ALUMNA IN FOCUS: Gina Torres Evangelista
Carewell foundation & I Can Serve
What’s Your Purpose?
So many people have asked themselves this question at least once. I know I have. In my teens and twenties, and even thirties, that was quite hard to answer. But life has a funny way of showing you just what you are meant to do.
In 2009, I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Of course, I was quite devastated at the news of having cancer, No one wants to hear those words: You have cancer. I was shaken, but I never lost sight of my objective to be healed and be well. I have always maintained a positive outlook and never thought of what could go wrong. I think that was my own kind of magic pill that brought me to where I am today.
Before my treatments, I came to know about The Cancer and Resource Wellness Foundation (Carewell) and I Can Serve. These 2 organizations, their founders and members, gave me the emotional and mental support I needed to go through my wellness journey. Since then, I told myself that I will volunteer as much as I can to pay it forward.
Every now and then, I would meet people who were newly diagnosed with cancer, and I would eagerly offer my support by giving them my contact details, in case they wanted to call me if they had any questions. I would also try to introduce them to these two organizations to get the emotional and mental support they needed. During this time, I also embarked on a lifestyle change that entailed modifying my food choices and switching to household products that have less or no synthetics. Throughout this journey, I discovered essential oils and started to make my own home-made personal products.
During the pandemic, I became more active with Carewell by volunteering to host the weekly online support group. It was a way for those who were newly diagnosed with cancer to meet others who are in the same boat as they are, so to speak. I shared with them my experiences with my treatments to give them a glimpse of what to expect, and to reassure them that they are not alone on this journey.
In 2020, in the middle of lockdown, I received my Aromatherapy Certification from the New York Institute of Aromatherapy. This became my means of sharing my knowledge of holistic wellness with more familiarity and confidence with essential oils. With this certification, my friend and I founded The Aroma Assembly, a partnership that offers personalized aromatherapy consultations. Our goal is to empower individuals to achieve balance, relaxation, vitality, and overall wellness through aromatherapy.
In early 2022, I had the honor of participating in the Patient Power Summit, an online event that brought together cancer organizations from across the country. During the summit, I voiced concerns about the inequities in cancer care, particularly the lack of personalized treatment discussions. This led to my involvement as project head for I Can Serve’s Breast Cancer Patient Manual, a comprehensive guide designed to support breast cancer patients through their treatment journeys.
All these experiences have given me time to reflect on my life’s purpose and what I was meant to do. What I have come to realize is that helping others and sharing what I know to give them a glimmer of hope, gives me a sense of purpose. I have always felt immense gratitude for being able to help others in any way possible.
At one point, I found myself questioning why I had cancer. Now, I understand. My cancer diagnosis, my work with the cancer foundations, and my aromatherapy certification are all related and connected to improving one’s overall wellness. If what I do inspires at least one person to want to take charge of their health and well- being, then my objective has been achieved.
It may not be the ideal career path for some, but for me, it has given me a fulfillment that is beyond measure. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I hope that in doing so, I can continue to pay it forward.