---
title: "Starting Over: A Personal Story on International Women’s Day"
description: A personal story of resilience, reinvention, and joy. From buying my first home on International Women’s Day to overcoming setbacks and choosing to keep going—this is what empowerment looks like.
---

[Romina Massa's Blog](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog)

# [Starting Over: A Personal Story on International Women’s Day](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/international-womens-day)

 Written by [Romina Massa](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/author/romina-massa) | Mar 8, 2025 11:23:20 AM

March 8th is more than just International Women’s Day for me. It’s the day I bought my first home.

After working 2-3 jobs for years, saving everywhere I could, and pushing through challenges that tested me in every way, I made my dream come true.

A single mom. Fresh off two divorces. Starting over in a new city. A new home. A new job.

That job laid me off after just seven months. And it was terrifying.

But that moment of uncertainty? It set me on a path of discovery, growth, and resilience I never could have imagined.

## How Women Overcome Challenges and Rebuild Their Lives

In the past year, I’ve earned certifications in digital marketing and [prompt engineering](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/ai-for-content) and [become a certified human rights consultant](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/human-rights-in-business). Local in-person networking has been a game-changer in my journey too: opening doors, creating genuine connections, and reminding me that opportunities often come from the people we meet, not just the applications we submit.

[I’ve expanded my skills](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/ai-for-new-skills), [deepened my understanding of authenticity in the job search](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/what-ive-learned-about-job-hunting), and learned that sometimes, if the right door won’t open, you have to build your own.

## Owning My Story on International Women’s Day

Four months after the layoff and a year after having bought my first house on my own, I’m still searching for a job. And yes, it's still terrifying. But I’m also standing at a crossroads considering what it would look like to bet on myself and build something of my own.

Women’s empowerment isn’t just a slogan. It’s lived experience. It’s pushing forward when every system tells you to stop. It’s redefining success on your own terms.

## Moving Forward with Strength and Joy

I reflect not just on where I’ve been but on where I’m going. I don’t have all the answers. But I choose to keep going. And when I can, I dance.

To every woman navigating uncertainty, new beginnings, or the job search: our journey isn’t over. It’s just evolving.

###### Have you ever been at a crossroads like this? What did you choose? Let’s talk.

 

[View full post](https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/international-womens-day)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Romina Massa"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-03-08T11:23:20.340Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-03-08T11:23:20Z",
  "headline" : "Starting Over: A Personal Story on International Women’s Day",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 1200,
    "url" : "https://48730455.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/48730455/e87817f1-442d-43cd-8c68-33523e69541b%203-1.png",
    "width" : 1600
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.rominamassa.com/blog/international-womens-day",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60.0,
      "url" : "https://48730455.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/48730455/small%20logo%20galaxy-4.png",
      "width" : 240.00002
    },
    "name" : "rominamassa.com Blog"
  }
}
```