Today we’d like to introduce you to Caterine Carpio
Hi Caterine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a daughter of Dominican parents who migrated to the US in the 80’s. I was born in Bronx, NY but I was raised in the Dominican Republic with my paternal grandmother until I was 15 years old. I experience a lot in the DR, my family was not rich but we had the necessities. While growing up, I never saw either of my parents achieve much other than going to work every day. I never saw them have a hobby or do things that they enjoyed just for fun. As I grew up, I started feeling like there was more that I could do. I didn’t want to just have a job and retire from it and have nothing else to show. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and I am thankful for all their hard work, without them I wouldn’t be there today.
Once I returned to the US to live with my mom, I finished high school and attempted to start college at 18 years old but I dropped out before the first semester was over. I felt quite alone and without the proper support to continue. I ended up meeting my ex-husband who I married quite young and had my first son Alexander, who is now 14 years old. During this marriage, I attempted to return to college but yet again I dropped out before the first semester was over. I just didn’t fit in.
Life happens and I ended up getting divorce after 5 years and decided a third time to go back to school in 2013. This time I did stick to it. It took me 5 years to finish my associate’s degree in Criminal Justice but I did it! Once I graduated from National American University, my goal was to become a juvenile probation officer but the pay was not great at all. I was making more at the job I had which was at the school I graduated from as a Financial Aid Representative. I worked at National American University for 5 years before I decided it was time to move on to something better.
In October of 2015 I met my current husband Darwin. We got married in January of 2017 and have been married since. We just celebrated 8 years of marriage! We had our son Caleb in May of 2023, can’t believe he will be 2 soon!
In April of 2018 I was hired at Johnson County Community College part-time as a Financial Aid Assistant. I loved working at JCCC, it was honestly the best place I’ve ever worked for. I had the best coworkers and supervisors but yet again, it was time to get out of my comfort zone and start the next chapter in my life. So, after evaluating how expensive child care is and knowing we could not afford those fancy places, my husband and I decided that the best thing for our family right now was for me to stay home with our little one. As of Friday February 7th, I resigned from my position at JCCC.
This decision was very difficult for me because I truly loved working there. I enjoyed educating students on their federal aid and explaining their eligibility and how it could help them pay for school. I became the person I needed when I tried to go to college during those 2 failed attempts. But I believe that there is a reason for everything and that God has a better plan for our lives. A plan that might not make sense right now but it will be a blessing in disguise with time.
Ok, remember I said at the beginning that I never saw my parents have hobbies or do anything just for fun? Well, I did gain a few hobbies and the one that has been on my heart for a very long time is crafting. A little bit of this and a little bit of that! In 2021 I decided to take the leap and purchase a Cricut machine. I am sure you know someone who owns one and probably has never even turned it on! But as I soon I got mine, I got it all set up and started playing with it.
I spent a lot of time on YouTube looking up videos on how to do all kinds of crafts with my new machine. I started making personalized things for myself and my family, then my friends and somehow I ended up getting referrals and started getting orders for things I wasn’t even sure I could do. A very good friend of mine saw the momentum I was gaining and decided to gift me something that I will forever be grateful for, she registered my business and got me an EIN #. I was in total shock when I found out how much this costs and I couldn’t believe she believed in me and my craft! But the initial enthusiasm eventually faded away and I ended up putting everything on the back burner for a while. I would take an order every couple of months if even. I was dedicating a lot of time to work, home and church. Yes, I not only attend church, during this time I was the youth pastor at my church which took a lot of my time with pastoral care, planning activities, events, meeting etc.
2024 was my last year as a youth pastor after working with the youth for 5 years, 2 as an assistant pastor and 3 as the head youth pastor. Remember I said I wanted to be a juvenile probation officer? Well, God works in mysterious ways doesn’t He. I didn’t get paid to work with the youth at my church but it was very rewarding if you ask me.
I decided that 2025 would be the year where I would take my business seriously since I will now have more time and no longer have to worry about child care because my business is run from my home. I made things official and got a small business account, created a Shopify website, started posting daily on my Instagram, Facebook and TikTok account and soon will be uploading my first YouTube video! I’ve also applied and gotten selected for 3 vendor events this year!
