I reached out to Tess Garcia about a month ago because I saw some of her articles in Teen Vogue. I found her website/portfolio and then emailed her, asking how she got started freelancing and pitching to different online publications. I then followed her on Instagram because I wanted to learn more about her. I learned that she also teaches yoga, which I thought was so cool. After that, I was determined to get to know her more.
I read several of her articles on Teen Vogue and knew she was someone I would immediately get along with. Although we have never met in person, we bonded over similar interests and our love and passion for writing, the media, and our Latin ethnicities.
I hope one day we can meet in person and have a powerful conversation about the media industry, while she teaches me yoga and Argentinian culture.
Tess recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Communication and Political Science. Although her graduation and end of senior year were not the way she had imagined them to be, she still is remaining as positive as she can be. I think that is all any of us can do. We have to try to find the positive aspects of life during these dark times.
Quote: “Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to love” - Emma Watson
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Words are powerful, and they tell a lot about who we are without realizing it. Tess stated that her word to describe herself is “changing.” She is someone who is trying to be better, do better, and learn, not just for herself, but for those around her.
Something that remained constant in our interview was the theme of living in the moment and doing things that she enjoys versus what others think she should be doing to have fun. She explained that she has been learning this and that she needs to do what she thinks is best for her rather than what others deem as fun. This example shows how she is continually trying to change and is in the process of changing.
What are you most proud of?
Tess discussed that she is most proud that she has let go of the idea that landing her dream job and creating her career is the most important aspect of her life. She realizes the importance of landing her dream job and moving up the corporate ladder is so highly prioritized in our society, but she plans on staying grounded.
Tess has made it a goal to prioritize her relationships and grow out of the belief that her work has to be at the top of her priorities.
If you could live anywhere where would it be?
“New York for opportunities.”
Besides New York, Tess also mentioned the possibility of living in Europe. She studied abroad last year in Southern Spain and loved it. She doesn’t have an exact city in Europe, but we did talk a lot about Spain, as we both are interested in their culture.
What would you tell your younger self?
“Don’t be so mean to yourself.”
One thing that stood out to me about Tess was that she shared similar experiences to me in that we both didn’t think that the “typical” activities we were supposed to be doing at certain ages were all that fun.
Tess and I bonded over the fact that we both dislike some of the typical activities that people our age partake in. Tess felt like she had to participate in certain things even when she knew she didn’t like it and would rather be writing or doing something else instead.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Tess replied that her biggest inspiration is her grandmother.
Her grandmother sought out a relationship with her. A relationship Tess never thought much about, until her grandma started teaching her about their culture, and her stories about growing up in Argentina. Tess is grateful because, without that relationship, she wouldn’t have learned about her family’s history.
“She made me realize the importance of family culture.”
“She did so much with so little.”
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in college?
The transition to college is difficult for everyone. There are so many challenges and obstacles for a young person to tackle all on their own. For Tess, she felt lost in her own headspace. She didn’t want to attend University Michigan, but also didn’t have the desire to transfer anywhere else. On top of that, she was still grieving over her first heartbreak. She felt lost in her own emotions, but didn’t feel as though her feelings were valid. She knows that everyone goes through heartbreak at some point in their lives and that they need time to grieve, but she didn’t feel like that was enough to validate how she was feeling. She didn’t want to be here nor there; she felt out of place and out of touch.
This brought up an interesting point in our discussion and we both agreed that we try our best to validate other people’s feelings, yet we feel wrong validating our own and diminish or belittle our emotions. Someone else may validate our feelings, but we are our own worst enemy and may not believe in what they say.
What is your dream job and why?
The two dream jobs that she discussed were being an editor of a magazine (or future digital version), or she would like to be a traveling journalist covering important topics in Latin America. These two jobs are both very different paths and roles. Tess also explained that she feels passionate about both career paths.
“Those are the biggest I can dream right now.”
What inspired you to start freelancing and pitching your articles?
I reached out to Tess originally because I saw some of her freelance stories in TeenVogue. So, naturally, I was curious about how she got started on this endeavor and if there was a story behind it.
She started by writing for her local newspaper in her hometown during her high school years. She had a column, but she doesn't recall how she landed that opportunity at such a young age. From that opportunity, she was able to learn that she has a passion for writing in an editorial style.
Tess explained that it happened accidentally. She never set out or planned on freelancing, it just sort of happened. She read an article one day where a top editor at TeenVogue published pitches that he receives from random people. From that moment, she started pitching articles to editors at TeenVogue, and one day they published one of her articles. She has continued pitching articles to different publications ever since.
Sometimes the best things in life happen unintentionally and by accident. I think our lives fall into place sometimes, and I think it’s great that Tess was able to accidentally find a way to get started in her career field at a young age.
Where do you see minority representation in the media looking like in 10 to 20 years?
Tess explained that she hopes that we see more minorities both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. She hopes that we don’t have to think about the different percentages of who is in or takes part in a production. Tess also explained that publications need minority representation to appeal to the audience and to be relatable. Without all kinds of representation, she believes that publications will struggle and fall behind on the times. She thinks that a lot more minorities behind the scenes are going to play a large role.
What do you wish more people knew about the media industry?
I wanted to ask this question to provide young writers with information on their industry.
Tess explained that the media industry, like every other industry in the United States, is focused on making money. Money is always a deciding factor that plays a role in whether stories get posted for online media publications.
Tess explained that she pitches articles to publications that she thinks will be a great story, but often gets turned down because they don’t think it will provide the publication with money or readership.
Tess thinks it’s important for readers to understand that money plays a role in the articles they read.
How are you staying busy during quarantine?
Tess has been staying busy by cooking, baking, reading, writing, and exercise. She is also a yoga teacher and has been teaching virtual classes.
What do you do when you are stressed?
Tess enjoys exercising because of the release of endorphins, and it brings both comfort and discomfort. She also likes to call her mom, which I agree can for sure help when you are stressed.
Shout out to Tess Garcia for giving me the opportunity to interview her and tell her story. If you are interested in reading her articles, which you 100% should because she is a great writer, I will link some below, along with her Instagram and personal website!
Articles:
Forever Always,
Emily