๐— ๐˜† ๐—ง๐—˜๐——๐˜…๐— ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—›๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต ๐—๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜†: ๐—ข๐˜„๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐— ๐˜† ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†, ๐— ๐˜† ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜†

When TEDxMileHigh first approached me, I thought, โ€œSure, I can share my journey and my work in Public Health!โ€ No problem.

Julissa Soto

1/30/20252 min read

When TEDxMileHigh first approached me, I thought, โ€œSure, I can share my journey and my work in Public Health!โ€ No problem.

Iโ€™ve spoken at conferences, led community health initiatives, and advocated for marginalized voices in countless spaces. But I had never spoken on a TEDx stage. Still, I figured I would prepare as I always doโ€”speak from the heart and let my passion for my work shine through.

Then, TEDx reached out again with a new set of requirements. This wasnโ€™t just a speechโ€”it had to be memorized word for word. I had to sign a formal contract, agree to an exact dress code, and follow a structured coaching process. Thatโ€™s when it hit me: Wait, I thought I was the one in control of my story?

An Unexpected Challenge

I knew this was an incredible opportunity, but I also knew that my colleaguesโ€”all native English speakersโ€”had an advantage. I was the only immigrant in this speaker lineup, and English is my second language.

At home, as I practiced my speech over and over again, I couldnโ€™t help but wonder, โ€œWhat have I gotten myself into?โ€ Memorizing 2,000 words was already a challenge, but for me, it felt like 4,000, because I naturally think in Spanish first.

I hadnโ€™t even heard of TED Talks before! The gravity of what I had signed up for started to sink in. The pressure was real.

Dressing the Part

Then came the dress code.

TEDx organizers asked me to wear something โ€œformal.โ€ That seemed straightforwardโ€”except, what exactly did formal mean in a TEDx setting? I wanted to make sure that I looked professional, but I also wanted to stay true to myself.

So, I took a different approach. Instead of second-guessing, I brought three of my favorite outfits backstage and said, โ€œYou pick. But just so you know, I donโ€™t do boring colors. Iโ€™m as vibrant as my personality, so letโ€™s keep it loud!โ€ ๐ŸŒˆโœจ

They chose my Versace outfit, and I felt like my best self walking onto that stage.

The Mariachi Surprise

Then came the biggest hurdle.

โ€œBy the way,โ€ I casually told the organizers, โ€œmy Mariachi band is coming with me.โ€

The stunned silence in the room was priceless.

"How many people are in your Mariachi band?" someone asked.

"Only eight," I replied with a smile.

They hesitated. There was no room on stage for that many people, they explained. The Mariachi wasnโ€™t in the schedule. I could have backed down. I could have let it slide.

But cultural validation matters.

I stood firm: โ€œWe will make space for the Mariachi band, or Julissa Soto will not speak.โ€ ๐ŸŽค๐Ÿ”ฅ

Because this is the essence of what I teach and advocate forโ€”honoring who we are without compromise.

Stepping Onto That Stage

The day finally arrived. The lights. The crowd. The energy.

As I stood on that iconic red dot, I felt the weight of my journey. I wasnโ€™t just telling my storyโ€”I was representing every immigrant, every Latina, every underrepresented voice that has ever been told to fit in, to assimilate, to tone it down.

But I donโ€™t do tone it down.

I delivered my speech my way. With my words. In my voice. And with my Mariachi band.

The Takeaway: Own Your Story

Walking off that stage, I felt proud, emotional, and empowered.

TEDxMileHigh was not just a speaking opportunityโ€”it was a reminder that when you stay true to yourself, your story becomes even more powerful.

Now, Iโ€™m beyond excited to share the final result with you all.

๐ŸŽฅ Watch my TED Talk here ๐Ÿ‘‰ [Insert Link]

And rememberโ€”never let anyone dictate who you are. Be unapologetically YOU. โค๏ธ๐ŸŒŽ