My story is definitely longer than this, many ups and many downs. New beginning are never easy but sometimes they are necessary and definitely worth it. I didn’t want to just work and then retire when I am 70 years old and look back with regret and ask myself why I wasn’t brave enough to do those things I wanted to do. My business name is Brave Soul Designs because it takes bravery to start something but you have to be braver to persevere. I challenge you today to be BRAVE.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I believe that if you are going down a smooth road you are going the wrong way. I know that may sound ridiculous but think about it, if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t help you grow. Conformity is not something I want, I want to build a legacy I can leave my children and those who get to know me. I always ask myself, what I do want people to remember me by? What am I doing in order to make sure my legacy is created? What type of legacy do I want to create?
In order to make an impact, challenges in my opinion are necessary. Challenges can bring out the best and the worse in people and learning how to deal with them will help us become better and stronger. As I always say, there is always room for growth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The main vision for my brand is to transform our customers ideas into amazing products (could be a t-shirt or a mug) and to offer a variety of already made products our customers can chose from to make the perfect gift box. We offer ready to ship items on our website such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, glass cups, journals and more with high quality designs but we specialize in custom orders. We love to work with our customers to make sure that their idea comes to life in a product. Our most popular custom order is gift boxes. We have done hundreds of custom gift boxes for special occasions at our church such as Mother’s and Father’s day, Pastor’s day, leadership convention and other church related special events. We also do custom business cards, thank you cards and in some occasions logos for other small businesses.
Brave Soul Designs is different because we focus on giving our customers the best service, we listen to them and make the necessary recommendations in order to ensure that their product is made with excellence. When I say we, I mean myself. I make each order as if it was for myself. I want the best for myself and I know my customers want and expect the best from me. I am very big on communication so if a customer asks me to make something for them, I make sure I go over all the details with them in advance. For example, if I have never done what they are asking, I will be honest about it and let them know that I could do something similar if they allow me. Transparency and honesty are the 2 main ingredients of my business.
I want readers to know that Brave Soul Designs is a place that values them not only as a customer but as a person. I will always thrive to make my customers experience the best from the moment they message me that they need my service to the final product delivery. I want to create a community not just a customer base. I am here to encourage you while helping you create that perfect gift or product for you or your business.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As I mentioned before, I was raised in the Dominican Republic. I can say I had a “interesting” childhood. I am the youngest child of 3. All 3 of us have different dads. I lived with my paternal grandmother who was a Christian. My dad lived in Puerto Rico and ended up getting deported when I was 10 years old. My mom lived in the US and my sister and brother lived closed by with one of my mom’s sisters. Eventually, my mom was able to rent a home big enough for my sister, my brother and I to live in together but she was still living in the US so we had a “nanny.” I honestly do not remember being interested in much. I never got into sports, music, etc. I can say, I was pretty boring. Since my mom was in a different country my dad was around after getting deported but I didn’t really know him so we didn’t have the best relationship. My sister was an adult, she worked and went school so she did her own thing and my bother (minor at that time like me) also did his own thing since his dad was not around (like sister’s) and my mom was in another country. I felt quite alone during this time, I can probably say at some point I might of experience depression and didn’t know. I didn’t talk much and always preferred to be alone. Sounds pretty sad when you put it into works doesn’t it?
When I came to the US at 15, I still didn’t seem to have much interest in anything specific. I was that kid that didn’t have many friends in school. During my high school years I have like 3 friends, 2 girls and boy. I didn’t get out much because my mom was pretty strict, which now that I am a mom I get it. I felt trapped at times because I wanted to do things like work and learn how to drive but my mom was not able to support me in those things because she was always working. But enough with the sad. My personality didn’t really surfaced until I got divorced. The Caterine that people met 10 years ago, is definitely not the same Caterine you will meet today that’s for sure. I gave my life to Christ in 2015 and it has changed everything.
I am at peace, more present, more joyful, more thankful and more attentive to the small details of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bravesouldesigns.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravesouldesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bravesouldesigns
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravesouldesigns
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bravesouldesigns
