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I was born in Soacha, Colombia, in April 2000, so I wasn’t exactly affected by the famous "Y2K bug." I lived in Samper Mendoza, Bogotá, until I was five years old, with my paternal grandparents, my uncles, my mom, my dad, and my brother. My earliest memories come from this time, when my grandfather and uncles, who were carpenters, let me "help" them. I wasn’t really helping; I was just gluing pieces of wood together, something like real-life LEGO.

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My cousin Daniela and I had each other’s backs in those boring adult environments, making everything feel much easier to handle. My uncle Fredy was a model of discipline and resilience—a real outlier. He’s a go-getter and workaholic who, from a young age, surrounded himself with the most experienced people to build the future he has now. My uncle Steve taught me the value of acceptance, and my uncle Diego gave me a great sense of humor. Today, I find it almost impossible to take things personally or feel offended. I first think about why someone would say certain things, what could be going on in their life, before taking it personally.

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My competitiveness with my older brother was also a big influence from the beginning. He’s five years older than me, and that made me want to improve myself. That drive for friendly competition was a huge motivation and shaped me a lot during my childhood.

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In 2008, an experience with my uncle marked me. He gave me a wallet, but in my innocence, I asked him if we could sell it because I didn’t want a leather one. He answered, "No, son. Gifts aren’t for selling or giving away; at most, you just don’t accept them." That moment made me realize the value of things and how they have meaning beyond their material worth.

Throughout my life, I’ve found wisdom in simple proverbs and phrases, not because they instantly change my mood, but because they often capture powerful truths that resonate with me over time. Sayings like "you reap what you sow," "pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional," and "medals are won in training; competition day is just for claiming them" have each guided me in different situations. These words remind me that preparation is crucial, resilience is a choice, and life’s challenges are best met with patience and perspective.

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Growing up, I learned to question everything, heavily influenced by the Socratic method, which led me to examine beliefs and challenge assumptions. I was raised on principles like “A las mujeres no les pega ni con el pétalo de una rosa,” yet ironically, the only times I was ever slapped were by girls at school, illustrating early contradictions in social values. Being shorter than my peers also shaped my perspective, I often had to work at 120% to prove myself. These experiences have shaped my resilience and a strong commitment to think critically and stand by my own values, even if it means going against the grain. Everyone has problems and deals with their own context.

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In school, I was an outgoing kid, and between 2012 and 2016, I discovered that I could connect with everyone through humor. I made jokes for everyone, from the streetwise kids to the nerds, and that allowed me to become friends with all kinds of people. I was able to learn from some and teach others. Tenth and eleventh grades were amazing for me, I had a lot of fun and have great memories thanks to my classmates, although I almost failed eleventh grade for being overconfident and lazy. That was a great reminder not to underestimate things.

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When it comes to music, I grew up listening to rock, influenced by my dad, and started exploring my own tastes around 2013. For a while, I struggled between rock and other genres, thinking that "rock is dead" and, in my opinion, "rockers killed it." This inner conflict led me to explore other genres like rap, reggae, and ska. Now, I enjoy listening to Nach, KaseO, and Can, their lyrics took on deeper meaning through my university language studies, as I grew to appreciate its literary depth and message. Nowadays, I have developed a special skill that allows me to ignore basic and commercial music. 2024, I got to admit that Salsa is probably one of the top tier music genres along rock, ska and a cappella through human history.

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For me, understanding the importance of the individual is crucial. Even though we’re part of a system of society, culture, and language, it’s the individual, with their uniqueness, who brings this cycle to life. We’re not victims but part of the system. I’m Colombian, but I don’t need the approval of a Japanese person to wear a kimono as a university outfit, nor a group of Americans’ permission to support MMA fighers like a UFC fight at the MSG or a BBQ in Texas. I don’t need Norwegians’ permission to wear braids. Being ourselves in any context is our right as individuals. By this, I am trying to say that no one has the right to tell us how to live our lives, our Colombianity or our tastes.

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University and Developing Critical Thinking

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University and Developing Critical Thinking

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The university turned out to be a reflection of the victim narratives and hatred that we see today on social media. Several students I have shared classes with, evidence contradictions and a few double standards showing lack of auto reflection, presenting themselves as victims of an "oppressive system." This experience made me reflect deeply on my identity, values, and own problems.

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Over time, I learned a lot about spirituality, nature, and philanthropy, understanding the difference between them and concepts like religion, opinions, and misanthropy. This helped me see that planting hatred in society is the easiest way to control people. The idea of “if you’re not with me, you’re against me” is extremely harmful and blocks the possibility of true understanding among people.

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Another big part of my identity was shaped by intercultural experiences through online gaming. Meeting people from different regions, like paisas, pastusos, and costeños, and then people from Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, the United States, and others, and joking with any kind of humor around with them was one of the richest intercultural experiences I’ve had. In 2016, these interactions helped me see how valuable it is to recognize and accept each other’s differences.

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I am developing my personal project ''@CJM2K'' (Yes, unskippable ad).

Nowadays, I just exist being tranquil. I wish the best for everyone, by the best I don't mean what they desire, but what is most convenient for the lives. I’m clear that my likes and dislikes, thoughts, beliefs, and values are subjective and personal, meaning they’re not a reality for everyone. This same understanding applies to others’ perspectives toward me. After an existential crisis that made me question life and knowledge, I came to understand the value of personal peace and tranquility.

Now, I do everything in my power to help those I love or to prepare well for an exam. If things don’t go well, I can be at peace knowing I did my best.

Finally, one piece of writing that has greatly influenced my view of life is The Egg by Andy Weir. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI&t=1s&ab_channel=Kurzgesagt%E2%80%93InaNutshell has given me a great sense of peace.