Orange Sun Studio

📣 Yeni | The 40 Over 40 Project

🧡 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?
Don’t be afraid — God has a perfect plan for you. Trust Him. There will come a time in your life when you’ll understand the why behind everything.

🧡 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬?
I was born in a small community in Mexico and moved to Los Angeles when I was very young and curious. Back then, I was quiet, reserved, and insecure. I would sit at the back of the class, never raise my hand, and just listen and learn. As I grew older, I began turning my curiosity into action. I started asking questions and wondering if things could be different. In grad school, I focused on learning and following the rules, but over time, I began to see how some systems failed the very families I wanted to help. As a therapist, I became frustrated watching families struggle with policies that caused more harm than help. That’s when I found my voice. I became more vocal, more open to speaking about injustice. I got involved in the community, advocating for people’s rights and, eventually, being recognized as an activist. Through these experiences, I gained confidence — not just professionally, but personally. I am no longer the quiet girl sitting in the back of the room. I am direct, outspoken, and unafraid to lead.
~ Yeni

📣 Yeni | The 40 Over 40 Project

🧡 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧?
Choose yourself above all. The children will grow up. The job can be replaced. Your partner may stay, or may not. But you… you are all you’ve got. So love her. Cherish every moment. Live the life YOU want, not the one someone else wants for you.

🧡 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬?
My idea of perfect happiness is being in a space where I can be myself, and where others feel free to be themselves too. We live in a world full of challenges, but to me, true happiness is feeling safe while also creating a safe space for others to grow and thrive.
~ Yeni

🧡 I'm so excited to introduce you all to this absolutely amazing woman; meet the beautiful Yeni, she's the last participant in the 40 over 40 Project Volume II :)

Yeni is 48 and an immigrant from Mexico; the United States has been her home for over 30 years. She's the youngest of 12 children and the first in her family to graduate from high school and earn a college degree here. Her life has been dedicated to service, working as a social worker, advocate, and activist to help others create better opportunities for themselves and their families. She truly believes everyone deserves a chance to reach their own version of the American dream.
Yeni is a mom of three, and her children are her biggest motivation; they remind her every day why it's important to break cycles and challenge the status quo.
Today, she serves as the Executive Director of a humanitarian organization that supports people from all over the world, and she is the co-founder of a grassroots organization that serves the immigrant community in Kansas.
Her journey has been filled with challenges and growth, but through it all, she's learned to lead with gratitude, stay grounded in purpose, and never lose sight of compassion and justice.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐞?
I no longer worry about what others think of me. I am who I am, and I genuinely enjoy it. For a long time, I wanted to learn how to dance, so I finally decided to take salsa classes. That simple decision opened up a whole new source of joy in my life. I’ve met wonderful people who inspire me to be a better dancer, one step at a time, and, in many ways, a better version of myself.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?
My superpower is staying positive, even when life gets hard.
I’ve gone through things that could have defeated me, but they didn’t.
Every challenge has made me stronger and more grounded.
Through it all, I’ve learned that true strength isn’t about never falling; it’s about rising every time, with kindness still in your heart.
~ Yeni

🎤 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐭! 🧡

📣 Use the link below ⬇
https://orangesunstudio.com/the-40-over-40-project-2-34/

Thank you for joining the 40 over 40 Project Rebecca, I loved working with you 😊

The 40 over 40 Project - Volume II - Rebecca - Orange Sun Studio - Professional Portrait Photographer in Wichita The 40 over 40 Project celebrates the strength, wisdom, and beauty of women 40 and over. Read Rebecca's story here!