Our Journey: Starting Over, Creating Spaces, Building Futures
The UPAA- Arizona Chapter Gala at Phoenix, Arizona (Photo courtesy of Novie Luz Beramo-Minguez)
Life has a way of leading us down unexpected paths. Sometimes the road is smooth, but often it is filled with detours, uncertainties, and challenges that test our courage and faith. Our family's story is one of those journeys -- starting over, embracing change, and believing that every sacrifice has a purpose.
Like many Filipino families, we left our homeland carrying dreams bigger than ourselves. We came to the United States with hopes of creating a brighter future for our children, a willingness to work hard, and a deep belief that education, perseverance, and faith could help us overcome any obstacle.
We brought with us not only our professional experiences and academic achievements, but also the values deeply rooted in Filipino culture: resilience, humility, family, and an unwavering determination to keep going no matter how difficult the journey became.
Before moving to the United States, Rei had already established a successful and respected career as an architect. A graduate of Mapúa Institute of Technology, he worked with some of the Philippines' most distinguished architectural firms, including LV Locsin and Lor Calma. Through years of dedication, he developed expertise in architectural design, project management and creating spaces that balance beauty with functionality.
His professional journey eventually took him beyond the Philippines to Papua New Guinea, where he worked as a Senior Architect. There, he managed complex projects, collaborated with diverse teams and gained valuable international experience. Yet, despite his accomplishments, what always impressed me most was not his portfolio or his professional achievements. It was his passion.
For Rei, architecture has never been simply about constructing buildings. It is about creating spaces where people can live, learn, grow, and connect. He believes that thoughtful design can improve lives, strengthen communities, and leave a lasting positive impact on future generations. That passion has remained constant throughout every chapter of our lives.
My own professional path followed a different direction but was guided by the same desire to serve others. I graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Education majoring in Library Science and began my career as a legal researcher. While I enjoyed the work, I discovered that my greatest fulfillment came from helping people learn and grow.
This realization inspired me to pursue further studies in Special Education. Education has always been close to my heart because I have witnessed how knowledge can transform lives. I have seen how a caring teacher can inspire confidence, how learning can create opportunities, and how education can open doors for individuals regardless of their circumstances.
A Great Adventure
In 2016, our family embarked on one of the greatest adventures of our lives when we moved to the United States.
Like many immigrants, we arrived with excitement and hope, but also with uncertainty. We quickly realized that beginning a new life in a different country would require more than professional experience or academic credentials. It would require patience, adaptability, courage, and humility.
I arrived in Virginia as an exchange teacher and began working as a Media Specialist serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Every day brought new experiences and new lessons. I was learning a different educational system, adapting to a new culture, and navigating unfamiliar expectations. Although exciting, the transition was not always easy.
There were moments when I missed home deeply, the familiar sounds of family gatherings, the warmth of Filipino hospitality and the comfort of being surrounded by people who shared the same culture and traditions. Yet each challenge helped me grow stronger and more confident.
While I was adjusting to my new role, Rei faced an even greater professional challenge.
Despite years of experience as an architect, he could not immediately continue the profession he had spent so many years building. Like countless immigrants before him, he found himself standing at the starting line once again.
It was a humbling experience.
A family picture in autumn (Photo courtesy of Novie Luz Beramo-Minguez)
Starting Over
Instead of working in architecture, he accepted a job at a convenience store while learning how to navigate a new professional system. The transition was not easy. There were moments of frustration and uncertainty. Imagine dedicating years of your life to mastering a profession and then having to begin again in a completely different environment.
Yet through it all, Rei never allowed pride to stand in the way of progress. He understood that every step forward, no matter how small, was still progress. Those years taught our family one of life's most valuable lessons: sometimes starting over is not a sign of failure. Sometimes it is simply the first chapter of a new adventure.
In 2017, another major turning point arrived. Together with our young son, we packed our belongings and embarked on a cross-country journey from Virginia to Arizona. At the time, I was two months pregnant. Looking back, it feels almost unbelievable.
We drove across vast highways, through changing landscapes, mountains, deserts, and unfamiliar towns. Every mile carried a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and hope. We did not know exactly what awaited us in Arizona, but we trusted that God was leading us where we needed to be.
