Meet Miguel Lozada | President of Puerto Rico Lacrosse & Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miguel Lozada and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miguel, what role has risk played in your life or career?

Striving to achieve a concept that has never existed or attempted before is how I view taking a risk. When you actively pursue a goal that no one has accomplished, puts you in an indeterminant position. Being uncertain is not a place people like to be in. It’s in our basic human nature to pursue perpetual wellbeing. No one actively seeks to chase after a dream in the dark and without a pre-designed pathway. Uncertainty relates to risk because whenever possibility is involved you won’t have assurance of successful outcomes. Not knowing that your efforts will elicit positive results and the embrace of your targeted audience is a frightening thought because the unknown can shatter our preconceived outcomes or dreams. As Mark Zuckerberg once expressed, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks at all”.

Reflecting back, it is evident that risk has played an integral part in my life and career choice. Growing up on Long Island, New York I was first introduced to the game of lacrosse in middle school. Lacrosse is a beautiful sport I fell in love with immediately. Playing lacrosse was the first time I can remember taking a major risk in my life. As soon as we moved to Long Island and met a handful of friends that played Lacrosse I began attempting to learn the noble sport. Soon after, I found myself enjoying a game that was foreign to my Puerto Rican roots. When I began to practice Lacrosse, I remember feeling like I was relearning how to walk. It was all so different from anything I had been athletically exposed to. Yet, after one year of dedicated work I became quite skilled in the sport and exceled. As a result, I learned that I can shine at the game as long as I continue to hone my craft and believe in the possibilities amid uncertainty. The lessons learned around risk-taking moves without guaranteed success or support strengthened my decision to play collegiate lacrosse at Liberty University for four years. Fortunately, perseverance with fortitude opened the prospect of attending law school and graduating from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Further, Lacrosse taught me other lessons in life. That is, challenging myself to excel at something never attempted or completely different from anything I am comfortable with is worth the risk and sacrifice. I also learned, from lacrosse, that taking risks can positively change the trajectory of life. To think that at first, I was very uncomfortable playing lacrosse but the personal growth I’ve gained in the process is invaluable. I know for a fact that if I had never attempted the game of  lacrosse, I would not have grown the confidence to go away to college or to pursue a law degree. Most importantly, Puerto Rico Lacrosse would not have been born.

Puerto Rico Lacrosse is a non-profit organization collectively initiated in 2015. As co-founder it is our mission to bring the game of lacrosse to the youth of Puerto Rico and to the disenfranchised youth who don’t have the access or the opportunity of exposure to the game. Miraculously, in just a few years Puerto Rico Lacrosse has provided hundreds of youth in the island of Puerto Rico and across the United States, the chance to play the game. We now have teams compete internationally at the highest level the sport affords. Today we are continuing to build a platform for minorities or marginalized youth to develop in this noble sport. Lacrosse opened my mind to realize that I can achieve and manifest my wildest dreams even when it’s perceived as a “risk”.  To this end, I am blessed to have the opportunity to offer our youth a vibrant Lacrosse experience within our programs. All is possible if you believe and take a risk on a dream never manifested by anyone else because it was tailored just for the one called to make it happen for all.

My dream of sharing the sport I love in the island my family is from came full circle in 2016 in front of El Morro, an old fort, located in San Juan Puerto Rico. At that time, my dad, myself and a small group of volunteers planned to do a pop-up clinic in San Juan. We had not organized or recruited any youth to participate. The only thing we had planned was to  set up a net and teach anyone who was willing to try and  learn about the game of lacrosse. At first, there was no one to teach. But without advertising the event, our risk paid off. By coincidence the school district organized a trip to have multiple schools fly kits in the lawn of El Morro. Precisely where we were set up the free Lacrosse clinic. Incredibly,  buses filled with youth of all ages decided to approach our set up and we had the privilege of introducing the game of Lacrosse. We supplied all the equipment needed and taught lacrosse to youth (boys & girls) from ages of 10-18 with our hearts filled with joy. I will never forget this day because it confirmed that we were on the right path to achieving our mission. We actually put Puerto Rico Lacrosse on the sports’ map against unbelief and the risk of failure. Hence, Puerto Rico Lacrosse has become my life goal and a risk I will forever take.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Puerto Rico Lacrosse is an organization that was formed in 2015 by a small group of volunteers who believed that our mission could positively impact our island. Currently, through the dedication of volunteers Puerto Rico Lacrosse has created a platform for Hispanic athletes to grow in the game. Our success is a result of the continued commitment of our volunteers, coaches and families involved in our program. Astonishingly, no-one in our staff is paid so everyone involved with Puerto Rico lacrosse assists because they love seeing the positive impact our organization may have in the youth of Puerto Rico and across the United States. Of course, our success was very challenging because it had never been done before. Initially, we were met with resistance and negativity because many thoughts that Puerto Rican’s don’t play lacrosse or that we would never connect with the native youth in the island.  Thankfully, we forged ahead and chose not to be swayed by comments that were far from the truth. This is evident by the proven outcomes our organization has experienced. We have accomplished tenfold of what we had projected in the onset. Puerto Rico Lacrosse has held lacrosse summer camps in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, led by Elliot Hernandez. These summer camps/clinics have been offered every summer, free of charge for over one hundred youth. Moreover, we’ve had teams compete internationally in the Women & Men’s World Championships. Most of all we have cultivated a huge Puerto Rican Lacrosse family across Puerto Rico and the States. The PR Lacrosse Nation has afforded us the connection with a cadre of people from all over the world who collectively lift the dream and sustain access to our youth today.  This journey has taught me that passion is contagious. In fact, when you partner with a group of people that share the same passion you possess- your goals will not be a heavy lift to continue. In addition, I want the world to know that Puerto Rico Lacrosse is not just about sports. We are an organization that is passionate about helping our island and our people in any possible way needed. It is our belief that lacrosse will change the lives of the youth in the island by exposing them to a new opportunity and provided access to high level competition with resources and quality training. I am certain that as we share our story that informed the dream of Puerto Rico Lacrosse  the message will influence the youth to take risks, dream big, work hard and give back to their community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being Puerto Rican food is what I think about 80% of the time. So, I would immediately take my friend to El Pub. In my opinion it is one of the best places to get latin food and a very vibrant atmosphere. After we’ve eaten we’re hitting the beach to chill relax and listen to some Mark Anthony music. Lastly, we’d get dinner somewhere with the ultimate Miami vibes and hit the town.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am blessed beyond measure to have the family support that I have. First, I want to dedicate this shout out to God for placing the dream of PR Lacrosse in my heart and the strength to carry it through. Further, my brothers Elias and Isaac for constantly encouraging me through the dark days and sharing our love for sports. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my Mom and Dad who have also been the ultimate role models of what it takes to raise a strong and committed family. My parents have sacrificed tremendously for my brothers and I. It is without question that nothing of what I have accomplished would have been possible if it were not for them. Lastly but not least, I would I like to dedicate this shout out to Kristen my dearest love and someone who has supported me in my darkest of times. I thank her for taking a risk on our love and dreams.

Website: https://www.puertoricolacrosse.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puertoricolacrosse/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-lozada

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PuertoRicoLax

Image Credits
Jose Esquilin Photography