Joana Ponce

Joana Ponce, a Roadtripper with Roadtrip Nation, traveled across the country meeting people with meaningful, unconventional careers and sharing their stories to help young people imagine what was possible for their own futures. Through her journey, Joana explored questions of identity, purpose, and direction—questions she knew firsthand did not come with easy answers. A single mother and DACA recipient, Joana’s path was shaped by resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to building a life that went beyond survival. Navigating personal and systemic challenges, she learned the power of curiosity, community, and self-belief in creating opportunity where none seemed obvious. Her experiences fueled her passion for showing young people that their starting point did not define their potential. Joana brought an honest and relatable perspective to conversations about career exploration, emphasizing that it was okay not to have everything figured out and that growth often came from asking questions, trying new things, and learning along the way. By sharing her story and the stories of others she met on the road, she aimed to help students feel seen, empowered, and confident enough to imagine futures they might not yet know how to name.