There are so many factors that affect how our lives turn out, but one of the most interesting is how our backgrounds give us unique strengths and perspectives that affect who we are as adults. We asked rising stars from the community to tell us about their background and upbringing and how they feel it’s impacted who they are today.

Christy Clark

I was born and raised in Miami, FL, with a strong sense of resilience and determination, shaped by my parents’ hardworking example. Seeing my parents navigate their struggles while making sure my siblings and myself had opportunities definitely instilled a deep understanding of the value of hard work and perseverance. Watching them grind through their 9-5 jobs and realizing I didn’t want to just contribute to someone else’s wealth but build my own success. My mindset of striving for independence and personal success drives my ambition today. Read More>>

Stephany Ramirez

I’m from Venezuela. As a teenager, I pursued my dream of becoming an artist, despite constantly being told that I would never find work because opportunities were practically nonexistent. I refused to listen and enrolled in college to study Cinematography, determined to change how artists are perceived and respected in Venezuela. I’m not there yet, but I’m striving to make a name for myself so that every Venezuelan with a passion for art knows it’s possible. I had the opportunity to come to the U.S., and now I make a living from my photography. Step by step, I want to keep inspiring others to follow their dreams. Read More>>

Curro Carrasco

I’m originally from Huelva, a city in Andalucía, Spain, but I’ve been living in Miami for over 10 years. I studied Advertising at the University of Seville, and after graduating, I moved to Miami with a scholarship from the Spanish government.

Since then, I’ve always worked in multinational companies or advertising agencies, focusing on creativity and art direction. My background has shaped me into a multidisciplinary creative, blending branding, storytelling, advertising campaigns, graphic design, photography, video, web, and content creation. Read More>>

Marina Glazounova

I’m originally from Russia, where I lived until I graduated high school at 18 and moved to the U.S. Growing up, art was an important part of life — it is deeply valued in Russian society. My mom always said that kids rarely know what they truly like, so it’s a parent’s job to push them to try different things; otherwise, they’ll have too much free time and waste it — and honestly, she had a point. Read More>>

Erika Salas

I am a born and raised proud Hialeah girl with Cuban Immigrant parents. Growing up my dad always had more than 1 job and my mom focused on bettering herself by studying to obtain better job positions. Once my parents divorced, both my parents were entirely present in my life but I was mostly raised by a single mother. So, I can say that I know what struggle and sacrifice looks like. I also know what it looks like for two parents to give their daughter the world, even when they couldn’t give it to themselves. Read More>>