Meet Vismaya Rubin
From the Classroom to the World
Vismaya Rubin never planned to be a teacher—it happened by accident. Her original dream was law school, but after struggling with the LSAT, life had other plans. A friend suggested substitute teaching, and her first day in the classroom changed everything. The students connected with her instantly, praising her teaching and asking her to stay. That moment, paired with wise words from her cousin—a nuclear physicist—set her on a path she never expected but was born to walk.
Twenty years later, Vismaya had built a legacy—not just as a teacher but as a mentor who sparked transformation in thousands of young lives.
One of her greatest joys was leading service projects. Each project proved that when you give teens an opportunity to give back, they will exceed your expectations every time. From making gift bags for shelters, collecting bottle caps from Chariots of Life, to launching a Thanksgiving program still running today, Vismaya empowered her students to lead with compassion.
A few years before leaving education, Vismaya’s school principal cut Freshman Experience, a class she created a curriculum for and loved, based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.
Her new assignment? Preparing students for the state writing test. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, she decided to teach writing her way. She introduced her students to topics they might never have explored—one of the most impactful being the power of practicing gratitude.
While analyzing articles on former gang members, Vismaya asked, “Why would anyone want to be in a gang?”
Alex, a 10th grader, replied, “Ms., we’re in a gang. We’re GRATITUDE Gangstas. We walk around saying things like, ‘I like your shirt. I like your shoes.”
Another jumped in. “We carry guns…"
Vismaya shouted, "NO GUNS!"
William replied, "C'mon Miss, we carry the kind that shoots out a flag that say THANK YOU.”
Since leaving teaching, Vismaya launched a line of inspirational shirts with a mission to transform the world—one shirt at a time.
Women across the globe have worn her designs during their happiest and most challenging moments.
Beyond her clothing line, Vismaya founded the Living in GRATITUDE Today Movement, a community dedicated to cultivating gratitude as a daily practice. Every weekday morning, she fuels her fellow GRATITUDE Gangstas with G.A.S. (GRATITUDE Action Steps)—simple yet powerful prompts to help them stay present, positive, and empowered. Vismaya firmly believes that children learn by observing the adults around them.