A single leap of faith

By Victoria Carina

Most people today know me as someone full of life, energy, and optimism—but little do they know the journey that lies behind me. I grew up in a highly dysfunctional environment, raised by a single mother, went through bullying, and for a great part of my life, felt very broken. But I was ambitious—precisely because of those circumstances.

I landed an important scholarship and pursued a career in finance. Yet, after two years in the industry and in the midst of my master’s degree, I felt my body cave in under the weight of accumulated trauma and stress. And this time, I wasn’t going to just accept it.

That year, my grandmother—who had always meant the world to me—suffered another serious heart attack while I was on my way home for Christmas. Seeing her disoriented and suffering after surgery left me devastated. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing the only person I felt truly loved by, unconditionally.

Back at university, I found myself entangled in a toxic relationship, trying to juggle academic pressure with emotional turmoil. Somehow, I still managed to graduate with distinction—driven by the belief that my value as a person depended on my achievements. (It doesn’t!) But I was miserable. At times, I couldn’t sleep for an entire night.

No one really knew I had been silently battling insomnia, depression, and a series of health issues since adolescence. One of those nights, I believe I had a nervous breakdown—I cried my soul out to God. I was no longer willing or able to live that way.

So I made a decision:

I quit the job.

I stopped chasing a career I had never truly wanted.

I chose to let go of the relationships that drained me.

Around that time, I started singing. And I found that when I sang, the weight on my chest would temporarily lift. It was a huge relief. I began learning proper vocal techniques in 2021, and even my mother—who had once crushed that childhood dream—became a fan of my journey as a singer-songwriter.

You can only imagine what that meant to me.

It took two decades to unlearn the belief that I wasn’t capable, to overcome the shame of singing in front of others. Now, I can’t wait to have all my songs produced and released. They are heartfelt testimonies of overcoming adversity and letting go of people who don’t align with your truth—of using what almost broke you as fuel to rise higher.

Recently, I also launched my faith-inspired fashion apparel brand, The Genuine Human. Instead of preparing Excel sheets for banks, I’m now using my creative gifts to build something meaningful. It’s not easy, but it’s deeply fulfilling.

And if I was good at something I wasn’t passionate about, imagine what’s possible when I pursue what truly makes my eyes light up.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Beyond the goal of aligning with our life purpose, I believe healing from trauma is something everyone can achieve. I want people to know: no matter how badly you are hurting, God is real—and He can turn your entire life around if you’re willing to take just one leap of faith and a first step.

Connect With Victoria

ww.victoriacarina.com

www.thegenuinehuman.com

IG: thegenuinehuman.com