What is/was your major? At what school? What is your goal for life after school using that major?
I am currently finishing up my Bachelors degree in Kinesiology at Cal State University Los Angeles. This upcoming Fall 2020 semester will be my final semester at Cal State LA, but I will continue to further my education. I'm planning on taking 1 more year of courses at Pasadena City College until I am able to apply to various Physical Therapy schools in the area. My end goal is to earn my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) and be a physical therapist specializing in working with athletes.
How has school and/or life been since receiving a scholarship from us? How did the scholarship help you on your journey?
School has been great! I already am a really determined and motivated person (skateboarding helps with that) but this scholarship motivated me a lot more. Personally, knowing that people who have never met me believe in me enough to award me this scholarship means so much to me. It's one thing for your family and close friends to support you, but to get a scholarship of any kind is kind of prestigious to me. For that scholarship to be a skateboarding scholarship is just the icing on the cake. I feel like skateboarders have had a negative stigma for years of being lazy, uneducated delinquents. Thanks to CSEF, we're proving that to be an incorrect assumption about us. It’s also been really cool wearing my CSEF shirt around my college campus and telling my friends and teachers about the scholarship I won. Life in general has also been great. This scholarship helped me out a great deal by easing some of the financial burden of being a full time student dealing with LA rent prices. The greatest thing that this scholarship did for me though, is introducing me to other fellow students who have the same passion for skating that I have. This is something that I’ll forever be grateful for.
What have you enjoyed most during your COVID spread/Stay at Home time?
I’ve enjoyed 2 things during this time; spending time with family, and skateboarding more. I usually have to wait until breaks from school to visit my cousins and other family members (since they’re all over the country & world, shoutout to my cousin I visited in Mozambique last Christmas). Due to this pandemic we’re all going through, I was able to visit some out of town family since everyone’s schooling/working from home. For my older family members, I’ve been FaceTiming/Zooming with them more often. I oddly feel more connected now. As far as skateboarding goes, my major is very intense with studying demands. I usually get to skate maybe 1 to 2 times a month during a normal semester. During COVID-19, I was able to skate almost everyday since everything was done online, which has been amazing. It made me feel like a kid again with no responsibilities. Don’t get me wrong though, school definitely was important. I still managed to get a 3.6 GPA last semester, as well as ending up on the Dean’s List.
What is something valuable you have learned during this time?
To always be stocked up on toilet paper... just kidding. I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned during these crazy times is to not take anything for granted. Something as simple as going to the grocery store has now become quite a task. From needing a mask to get inside, to maintaining social distance throughout the store. It has all become our norm. I almost forget how life was before COVID-19.
How has skateboarding remained a role in your life?
Skateboarding has always been a huge part of my life. I think about skateboarding every single day, whether I realize it or not. Subconsciously we can be driving around and notice a ledge or some stairs, and automatically start thinking of what tricks we could try on it. Skateboarding is one of those things for me that helps keep me grounded. If I’m not skating, I’m usually watching some skate clips or thinking about tricks I want to film. If I’m feeling stressed about school, I’ll go skate to clear my mind. The majority of my friendships are through skateboarding. Skateboarding has taught me a lot about determination, perseverance, and overcoming your fears. These are all qualities that can transfer to school, work, etc.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their higher education path?
The best piece of advice that I received when I decided to further my education was to not worry about how long a certain degree may take. When I was deciding my career path, it worried me that I needed to receive a doctorate degree to become a physical therapist. After talking to a counselor, I expressed my concerns about how many years this would take, and how difficult it would be. She simply told me that the time will pass by no matter what you choose to do with it. For instance, I believe that the degree I want takes about 7 years to attain. I could choose to not pursue it because I’m too worried about those 7 years, and then possibly be in the same position 7 years later. Or I could pursue the degree, and before I know it, the 7 years has passed by and I’ve accomplished what I wanted to. With that being said, I’m so close to being done with my Bachelors degree. 4 years down, 3-4 more years to go. Another great piece of advice came from my all time favorite person ever, Kobe Bryant. Long story short, I’ve been a huge Kobe fan since 1997 or 1998, and he’s been a huge influence on my life. I went to the game where he had his jersey retirement ceremony. He gave a great speech about enjoying the journey, and not just focusing on the destination. Mamba Mentality.
Who would you bring on your dream skate session and what would you be skating?
My dream skate session would definitely have to include Lil Wayne. He’s my all time favorite rapper, ever. The fact that he skates now and is really passionate about it is beyond cool. It would be sick to skate his park with him. He kills it on transitions, which is not my strength at all. I’m going to have to try to pull some strings with my friend Theotis and get Wayne on the next session.
Let's say the keyholder to your dream job is reading this right now. What is the job, and what do you want to say to them?
I can’t lie, my absolute dream job would be being the Head Physical Therapist of the Los Angeles Lakers. Like I previously stated, I’ve been a long time Lakers fan, going to games every season, I have a million jerseys and other various collectibles. It’d be such an honor to me to be able to give back to the organization that has given so much to me and been such a huge part of my life. So, to whom it may concern, I promise if you give me an opportunity to prove myself, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into my schooling to get the opportunity to speak to you about this job. I will work harder than hard everyday to ensure that our players are in their best shape to perform at the highest level. I will be the first one to arrive, and the last one to leave our facilities. I will continue to learn everyday so I can provide the best care possible. Please consider me when hiring for this position, my 7 year old self would be honored to be a member of the Lakers family. Thank you.
I mean, who wouldn’t fall asleep with that pup?
Interview By: Joshua Rowe