The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

AS a youth consultant, public speaker and writer Anastarcia Huyler is determined to bring out the “star” in anyone who comes into contact with her.

She said she enjoys bringing joy to people’s lives, whether it’s a good meal with family at Atlantis or through her daily posts on Facebook.
Anastarcia said she ultimately launched her website anastarcia.com because she believes that every person is created for a purpose. “Unfortunately sometimes life’s circumstances can prevent us from seeing all the possibilities that lie within us. I wanted to bring help and hope to people and to remind them that anything is possible. Young people are my passion in particular because they control the future,” said Anastarcia.

The Grand Bahama native said she has worked as a food and beverage marketing manager for Atlantis, Paradise Island, for the past two years, and although she has two bachelor’s degrees in international studies and political science, it is her associate’s degree in mass communications that she uses most.

Launching the Anastarcia brand in late August of this year, she said the focus is particularly on empowering young people. The brand may have been launched this year, however Anastarcia said she’s been doing youth work, writing and public speaking for almost 18 of her 25 years.

“Currently the brand has two signature programs: “Rising Star”, a series for high school seniors that allows me to coach them through the college and scholarship application process; and “When Stars Connect”, a meeting of the minds networking event for individuals interested in specific things for example, environmentalists. I use social media to inspire people, and keep them motivated and encouraged through blog posts and articles about people who have overcome challenges,” said Anastarcia.

For Anastarcia, the things she loves most about being in the communications field is the ability to make people smile, to expose them to knew ideas, possibilities and ultimately to share her faith in God.

She said the benefits from being in such a field include self satisfaction, the comfort of knowing you are building a legacy by impacting others to create their own, and a broad network of colleagues.

“I got my youth leader certification in October 2012. I passed my advanced youth leader’s certification in June 2013. I’ve been doing youth consultancy since then. I started public speaking at age 15. It gave me the opportunity to travel the world to advocate for youth rights and to be exposed to different cultures and hardships around the world. Those experiences led me to develop Anastarcia.com in hopes that I could provide opportunities for exposure to others. I’ve been writing poems since I was 10. My work in that area continues to develop, and I’m hoping to have my first book published early next year,” said Anastarcia.

While she enjoys her field of work, Anastarcia said there are some challenges. For example, the financial backing, which can sometimes be discouraging, she said.

“Though my heart is glad each time someone says how they have been impacted by my writing, I still have bills to pay. I am waiting patiently though, understanding that for everything there is a season,” said Anastarcia.

Anastarcia said her father Hilary Huyler Sr passed away two years ago but he always made her feel like the most beautiful and intelligent person in the room. When she is with her family, she said she is most a home.

“When I’m with them, I am the freeist. I miss my dad, but we are doing our best to hold each other up in spite of our loss,” she said.

“He and my mom, Gaye Huyler, have been critical to who I’ve grown to become. I have a wonderful support system in my family. My sister Ambrosine is also a big influence along with my brothers Hilary and Ambrose. I’ve also been blessed to have the most amazing fianc� in Carlos Palacious and he and his family have been extremely influential with my decisions over the last five years,” said Anastarcia.

From an industry perspective, Anastarcia said she really admires people like Oprah Winfrey, Joyce Meyers and Joel Osteen. She said overall, her faith in God is definitely her biggest influence, as it keeps her encouraged when things are not going the way she intended.