Some women inspire you because of what they've built. Others inspire you because of what they've survived.

Alice Perez has done both.

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Born and raised in the Bronx projects of New York City, Alice's childhood was filled with challenges that no child should have to face. She is a survivor of sexual abuse, spent time in foster care and group homes, and grew up with parents battling drug addiction. While they remained functional enough to provide some stability, life taught Alice early that survival often meant growing up faster than everyone else around her.

Even through unimaginable circumstances, she refused to let hardship become her identity.

 

Today, Alice serves her community as a Medical Office Manager, a Registered National Medical Assistant, and the owner of a Home Health Aide company—dedicating her life to caring for others while continuing to build a future that looks nothing like the past she came from.

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Tell us your story. Share your journey—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. What have you overcome, rebuilt, created, survived, or stepped into?

Alice Perez: I’m a Puerto Rican girl born and raised in the Bronx Projects. I’m a sexual abuse survivor, a foster care and group home survivor, and the daughter of parents who struggled with drug addiction, although they were functional. I became the healer for everyone in my family and had to grow up quickly.

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Loss also became part of my story at a young age. My uncle passed away at 43 when I was only 17, and my mother passed away at 47 when I was 20. There were many other losses along the way. I learned early that life would not always slow down and give me time to process what was happening. I had responsibilities, people depending on me, and things that still had to get done.

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Today, I work as a Medical Office Manager and Registered National Medical Assistant, and I also own a Home Health Aide company. Much of my life has been centered around taking care of other people, whether they were members of my family, patients, elderly clients, or the people working alongside me. Serving others has always been a part of who I am.

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At your lowest point, what did life feel like emotionally and mentally? What thoughts were you having, and when did you decide to make a change?

Alice Perez: In reality, I had to grow up so fast that I couldn’t let everything get to me. Now, let’s not be unrealistic—of course I had sad moments and low moments, but I didn’t have time to invest in those feelings. I had to raise and care for my little brother, take care of my family, go to school, and work as many jobs as I could at once.

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For a couple of years, right after finally coming home from foster care, I literally worked six jobs, seven days a week, while also going to school. It was tough, but being from New York City, we were never really given the option not to be tough or to show too much emotion. You did what you had to do and kept moving.

There wasn’t one dramatic moment when I decided to change my life. Change happened through necessity. I understood that if I wanted something different, I had to work for it. No one was going to hand me an easier life, so I studied, worked, prayed, and continued moving forward.

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Which fire best describes you?

Alice Perez: The Community Woman.

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What did rebuilding your life actually look like day to day? What was the hardest part of starting over?

Alice Perez: As I mentioned, I worked immensely. I studied like I needed an out, because in many ways, I did. I prayed every step of the way and focused on creating a future that looked different from the circumstances I came from.

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Starting over was one of those situations where you simply had to do it. Complaining about it wasn’t going to change anything or get me anywhere. I knew the work had to be done, so I focused on doing it. I kept showing up, handling my responsibilities, and moving forward even when I was tired.

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What is one life lesson you learned that other women need to hear?

Alice Perez: I know this might sound harsh, but it’s really how I keep going. I struggle when people use “I was abused,” “I was hurt,” or whatever happened to them as a reason to stay stuck and wallow in it forever.

It happened. I can’t simply tell someone to get over it because everyone’s degree of strength, grief, healing, and repair has different limitations. We all process pain differently. But at some point, you have to recognize that you made it out and decide to move forward.

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Use what happened to you as a force. Tell yourself, “You got me once, but damn it, not anymore. You don’t have power over me.” Your pain may be part of your story, but it does not have to continue controlling your life.

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What quote, mantra, or scripture do you live by?

Alice Perez: Carpe Diem. Everything happens for a reason. Don’t stress over things you cannot control. If you can fix it, then fix it. If you can’t, leave it in His hands.

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What you cry about today may literally make you laugh tomorrow. I believe in positive energy, and I believe motivation is the key. Life will continue happening, so I try to focus my energy on what I can actually change.

 

What advice would you give to a woman who feels stuck right now?

Alice Perez: Remember that you were not put on this Earth to fail. If you give in to stress and anxiety, they can grow and begin affecting every part of your life.

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Don’t keep living in the past or allowing what happened to you to control who you are today. Use all that pain, hurt, and sadness as a force to push yourself forward and go farther than you ever imagined. You may not be able to change what happened, but you can decide what happens next. Take that energy and put it into building a life that proves your past no longer has power over you.

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What is one tip you would give to women building a business or career?

Alice Perez: The glamour and shimmer people see when someone is building something often hides the setbacks that happen behind the scenes. There will be challenges, so you have to think positively and decide whether you need to fix the problem or change your approach.

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It also takes time—sometimes several years—to receive recognition or see the rewards from all the hard work you put in. Only you can make your business or career become what it has the potential to be.

Nothing will ever be perfect, and you shouldn’t blame yourself if it isn’t the exact shade of color you imagined. It may not look exactly the way you pictured it, but if it’s damn near close and you created it, you should still be proud of what you built.

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What are you currently building, working on, or proud of?

Alice Perez: At the moment, I have several ideas running around in this loud Leo head of mine. At this stage in my life, I’m also focused on remaining at my wonderful job and helping build it even more than I already have.

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I’m praying that my new relationship continues to grow in faith and love. I’m also proud of helping my daughter continue on her journey and discover what fits her. She works with me, and I outsource her services to some of my elderly clients.

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I helped her earn her CNA and Home Health Aide certifications, and being able to guide her toward opportunities and help her build her own future means a lot to me. After spending so much of my life caring for others, watching my daughter develop her own path is something I’m deeply proud of.

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Alice’s story is not built around pretending that pain never happened. It is built around refusing to let that pain remain in control. Through work, prayer, perseverance, and service, she transformed survival into a life that now creates opportunities for others—including the next generation of her own family. Her journey reminds us that moving forward does not erase the past; it proves the past no longer has the power to decide your future.