Lola Rosa - Origin Story
"You will never amount to anything" was my secondary's teacher's favourite thing to say to me. It stopped meaning something after a while since my own brother and sister called me "slow". I could see it in my mother's saddened eyes, a deep question "could this be true?". The question played on my mind too. But how could that be? Both my parents were teachers, my grandma too. My grandpa was a general...????
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The same teacher was praising me (every now and again) on my abilities especially in the geometry classes. As a teen I was trying so hard to crack this code until in high school my life was positively impacted by my biology teacher. And I mean in a big way.
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I grew up in one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe, raised by my mum with two other siblings and poorer than anyone else. Coming from a divided household was a big stigma and being poorer than others was another stigma. So, you guessed it, I got the double whammy. I'm not saying this to get sympathy, just and insight to where the journey really began. In honesty, I am grateful for it...
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I was a gymnast from age 5-6, and I had dreams to go pro. Worked hard for it, but after an accident, I had to change direction.
In high school I decided that I won't allow others to decide who or what I am, so I worked hard and became one of the 10% top performers (I mean who did they call slow? I think I picked up pretty quickly :)).
I realised I wanted to become a neurosurgeon early in my high school years, so I studied materiall published for University students. I won a scholarship and.... flop. Couldn't go. Romania was a corrupt country at the time and my mum was still poor. My father was unwilling to help, and we couldn't afford the bribes.
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I had to give up that dream too. That hit me harder than I cared to admit at the time. So much so, that I made several bad decisions.
Fast forward a few years, I am now a single mother myself. Had to leave everything I worked for, money, car and house, and left with a baby in my arms, three nappies, a baby grow and the clothes on my back. On top of it I went into hiding for months on end, all to regain my freedom and ensure my child's freedom too.
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Next phase... I started to rebuild. I trained to use PC programs which enabled me to get jobs in an office environment. Now re-growth in a new environment. With new skills came new opportunities, moved to a bigger city. Then I met my husband and moved to UK. Here, life had to start from 0, again, but with the lessons I have learned, skills I have acquired, and the determination and discipline I possessed from early childhood, I succeeded in having a new family, a successful career and a new business.
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I have had to change direction a few times because life sometimes works like that, but every time, I have learned something, and I have transferred those lessons into my new endeavours. But wherever I am heading, I am always staying true to who I am and to my passion.​
They said I wouldn't amount to anything.... Well, here I am, against all odds. Being different, breaking their their rules, not accepting their yoke...
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If you feel being different, standing out from the crowd is a bad thing... Think again. You are powerful. Be colourful, be bright, be sparkly, or minimalist... But be yourself. Redefine the rules... Push boundaries, I've got you...
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Lola Rosa jewellery are pieces of self-expression, courage, freedom and exploration. Of breaking away from the norm and speaking "own truth". Some in a big way, making a statement, some in a more subtle minimalist way. It says:
"I am unbreakable, unwavering and on my own journey, we might be on the same path, but I do not follow you..."
I use colours, textures and elements in various combinations to achieve unique designs and looks, and I prefer to have a "limitless" style to allow for that self-expression.
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Break away from the crowd, and wear your colourful, beautiful, statement jewellery proudly.