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Food (fuels my soul)

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One strength that I take with me and use in my work/studies is definitely my story telling - It is amazing how many times I caught myself at a dinner table where we just retold stories of family trips or encounters in our lives. This definitely carries over into my craft because I want to know as much as possible about other people's stories and their lives.

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When I am overwhelmed, I hug my dogs! That always helps me reset when I am stressed out about a project.

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One strength that I bring with me is my faith in humanity as a whole. I believe so deeply in the ability to heal as I have seen it first hand from people that I not only love but respect.

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a strength from my background would be honoring community-building/family as social supports and togetherness are VITAL in our work/studies!

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My "Eras" Project! What started as a silly little concept of new years resolutions evolved to something that has become core to my person. Each year I dedicated a mantra to follow, and they all slowly built a pillar that I am proud of to embrace:

2021 - "Return to Roots"

2022 - "Unapologetically Antonio"

2023 - "Always and Forever, an All-Star"

2024 - "Cast a Stone, Watch the Ripple"

and now...

2025 - "From the Rookie Comes an Ace"

Speaking to "you can't help others unless you help yourself" this will forever provide a sound healing space for me, regardless of personal or professional challenges that come my way<3

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My family always celebrated humor, which meant I developed a sense of humor at a young age. Humor is a bit of a secret weapon for me as an adult--something I can use as a (peaceful) weapon and a defense.

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My smile and positivity!! I try to remain positive even during difficult situations to avoid overthinking and anxiety. Even taking a deep breath and looking at things with a positive problem solving attitude is very beneficial to me!

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One strength that I carry with me is the importance of being understanding and allowing others to feel valued and respected! From my professional experience of working with an underserved community where I share many experiences and struggles with the population I serve to joining this amazing school counseling program, I've defintely learned some valuable skills so far that have allowed me to be more empathetic, understanding, and gentle to not only myself but to my family and loved ones as well.

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It has to be my story. I was asked to leave LMU as an undergrad for substance abuse and other related issues. 11 years later (and sober!) I work with students on campus now that struggle with substance abuse and mental health. It is how I connect with my students. It is how I connect with my clients when I work in treatment centers. It is how I approach work with empathy.

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Family values of standing up for yourself, the family and others around us.

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What keeps me motivated is my support system which includes my family and friends.

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My family always instilled in me the virtue of hope. "Faith, Hope, and Love" were the words on my grandfather's tombstone. My dad always emphasized the "hope" part. I always think about this. When I am in times of trouble, I always try to find that lining of hope.

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I come from a close family, we talk (I vent to them) almost weekly. That regular ~meeting of the family~ is a tradition on both my maternal and paternal side, and since we live in different states now, we do a tight hour, weekly, on FaceTime. When things are really bad, they can sometimes feel like the very ground beneath my feet! :)