Inspiration

Inspiration to be great can come from anywhere, often in places where we never look. To me, they were my parents. I never stopped to think about the sacrifices and hardships they endured to become the person they are and shape me into the way I am.

My proudest moment in life

Instead of going to the beach with my friends for spring break, I decided to spend my time with my mum and show her around China. That turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. My mum was born and grew up in the Dominican Republic. Not in her wildest dreams could she have imagined she would have a son that showed her around China while translating everything. That confidence I felt from being able to speak an Eastern language was passed on to her and we had an amazing 10 days exploring the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, picking tea leaves in Hangzhou, drinking boba in Shanghai, and getting massages together. Those days were some of the most amazing ever and I will always cherish that.

My dad

My dad was born and raised in Ammerzoden, Holland. A little town of 3000 people where everyone knows each other and the main export is champignons (white button mushrooms). He started working at a farm when he was 12 years old. To this day he is still a mushroom farmer. He became the mushroom king of Holland. Then, he became the mushroom king of Southern Europe. The journey was never easy as economic downturns led to stressful times. Now he is the most sought-after mushroom consultant in the world. I call him the mushroom king of the world. He has worked together with the largest mushroom farms in Colombia, Australia, China, Mexico, Ecuador, Italy, and beyond. All at the same time as being a great father.

My mum

My mum was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and grew up taking care of her siblings. She has 5 full siblings but lived together with cousins and half-siblings her whole life. She moved to Santiago where she found several jobs to put herself through school while learning English at the same time. On Friday, when she'd get paid, she'd have enough money for either a cake or the bus ride home. She often chose the cake and walked home. She moved to Holland, a big change from the DR to say the least. One would think that having 3 kids is a big enough challenge. Not only did she raise us, but she also learned Dutch (if you've ever heard Dutch you'll know how hard it is), and received a bachelor's in education at the same time. Normal bachelor programs in Holland last 4 years. She did it in 3. She would hold class in our garage with a group of students.