Rossana Sida’s journey from Central California’s agricultural heartland to fashion capitals like San Francisco and New York City and then to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology was long and complex. But along the way she says it taught her the value of pursuing her dream and the importance of trusting her instincts. Rossana, says she grew up obsessed with fashion magazines – inspired by the beauty and creativity demonstrated on their glossy pages. “I loved Vogue magazine,” she says. “It was art. But it also all felt out of reach – like a dream.”
Nevertheless, Rossana pursued that dream. She studied apparel design and fashion merchandising at Sa
n Francisco State while working full time at a Nordstrom’s Department Store. Her hard work paid off with new opportunities that eventually took her to Japan and then New York to manage a huge fashion retail operation.
But career and financial success didn’t bring her the personal satisfaction – the sense of purpose – that she longed for.
“I did not know what I wanted to do, only that I wanted my work to be meaningful. So, I quit my job, moved back to Los Angeles and lived on my best friend’s couch for three months until I figured it out.”
Those were dark days for Rossana. She questioned her decision and feared she had made a mistake. Why wasn’t a good-paying job enough? Was pursuing her passion – even without knowing exactly what it was – worth this risk?
During this time she started volunteering at Strength United, an organization that provided crisis counseling for survivors of sexual assault. She worked directly with victims – supporting them while they were interviewed by police and examined by medical staff. This wasn’t a job for everyone. It was intense, emotional and sometimes traumatic – and Rossana loved it. “I knew I wanted to be there. I wanted to know more and help more. From that moment I knew I wanted to go into sex therapy.”
Rossana says she had always been intrigued with the topic of sex. Her curiosity – even as a young girl – lead to many questions which she says her mother tried to provide without ever trying to make her feel guilty. It’s the kind of environment she says she now provides for her clients – a safe place to explore important questions about a topic that makes most people uncomfortable and some damaged.
Rossana just graduated from The Chicago School with a Psy.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. She was chosen to be the Student Speaker for her class – an honor and an opportunity for her to express her special brand of honesty. “I am an imposter,” she told her fellow grads as she recounted her first day of class. “What made me feel I could succeed in this field?” Rossana then went on to share her journey, her discoveries and her message: “If you could connect that authentic you, the ‘you’ that isn’t trying to fit in a mold or taking up space, the ‘you’ that is intentional about creating your own joy, then you will always be able to reignite that passion. You are not an imposter. You belong here. You, just as you are, is enough.”
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