Las mujeres podemos hacer el cambio, en la administración pública | Rocío Serrano Merchán | TEDxESAP

This speaker shares her life story, emphasizing women's capacity for transformation through education and professional development. Facing early economic hardship and her parents' separation at age four, she learned the importance of inner strength and resilience. Her first entrepreneurial attempt, a bakery with her mother, was short-lived due to a lack of resources, but it instilled in her the belief that dreams have no expiration date. Despite graduating high school, financial constraints initially prevented her from pursuing higher education. However, her determination, coupled with support from the Higher School of Public Administration, allowed her dream of becoming a professional to materialize. She highlights the transformative impact of her studies, particularly her engagement with a political constitution, which she now understands as a vital part of Colombian identity. Her journey also includes significant social work. At eighteen, she volunteered at an orphanage, deeply affected by a young girl’s separation from her family. She dedicated weekends to brightening the child's life, culminating in organizing a birthday celebration, a deeply fulfilling experience. Later, married with children, she resumed her social work, expanding her efforts to a senior citizens' center, fostering connection and joy. Most recently, she has focused on working with the homeless population, advocating for empathy and support, inspired by their mutual aid. She concludes by asserting that true change is found in gestures of love and compassion, reflecting women's life-giving power and their ability to shine.