Aaron Valdes, balances fatherhood, his professional career and academic life with his hobby of choice, cycling. This is my hobby, says Aaron. When asked what makes you come back he responds with “ Being free! Free from my daily life. I have no plan, I just ride. It's also the adrenaline I get from traveling more than 20 mph on my Fixie. The air in my hair, heavy breathing, burning muscles and the feeling of being alive is why I keep coming back to cycling.”
Tamara Maya, although she didn’t apply herself despite coaches encouraging her, now has been a runner since high school. She states it was more of an elective to get out of class early, but today it's her life’s devotion to her well-being. A form of therapy, an outlet from life. Who're eyes light now with a passion when describing the emotion she runs with. Who now holds various medals of completion for medical awareness causes that award a sense of self-accomplishment. She vigorously shares with me the emotion she feels “ I feel free! Free from stress. Like, a weight off my shoulders. I feel better after running. I feel good, empowered."
Rosario Quiñones, has skated since the age of 10 but it didn’t play a significant role in her life until now as an adult. She usually skates every day while balancing motherhood and a Monday through Friday job, but regardless skates are always with her. Skates are an extension of her feet and an everyday carry in her travels to various states such as Washington, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana and even Monterrey, Mexico. When asked what emotion she feels while skating, she humorously replies with “ I feel like Ricky Bobby. I wanna go fast” a reference to the movie Talladega Nights and a glimpse of her humor. Skating is not only an escape of her everyday life, merely a tool to conserve her cheerful young spirit and to enact an extraordinary anomalous life since she expresses hatred towards her routine and 8 to 5 job. She enjoys other hobbies, but skating is her beloved one.
Claritza ”Ritz” Hernandez, a teacher for several years and now a coach. She began to work out about 7 years ago and continues to ease the stress of life and work. She strives for consistency, even on the days, she is feeling fatigued from work. She prepares her mind before by listening to music and find encouragement in inspirational videos while she waits for the pre-workout supplement to take an effect. She adopts fitness as her lifestyle and a hobby if not she doesn’t feel healthy nor like herself when she doesn’t work out.
Leo Guerra, who has balanced an academic life and his hobby of choice, soccer since the age of 10. It's an activity that has captivated his attention from all the other sports. He plays with the goal to one day go pro and with that same passion, he has won several awards in high school. Since then, soccer has been part of his life that continues now as an adult. He dedicates two days out of the week to his hobby despite his busy work and school schedule. He loses himself in those two days by running down the field with his mind only focusing on making a goal. Soccer has taught him the value of teamwork that has taken on a significant role now as an EMT and eventually becoming a paramedic.
