teresa guerra

The amount of "ay dios mio!" that bounced back and forth off the walls of the Guerra home was record breaking. It was no secret that Sofia and Esteban's three children made for a rambunctious group - their middle child being the loudest of them all. Teresa had what her mother liked to describe as a "colorful personality," and her obvious lust for life was ever present. From a young age she believed that life was meant to be lived, explored, and enjoyed. Adventures, no matter how big or how small, were meant for the taking, and she happily dragged her younger brother along with her each and every time. Mud pies, tree houses, jump rope, and tire swings defined her childhood. She was carefree, curious, and loving - and while she was shamelessly spoiled she never learned to take things for granted.

Teresa's youngest years were full of the warmth of family and friends - and the rich culture of Veracruz, Mexico. Family time was daily, the music always loud, the food always overabundant, and the laughter never ending. Mexican traditions permeated each and every aspect of her life, even after the family's move to Chicago in the early nineties. While thankful for America and the opportunities it provided, the Guerra's urged their children to recognize the importance of their roots, stand proud of their Mexican heritage, and always celebrate their culture.

The endless curiosity Teresa possessed was put to good use from the start, as her father encouraged her from a young age to pursue whatever it was may fascinate her. She excelled at most things she tried - simply for the fact that she refused to give up until she got the hang of them. Slowly but surely, Teresa began to trade in her more frivolous toys for books, and by the age of fourteen academics had fully taken over her life. Teresa became consumed by her schoolwork, eventually earning the affectionate nickname ratón de biblioteca (bookworm) from her parents. Her siblings, on the other hand, could never quite understand the appeal of staying inside with their nose in a book, though this didn't deter Teresa from eating up every book - be it fiction or non-fiction - she could get her hands on. Her interest in school helped ground her, especially following a second move by her family from Chicago to Sleepy Hollow, New York in 2000. The family had made the move to follow better opportunities, but while Teresa understood their motives her bitterness over the move grew at a steady pace. It would be the familiar routine of studying, learning, and expanding her mind which helped her to cope with the loss of her friends and familiar surroundings. But while her grades didn't suffer due to the upheaval, her typically upbeat personality took a very obvious downturn. Outside of the home she was shy, painfully quiet, and not so secretly miserable - something which only lessened as she began to look forward to college. Teresa had her eye firmly set on Gettysburg College, and she was adamant that nothing short of the end of the world could keep her from the acceptance letter she so desperately wanted. In 2002, she walked across the auditorium stage of Sleepy Hollow High school and accepted her long awaited diploma. And, as she had hoped, Gettysburg College was waiting for her after she did. In 2006, Teresa graduated with a BA in History and English, with highest honors. And it came as no surprise when she quickly after decided to further her education by pursuing a Masters in History. In 2008, Teresa walked across yet another stage and accepted her Master’s degree from Rutgers University.

During her years at University, Teresa at last took her brother's advice to "lighten up". While it had always been easy for her to make friends when she had the confidence to actually try, it was something that hadn't been a priority in her life since middle school. For the first time in a long time Teresa took open opportunities to simply relax and enjoy time with new friends - whether that meant spring break in Cabo, wet t-shirt contests at the local bars, or drunkenly eating pancakes and pizza at 3am. It felt good to feel young. Indulging in bubble baths, sleeping in late, and indulging in wine with homework helped her maintain her sanity. It was also during her University years that Teresa began to explore antiquing, something that quickly grew to become her greatest passion. Going to school in a place with such a rich history allowed her close proximity to pieces of it which she could hold in her hands - and hide away in her apartment. Antique hunting became her favorite form of stress relief - next to wine, of course.

Upon graduation Teresa admittedly felt a bit lost. After so many years of research, study, and analysis she wasn't sure what to do with herself outside the confines of an academic environment. The loss of seminars, presentations, oral exams, and looming due dates was almost terrifying for her to deal with. However, moving back to Sleepy Hollow was a start in the right direction, where she immediately sought refuge in her family. Her mother's gentle suggestions and her father's kind encouragements slowly built her confidence back up, and eventually a light bulb went off. Teresa's dream career path had been in front of her all along. By way of contact with connections made through her networking at college Teresa crafted the jumping off point for her career as an antique dealer. Her endeavor had a small and modest start, and one that some may have termed more as a hobby than a career at first. Teresa continued to work full time to support herself, while always keeping an eye toward success in the antique business. In 2010, the death of her maternal grandmother granted her the capital required to make her venture truly successful; one that has been flourishing now for four years.

wip.

education
• Sleepy Hollow High School (2002)
• Gettysburg College BA in History and English (2006)
• Rutgers University MA in History (2008)

appearance
• stands 5"0' tall.
• has five tattoos: a rosary on her foot; dia de los muertos motif on her back; 1 corinthians 13 on her lower back; "la medida del amor es amar sin medida" on her left forearm; a cross on the middle finger of her right hand.

miscellaneous
• suffers from ocd.
• believes in the paranormal, enjoys ghost hunting, and frequently visits cemeteries.
• collects civil war era belt buckles.
• has an addiction to caffeine - she is never without coffee or diet coke in hand.

PB: adriana lima
Contact Post: here.
Writing: EST. third person, threads only, adult or ftb. ooc friendly.