Lest we forget the Roots that ground us.
Imagine being 10 years old and discovering the coolest secret club ever. No clubhouse, just a park—and okay, it wasn’t exactly a secret since the whole world knew about it. But for a kid growing up in the San Fernando Valley in the 90s, soccer really was like a secret club, because kids here didn’t really play soccer back then. The game was a subculture of American society.
And for a shy kid of Salvadoran immigrant parents, soccer became more than just a game—it was one of the few things that made me feel like I was a part of something. That early passion for soccer planted a seed that’s grown with me ever since, giving meaning to so many parts of my life.
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Now, imagine being a second generation Salvadoran. That means that your parents immigrated to the United States in the 1980s from El Salvador.
Imagine being the first in your family to be born in this country, and the high expectations set on you from an early age. Imagine being a kid and having to constantly translate English to your parents. Imagine having to learn to do homework on your own because your dad was working late, and even if he was home he wasn't much help because he didn't even make it to the 2nd grade.
Imagine how fast you had to grow up.
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Reflecting on my childhood has shaped my career.
Why? Because I don’t want to forget about the roots that ground me. It's because of these roots that I’m able to make connections with the rest of the world.
My roots have taught me about who I am and where I am going. All my stories live there. And through these stories, I can teach my kids and the generation after me what it's meant to me to be a human.
Being Salvadoran means a lot to me. And to be passionate about a sport that has not only made me so many friends in my life, but has also allowed me to manifest a career is special.
Ten-year-old me could have never imagined making a national commercial with Volkswagen for Copa America '24. Or working with Nike for a Women's World Cup campaign. Or working with Arsenal FC to throw a massive summer block party in Los Angeles. Or photographing Messi playing against the LA Galaxy.
But I did do all that. And I can't wait to do more!
Select Clients
Nike, Inc.
Jordan Brand
Adidas Football
Puma Football
Shoe Palace
Honda
Netflix
YouTube
Arsenal FC
Chelsea FC
LA Galaxy
Major League Soccer
Soccer.com
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