A Cuban woman identified as Rocío Socarrás summarized in less than a minute how life outside the island changed her forever: five lessons that, according to her, only capitalism could teach her. The video, published at the end of August on TikTok, garnered significant attention among Cuban users on social media.
Socarrás opens the video by acknowledging something that many emigrants are well aware of: "when you leave Cuba, many people tell you: 'you are going to change.' And yes, you undoubtedly change." From this premise, he builds a narrative of adaptation and learning that resonated with thousands of Cubans abroad.
The first truth she lists is straightforward: money matters, because "if you can't pay for your house, your food, or your clothes, no one is going to come to solve it for you." This statement openly contrasts with the logic of the Cuban system, where the State has historically taken on—at least in discourse—the responsibility of meeting basic needs.
The second lesson focuses on personal image: "how you are seen is how you are treated; it may sound unfair, but it's the reality." For Socarrás, investing in one's appearance is not vanity, but rather a strategy when seeking a better job or trying to close deals.
The third truth addresses a point that many Cuban emigrants recognize as one of the biggest obstacles upon arriving in a new country: shame. "Shame doesn't put food on the table," she warns. Selling, asking for work, or offering a service can create discomfort, but, as she herself says, "shame doesn't fill the bank account."
The fourth lesson pertains to your environment: "Surround yourself with people who validate your dreams, not your doubts." The fifth completes the cycle with an idea about individual responsibility: "Your life is a reflection of your thoughts and decisions, because it's not enough to believe you can achieve it; you must take action."
The video is part of a growing trend among Cuban emigrants who share reflections on capitalist mentality on TikTok, contrasting with the education received on the island. Creators in the United States, Spain, Dubai, and other locations regularly publish content on economic autonomy, entrepreneurship, and personal branding that fosters identification and debate.
Socarrás does not romanticize the process. He acknowledges that "starting from scratch means opening your mind to a new reality" and that there are things that family and friends in Cuba "might not understand or agree with." He also does not hide the fact that the journey has both its ups and downs: "there are things I like and others I don't."
Other Cuban women have followed similar paths. An immigrant who arrived with not a penny found stability after years of effort, and another shared her experiences starting from scratch outside of Cuba in a testimony that also generated a wide response on social media.
The video of Socarrás has amassed over 90,000 views, nearly 7,400 likes, and almost 500 shares, figures that reflect the resonance of these types of reflections among those who have had similar experiences of reinventing themselves away from the island.
"I am very, very, very happy and grateful to God for giving me this second chance and for allowing me to be here," concludes Socarrás, ending the video with a phrase that, for many Cubans abroad, encapsulates better than any statistic what it means to start over.
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