[Music] as a child i'm not sure i even understood what being latino was but as i got older what i started to really learn and appreciate was it's not simply about who i was but where i was from that i really began to appreciate what my roots are and how to establish those roots for myself and for my family being from guatemala shaped who i am today in many ways the country was under armed conflict and that pushed me to actually pursue a degree in conflict resolution the most important thing that i get from my background in el salvador is that sense of gratitude and that sense of responsibility that i i will not waste any opportunity that comes my way and that i will strive to create opportunities for other people as well i grew up as a latino in tech lonely my goal is to have the next generation of latinos the next latino leaders not feel that same loneliness even if i look back one generation i couldn't see role models working in the tech industry and in my heart i hope that if my grandfather was looking down on me he would be proud he literally did not go to school he did not have the opportunity because he was that poor i moved permanently to live here i had to learn that my accent told the story of who i was and and you know unintentionally people put you in to these categories what i wanted to contribute as being a culture of the latinx belonging group it's being able to bring the awareness of the diversity and richness of the latin american culture i am able to share my experience with people who can empathize with my experience it's not being born into this amazing community that makes me proud in my life what i want to do is hopefully make the community proud of me [Music]