

To different career-driven Latinas, I say this: do not be afraid to embrace your inside egoísta. Defending your goals and setting boundaries in your well-being is not egocentric. Your ambitions are legitimate, and your targets are value pursuing. Once we make area for our progress, we’re not abandoning our households; we’re making a legacy that reveals future generations that they, too, can comply with their passions unapologetically. I am proud to be a Dominican girl carving a brand new path, and I hope that by embracing my goals, I am serving to others to do the identical.

Sasha Merci is a first-generation Dominican American actor, comic, and viral digital creator. She showcases over a decade of numerous expertise in leisure with roles in movies like “Righteous Thieves” and “De Lo Mio,” together with collaborations with famend manufacturers resembling Goal and Bumble. She shares her Bronx roots and fervour for Latine tradition by being vocal about psychological well being and navigating comedy.