Anamaria Perales-Lang A Drive to Empower Women BY AISLINN KLOSTERMAN One of the most impactful experiences of Anamaria Perales-Lang’s life took place at a gas station in the middle of west Columbus. When she stepped out of her car, her power suit glinting in the sunlight, a wave of panic overwhelmed her. She had never had to do this before; someone had always done it for her. She didn’t know how to open the fuel cap, let alone what buttons to press on the gas pump. The panic must have been evident on her face, because a kind police officer quickly came over to show her how to do it. But as he was talking to her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that settled in her gut. “I felt defeated. … I went inside and I remember thinking, ‘How can I be a mother and everything and be so stupid that I can’t put gas in the car? … How can I take care of my daughter, and myself, if I can’t even do something as simple as this?’ she says through tears. This step was the first of many that she needed to take to start her life over after leaving her controlling husband. That experience of defeat and helplessness motivates her to help all people, but especially women, who have to start over. Anamaria’s story begins in El Paso. She comes from a long line of Texans and was the only daughter of her parents’ nine children. She describes her childhood as sheltered, but understands now why she was raised the way she was. Her mother was a strong person of faith who did a lot of good for their community, but they had a very complex relationship. For a long time, Anamaria saw her as the villain in her story, but she now understands how much her mother did for her. She was trying to push her to be the best person she could be. Her father was a mechanic, but to Anamaria, he was a hero. He faced a lot of adversity in his life due to prejudices against his skin color, and for that reason, he emphasized the importance of education. She recalls him telling her, “You always have to know what is going on in the world, and the reason we push you so much toward education is because people can’t take your education from you. … It is the great equalizer.” She took this message to heart and completed her degree in political science at a nearby university, always staying up to date about what was going on in the world. But her parents’ aspirations for her were cut short when she met her future husband. He was eight years younger, an uneducated Army man, and she fell head over heels for him. He had been all around the world and the allure of that adventure drew her to him. Her parents weren’t happy about it – they even boycotted their wedding – but later welcomed him because he was family. ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 7
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