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Elizabeth Maldonado
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Elizabeth Maldonado
Elizabeth Maldonado is a Certified Teacher, Certified Life Coach, Ordained Minister, Published Author, and Motivational Speaker. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Generic Special Education from The University of the Incarnate Word. She graduated with honors: Cum Laude. She is a San Antonio, Texas native. She graduated from Oliver Wendell Holmes High School which is on the west side of San Antonio, Texas where she still resides. Her passion has always been working with at-risk youth. She created her own educational homeschooling program called Innovative Approaches to Education.
She later created The Amazing You Life Coaching as a continuum of services for the people who needed a more one-to-one approach to break through plateaus and overcome obstacles. She has served as a certified teacher for twenty-one years. She is very active in her community and enjoys working collaboratively with other entities to improveápeople's quality of life.
Links: www.elizabethmaldonadospeaks.com www.elizabethmaldonadospeaks.com youtube.com/channel/UCjGiPCZXIMdzqUnzT8iWrGw https://youtube.com/channel/UCjGiPCZXIMdzqUnzT8iWrGw Email: mailto:elizabeth_maldonado37@yahoo.com
My story:
I grew up on the west side of San Antonio, Texas. I grew up with both my parents and both of my maternal grandparents. I enjoyed speaking both English and Spanish in the home.
My father was ex-military and was a Vietnam Veteran. He taught that life was precious and that time was limited. He said to try not to waste time. He wanted us to get right to work and do something with our lives.
I graduated from Oliver Wendell Holmes HS in the early 90s. I finished in three years. I later graduated from The University of the Incarnate Word in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Generic Special Education. I always had a calling for helping people and I always rooted for the underdog. People often underestimate the power and the influence people can have on one another. I always found inspiration when I saw others with my same background or my same experiences make it big! I saw that it was doable! I saw that I could triumph and overcome the obstacles that stood in my way. I worked as a special education teacher working primarily with students who were diagnosed as Emotionally Disturbed and Learning Disabled (or both). I saw them as being the twice exceptional child. They were a different kind of learner. They utilized a different modality to learn the concepts we presented. I fell in love with the idea of helping them find their abilities and their gifts and talents. I would often think of things that were outside the box for catching their attention and keeping their momentum going. I would later go off on my own and create my own homeschooling program called Innovative Approaches to Education. I realized people needed more one to one assistance and sought out my Life Coaching certification to be able to help them with transition assistance. My passion is helping people feel empowered and keeping the momentum going. I enjoy seeing the Ah Ha Moment. The minute the light bulb goes off, there is a change in their face. They feel success and long form more and soon enough we have a life-long learner. People who didn't see their potential, begin to celebrate their success and they encourage others to do the same. I love being a part of the process.
I overcame some difficult times. I had a family member who died and I was grieving for longer than one usually does. I had lost the passion for being an educator in the public sector and I needed to find my own niche.
My mom had to undergo many health issues including kidney failure and loss of vision and those things caused me a great amount of stress, but God is so good. He put the right people in my presence and I was able to gain the spiritual fortitude and positive mind set I needed to move forward in life. I was able to pick up the pieces and put them together. I now have superglue between my puzzle pieces because I understand who I am and how strong I can be. I thank the Lord for his constant presence in my life. I also can attest to the promise God gives saying he prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies. I know I have to stay focused and that the enemy tries to distract you. I know when I am in the presence of my enemies it is getting closer and closer to dinner times. I need to feed on the holy spirit and let that fill me with the wisdom and guidance I need to stay the course.
I want people to know that if things are becoming difficult, and you feel you are being tested, that just means that the Lord is getting ready to bless you.
Don't give up on your dreams.
Dream Big. Believe in the process, and have faith. These are keys to your happiness and your peace. It was not until this past year that I began to celebrate my gifts and talents with a deep sense of gratitude. I am learning to love myself in a way that attracts more positivity and better opportunities are coming my way. I want people to know that when you celebrate you, you open a portal and you channel greatness towards you. May God lead people to people who pour into them so that they can truly see how Amazing they really are. I started a podcast called the Amazing You so that I could share stories of inspiration. I want to celebrate people who are finding out how amazing they are. I want to pay it forward and help others who want to reach that next level.
