Today we’d like to introduce you to Sascha De La Sabia.
Hi Sascha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Becoming a diplomat or a university professor were the professions consistently suggested for me based on my skills and interests. My first language is English, I spoke Spanish by age 5, I taught myself German at age 11, and I learned Japanese by accident in college. Language, culture, and travel were always the biggest themes in my life, but they could only be presented to me through books or screens when I was younger. I didn’t grow up in a well off family with much opportunity to escape our current reality, though in my mind, it just wasn’t feasible for me to not accomplish whatever I’d set my sights on. By age 23, I was a three-time scholarship recipient of the U.S. State Department, having travelled to Germany and Japan to study language and culture; so naturally, many assumed that that would be my future place of work. Instead, I now help manage a wellness center in Durham and teach Spanish, German, and Japanese online. Some may say that’s quite the pivot, but everything I’ve done and become has been inspired by my experiences. That’s both the experiences I’ve gained from around the world, and also the experiences that remind me that not everyone who’s from where I’m from gets as lucky as me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The beginning of the road was by far the most difficult. As a young person, regardless of what you imagine for yourself in life, there will always be circumstances outside of your control because you’re a child. At the same time, there may be adults in your life who feel as if they know what’s best for you and try to influence your decision making. The lack of experience can sometimes be a detriment to young people in this case because you may not realize all of what you’re capable of for someone from your circumstances. I mentioned I didn’t come from a family of opportunity; in fact, we were quite poor. Before graduating high school, my family had been homeless three times, so it probably seemed insane that a kid whose family couldn’t make rent dreamt of living overseas one day. When I’d tell people I was moving to Germany after high school, everyone assumed I’d joined the military because that was apparently the only way for a Black kid in rural Maryland to make that kind of a step. Once I’d moved at age 17, the thought of my family’s living and financial situations were never lost on me because I thought to myself, “How can I be living my dreams in a foreign country when my mom is living in a car?”. These thoughts persisted for years and still affect me to this day. But in my adulthood and with the successes I’ve found, I try to be consistent about reminding myself to live my life for me and not to feel guilty for my accomplishments simply because I know that others in my hometown may never make it away from there. I’ve earned my place where I am, and that’s another reason why I try to use my skills and position to lift others up along with me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The main hat I wear right is that of Front Desk Manager and Cultural Sensitivity Liaison at Auroraflow in Durham. We’re a wellness center that wants to make sure all bodies feel welcomed in the area of bodywork, skincare, and overall mental and physical health. We’re outspoken about our positions and support of the queer and trans communities, and since I joined management about one year ago, we’ve been steadily becoming more and more conscious of how we support Black and Brown bodies in our community. When I first started at Auroraflow, I had an entry-level position as a Front Desk Receptionist and I’m thankful that my colleagues trusted me and my ideas enough to allow me to rise to the position I’m currently in. Auroraflow wants to make our space as inclusive as possible, and I’m proud that I’ve been able to hire staff members that have diversified our team more to reflect the community we serve.
Not too long after starting at Auroraflow, I also started my own language teaching business called Language Leveled. At the end of 2024, I made the difficult decision to leave graduate school after 4 years and I was slightly lost on how to continue with my love for languages and education now that I’d be outside of academia. I have years of teaching experience from my time in Germany and afterwards, and what I absolutely enjoyed the most from those years was connecting with people to help them understand what I hold so dear. I offer 1-on-1 intensive language lessons, middle school to university tutoring, group classes, cultural competency classes, and naming services all on a sliding scale basis. The majority of my sessions are online, though I’m also able to meet folx at the library or their homes, if they learn better in person. I always hold a free consultation with potential clients to understand what their language goals are, and I also take this time to allow them to see that I’m just a regular person that they don’t need to be intimidated by. Learning a new language is scary for a lot of people, especially if you’ve tried it before with little to no success. I named by business Language Leveled because I want my clients to know that I will always meet you where you are. Yes, I’ve traveled the world and done a lot of great things, but that doesn’t put me on any higher of a level than a complete beginner. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I pride myself on being able to break language and culture down for anyone who ever feels as if they’ve struggled with it.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My colleagues at Auroraflow have really seen my journey during one of the most pivotal transitions in my life. My good friend, coworker, and personal esthetician, Nikkia Beech-Moore, is one person who’s supported me long before I’d even officially decided to leave grad school. She’s listened to my personal ups and downs while always making sure I took care of my skin, but what perhaps she may not have known in those early days is that she was taking care of me by creating a space where I could openly vent my thoughts and feelings. She never doubted my capabilities and has even given me that good sisterly tough love in moments where I’ve needed to reel myself back in. The owner of Auroraflow, Castle Frame, has also had unwavering trust in me since becoming a manager and I truly don’t believe I’d feel as confident in my position as a manager without her support.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.languageleveled.com (Coming soon!)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.leveled/?__d=1
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandra-daniels/?isSelfProfile=true
- Other: https://www.auroraflow.com