For many Filipinos, family adventures often involve long road trips, unexpected challenges and plenty of stories along the way. Our journey across America became one of those unforgettable family memories, a chapter filled with uncertainty but also tremendous hope.
I had accepted a position as a Special Education Self-Contained Teacher at Dishchii'bikoh Community School in Arizona. The opportunity allowed me to continue doing meaningful work while serving students whose resilience and determination inspired me every day.
As our family adjusted to life in Arizona, Rei remained focused on his dream. Instead of giving up on architecture, he embraced lifelong learning once again. He earned a degree in Interior Design in the United States, obtained his Arizona Career and Technical Education License, and later became a LEED Green Associate. Every certification represented countless hours of study, sacrifice, and persistence.
There were no shortcuts.
Moving Forward
There were late nights, difficult exams, financial considerations, and moments when the journey felt longer than expected. Yet he continued moving forward.
Watching him persevere reminded me that success is rarely a straight path. More often, it resembles a winding road filled with unexpected turns that teach us lessons we never anticipated learning.
At the same time, I continued pursuing my own educational goals. After earning my U.S. teaching credentials, I sought further opportunities for growth and recently completed a Master’s degree in Psychology, with the scholarship provided by Dishchii’bikoh School.
This achievement represented much more than another diploma.
It reflected years of balancing work, family responsibilities, motherhood, and academic pursuits. My studies deepened my understanding of human behavior, learning, and personal growth while strengthening my commitment to supporting students, families, and communities.
Across the world, I believe that countless people are navigating their own journeys of transformation. Some move to new countries. Others change careers, return to school, raise families while pursuing dreams, or face challenges that force them to begin again.
What unites us is not where we come from or what profession we choose.
What connects us is our shared desire to build meaningful lives despite obstacles and uncertainties. For our family, success has never been measured solely by titles, promotions, degrees, or achievements.
Success means having the courage to keep going when things become difficult. Success means supporting one another through every season of life. Success means remaining committed to growth, learning, and service. Most importantly, success means staying true to our values regardless of where life takes us.
Today, those experiences have led us to establish Brick and Modern Design LLC. More than a business, it represents the culmination of years of perseverance, sacrifice, and continuous learning. It reflects Rei's enduring passion for architecture and design while embodying the principles that have guided our family throughout our journey: hard work, creativity, integrity, service, and lifelong learning.
When people see where we are today, they see the business, the credentials, the accomplishments, and the progress. What they may not see are the years of adjustment, uncertainty, sacrifice, and perseverance behind those achievements.
The Meaning of Success
My MS Psychology graduation last March (Photo courtesy of Novie Luz Beramo-Minguez)
They may not see the architect working in a convenience store while rebuilding his career.
They may not see the teacher adapting to a new country while pursuing advanced education.
They may not see the long road trip across America, the sleepless nights, the difficult decisions, and the countless moments when faith carried us through uncertainty. Yet those unseen moments are what truly shaped us. They are the foundation upon which everything else was built.
If there is one message, I hope others can take from our story, it is this:
Do not be afraid to start over.
Starting over can be uncomfortable. It can challenge your confidence and test your patience. There will be moments when the destination feels far away and the progress seems slow.
Life has a way of leading us down unexpected paths. Sometimes the road is smooth, but often it is filled with detours, uncertainties, and challenges that test our courage and faith.
But every new beginning carries the possibility of growth, opportunity, and unexpected blessings. Sometimes the path you never planned becomes the journey that transforms your life. Our story is still being written. Like many Filipino families around the world, we continue to dream, learn, adapt, and move forward together. We remain grateful for every opportunity, every challenge, and every lesson that has helped shape who we are today. The road has not always been smooth, but it has been meaningful. And as we continue this adventure, we carry with us the same values that guided us from the beginning: faith in God, love for family, dedication to learning, and the belief that with perseverance and courage, every new chapter can become a beautiful part of the story. Novie Luz Beramo-Minguez is a full-time Special Education Teacher at Dishchii'bikoh Community School and a seasonal Research Fellow at Northern Arizona University. She is also a Co-Founder and Director of Brick and Modern Design LLC, where she combines her expertise in special education with an inclusive, human-centered approach to spatial planning and learning environment design.
No comments