Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Becaria.
Hi Andrea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is Andrea Catherin Becaria Torres. I was born in the beautiful city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. “La ciudad Bonita de Colombia” (“Colombia’s Beautiful City”) located on a plateau in the Cordillera Oriental of the Colombian Andes. I am the oldest of 3, a first-generation immigrant, daughter of the hardest working parents, and I am now a citizen of the United States (as of last week!) I moved to the states at a young age, with no say or knowledge, we moved to Utah.
My father’s side is LDS, that was the first time we heard of this state. We were fleeing Colombia due to the Armed conflict, the danger and poverty in my home country caused the departure of my family looking for refugees in a safe and prosperous country. We resided many years safely in Utah, in the legal process of asylum-seeking. We learned the language and settled in our new home with our new neighbors and friends. In my young and naive mind, we were living the American Dream regardless of the struggle my family endured as immigrants. We lived in poverty but comfortably, paycheck to paycheck but safely.
Most importantly my family appreciated the opportunity we had been granted by being here. In 2012, Colombia began the Colombian peace process referring to the peace process between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC to bring an end to the Colombian conflict, due to this optimistic Peace agreement, many families were denied their asylum case, including mine. In 2012, we received a letter stating we could re-appeal our case of Political Asylum or we had 2 months of voluntary deportation before we were processed for absolute deportation.
My family came to this country legally, they began a legal battle to remain in the country and we decided to follow the legal process of Voluntary deportation. This was extremely hard on us as a family, it broke us and separated us, and caused mental and emotional instability. However, it was fundamental for my family to follow the legal process no matter how much in disagreement with the decision we were. My father, siblings and I left back home in the summer of 2012, my mother stayed behind with her husband preparing for the legal battles to bring us back.
My siblings and I finished our High School in Colombia and 3 years later we were able to return back to the states under permanent residence. In 2012, DACA the Dreamers Act passed, my siblings would have been considered Dreamers, however, DACA has been extremely fragile and this would have continued to be a hard journey for full legal status. I have no doubt in my mind my parents made the best and hardest decisions for us, and in my years connecting back to my roots in Colombia, I grew a profound love for my culture and much more I now examine the privilege and opportunities I have to live in the USA.
As immigrants we have a different sense of appreciation for this country, no country is perfect, the legal process is broken but yet I find myself feeling an overwhelming sense of love and belonging for this country every day, The freedoms this country grants us are to be preserved and fought for and I am grateful to now be a Citizen of the United States. As I returned from Colombia, I have had many career opportunities to grow and learn, my first job was with Canyons School District as a Para Educator with Special ED. From there I have worked in retail, banking, many roles in a spa, interpreting, and Student Advocacy for ELLs.
I graduated as a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2018 and grew my skills with additional continued education courses. I have loved learning and teaching, most recently I have taken a role as a massage therapy instructor. Nonetheless, I have more to come for my future, and this year, I decided to take a scary but brave step to be a business owner. I opened my office in July of 2021 despite the unpredictable years we have had especially for business owners, I decided I wanted the freedom to choose the best environment for myself and my clients. I love the people I get to help and work around in my business, I love the freedom I have as a business owner. I am extremely grateful I have been able to grow my clientele in a new area.
I am grateful for the people that have helped me get here, the empowering women in business all around me that motivate me. I am grateful for the work ethic my parents have thought me. I am grateful to live in a country where as a woman, I don’t need a man, I don’t need a college degree, what I need is consistency, perseverance, and dedication. I am passionate about the work I do and everything I do is with the purpose of helping and healing. We are all on a never-ending road of healing. I have so much I want to do with my business to help and support my family.
In 2015, when I came back to the US, I returned alone to live with my mom and her husband. Later my sister followed and then my brother stopped to visit. My brother and father reside in Colombia along with the rest of my family. My dad is a business owner himself and he doesn’t plan to leave his business to restart here. My family in the states is small, I now have a baby nephew and I live with my boyfriend of 6 years.
All I want is financial independence to support my family here and in Colombia, I want to have the flexibility to be a business owner and mother. I look forward to the day that my spa grows, that I can hire and take time to visit my family more often.
For now, I just give thanks for the opportunity to wake up and get to do I job I love with people I love!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had many challenges in my life, but my parents have thought me great value to persevere and never give up. The struggles I have had are nothing compared to what other people in other countries encounter, having lived in Colombia gave me a sense of gratitude for every little thing I have.
Many of my challenges were overcome through the support of those around me, many of my fears turn into calmness thanks to the love that surrounds me. The most challenging period in my life was being far from my mother as a teenager, feeling like a tourist in my home country, in a new school once again. However I overcame my depression and anxiety but allowed and accepted these new changes in my life, I really struggled for the first year but soon enough I was rejoicing in the love of my family and new-made friends.
I had let go of the past and I allowed the future to happen. I loved everything Colombia offered me while I lived there as a teenager, it was an eye opening experience many don’t live and unfortunately that is why many remain entitled to their comfort and luxury. The challenges I had as a child and teen have made me a strong and resilient woman, I roll with the punches, I stand my ground, and fight for what I think is right.
You can either be a victim or be a victor. I make every challenge a lesson learn and I apply it to my life, my relationships, and my business.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an entrepreneur. I offer many services and products with excellence and passion. I am a licensed Massage therapist and permanent make up artist, in my services I offer a high quality of spa bodywork and body art, including body sculpting with the purpose of creating a healthier lifestyle for all my clients. I offer imported products from Colombia along with other excellent retail brands. I am proud to provide a stress-free and healing environment,
I am proud to have a safe space of acceptance, love, peace, and compassion where my clients can connect holistically and begin a lifestyle change. Massage Therapy is the art of bringing the mind, body and spirit into balance, it creates awareness of our body through healthy healing touch. Massage therapy has deep therapeutic benefits physically and mentally and I am strongly convinced that everyone needs a massage in their life.
Along with healing recovery massage, I offer body sculpting with the empowering idea to help everyone boost their healthy lifestyle and gain confidence in a healthy body. All the services I offer are with my client’s benefit in mind, I love the gratitude and appreciation I receive from all my clients, I am filled with support from all my clients from the beginning of my professional journey to now.
I look forward to growing my skills and offering more and more beneficial services to all my clientele. I am located in Bountiful Utah, inside of Indie Studio Suites.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Perseverance is the reason for my success, I persevere through challenges, I grow in consistency and dedication. I push and push myself to be a better version of myself everyday. I have a strong work ethic, I dont give up and I want more. However, what I want, I share.
Compassion is why I am in the career I am in, perseverance is how I will grow my career to continue to spread compassion.
Pricing:
- 1hr massage $70
- 2hr massage $140
- Body Sculpting $50 – $100
- Permanent Make-Up $150 – $400
Contact Info:
- Email: naturitatherapy.drea@gmail.com
- Website: www.naturitatherapy.com
- Instagram: @naturitatherapy.drea
- Facebook: Naturitatherapywithdrea
