About me
When I’m not working on IT projects, I spend my free time playing ukulele and guitar, meditating through surfing, and researching the history of Hawaiian music, ukulele makers, and Hawaiian-made ukuleles.
I am one who believes that having an open mind to learning is key in order to succeed in life. I strive for knowledge in all aspects of life and I yearn to use my skills and talents to create a better world not only for myself but for the people around me.
“The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.”
– Socrates
Early Life
I was born in Whittier, California on March 16, 1995. My parents raised me in Diamond Bar, California and blessed me with three beautiful, younger siblings: Brandon, Nastassia, and Monique. Being the oldest, I strive for the greatest and do everything in my power to set a good example for my younger siblings.
Growing up I was always staying active. I loved to skateboard, swim in the ocean, jam on my guitar with my brother, play video games, and solve lots of puzzles. Once it came time for me to decide what I wanted to do in college, I knew I wanted to do something tech related.
Education
In 2013, I started college at Cal Poly Pomona pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering. Throughout my curriculum, I gained hands-on experience with both electrical engineering and computer science. I grew a natural love for programming because of my passion for solving puzzles. I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona on June 10th, 2018 with my B.S. in Computer Engineering.
When it came time for me to start looking for jobs it was an obvious choice for me to pursue a career in software engineering. I landed my first job in January 2019 doing full-stack web development with Talent Path and I have been loving my craft since I started. I continually work on growing my lifelong skill and am enjoying the process of learning how to apply my skills to my passions.
Hobbies
Having a balanced life is something that I believe is important in order to live a healthy and fulfilling life. I still strive to stay as active as I can when I’m not working.
I love surfing, cooking, photography, and most of all, music. Music is an important part of my life. In my free time, you can catch me playing the ukulele, guitar, Tahitian drums, or piano. Over the years I was lucky enough to get to perform and share my talents on the stage with the Ohana Polynesian Dancers and Hitira’a Tahi.
Music – My Passion
My journey with music started with a foundation in piano but really didn’t start taking off until I learned how to play the guitar at the age of 10. This was just the start of a lifelong love and I had no idea all of the opportunities, people, and experiences that this craft would lead me to. I recently started focusing my passion specifically on research about Hawaiian-made ukuleles, ukulele makers in Hawaii, and the history of Hawaiian folk music.
I have had an interest in Polynesian culture since my siblings started performing with the Ohana Polynesian Dancers in 2009. My sisters and brother started dancing with OPD and my dad and I emceed as the group’s band shortly after. Performing with OPD led me to learn how to play the ukulele and Tahitian drums and I am so grateful to be introduced to these instruments at a young age.
My passion for music continues to grow over the years both as a musician and an appreciator of great music. I am almost always listening to music ranging from RnB, blues, classic rock, reggae, ska, oldies, jazz, Jawaiian, Hawaiian, classical, rap, and so much more.
“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
– Confucius
Surfing – My Meditation
If I’m not doing anything music-related, then I’m most likely paddling out in the ocean.
From the moment that I caught my first wave, I was hooked. I remember watching the surfers flowing up and down the waves from the pier as a kid. I would only dream of being in their shoes (or slippahs) until my mom bought me a boogie board from Costco and I was able to experience the joy and connection of riding a wave for myself.
It started as a playful pastime to feed my sense of adventure in my youth but grew into something much deeper as I got older. The stresses of life seem to dissolve away and my cluttered mind seems to organize itself after my sessions in the water. Surfing has become a meditation in the chaos of my busy life and it will be something that I will continue to grow in and practice for the rest of my life. The challenge of taming the chaos of the ocean and turning its energy into my own flowing movement has become an example of how I approach any challenge in my life.
“Surfing’s a more profound kind of sport than it looks. When you surf, you learn not to fight the power of nature, even if it gets violent.”
