In this inspiring talk, award-winning author, keynote speaker, and education advocate Erica Alfaro shares her powerful journey of resilience, determination, and transformation. Best known for her viral 2019 graduation photos that captivated global audiences, Erica overcame immense adversity to become the first woman in her family to earn a college degree. Her story has been featured by CNN, The Huffington Post, Yahoo News, and more. Through “Your Power Is in Your Story,” Erica reflects on how education became her pathway out of poverty and a catalyst for exponential personal and professional growth. Her journey underscores the power of storytelling, perseverance, and embracing one’s roots as a source of strength and purpose. Erica Alfaro was born in Fresno, CA but grew up in Tijuana, Mexico. She was 13 years old when her family returned to the United States. Erica struggled academically, became a teen mom, dropped out of high school, and lived many years of domestic abuse. After many adversities, Erica defied the odds and became the first woman in her family to obtain a formal education and a graduate degree. Education was Erica’s ticket out of poverty and the door to many opportunities.In 2019, Erica’s graduation picture, where she is standing in a strawberry field with her farmworker parents, became the first graduation picture to go viral and make headlines worldwide. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx