CARLA LAUBER

My name is Carla Lauber and I was born in Lima-Peru. At the age of 15, I moved with my mother and sister to the United States for a better education. Traveling had always been second nature to my family; so moving to another was place was always exciting for us . In school, I was shy and didn’t socialize with others, especially because of the language barrier. However, through Tennis and Theater class I was able to open up and make friends. At age 19, my mother made me enter the Miss Hispanic Delaware Pageant. Here, I learned to express myself while also being surrounded by different cultures. It was an incredible experience. After winning Second Runner up and Miss Photogenic , it inspired me to help other contestants in future pageants. In the following years, I became involved with the Pageant committee and helped many young latinas get involved with the community. After graduating High School with honors, I enrolled in a Community College where I began studying Architecture. I had always been passionate about this career because of my father and mother, they both have always encouraged me to do bigger and better things for my family and me. A couple years later, I met my husband Robert and we married in 2008. During the same year, he joined the Air Force. We first got station in NC for 4 years, so I put my studies on hold for a while. While in NC, I started working for a Case Management Office where I translated for injured Hispanic workers. I really enjoyed doing that. However, in 2011 I got pregnant with our daughter Raqchel. She inspired me to reaching for my goals and to continue doing what I loved, designing. So I decided to continue my college degree through an online program at Academy of Art University. Now in my Junior year I am following the path of Interior Architecture and Design. In 2012, we got orders to Kadena AB in Japan. For us, this was very exciting news because we were going to be able to travel like we have always wanted to. While on island, I decided to join the Okinawa’s Latino-America Association to help bring together the Hispanic, military and Japanese community. During the Hispanic Heritage month, we have away $1000 scholarship to a young latina. I never stop encouraging other to reach their goals and to serve the community. Later that year, a couple of friends and I formed the International Dances of Okinawa which promoted culture through folkloric dances. For the remaining of our stay in Okinawa, our group volunteer by dancing in many schools throughout Okinawa, as well as participating in festival and many military events. Many of whom recognise our volunteering time and effort. Even after our move to Okinawa and after getting involved in many activities, I never let go of my studies and my focus to obtain my degree, which I am still pursuing.