- Originally I was born in Queens, but I feel like I’m not originally from a Borough. I moved around 15 times in my life all over NYC besides Staten island. The different neighborhoods I’ve lived in varied from time to time. There would be times where I lived in Parkchester to Bedstuy, to LES in Manhattan. Moving around really helped me get to know my city.
- From my ninth grade year to my senior year in high school, I entered the sport of Fencing. I felt like I was living in two worlds at the same time as Fencing was those secluded neighborhoods with gates blocking the entrance to the outside. Only a few can enter. Seeing the different lifestyles these kids have that I didn’t, the opportunities and the financial stability was something hard to wrap my head around and it created a double consciousness. A gentrification process seemed to take hold of me in the eyes of past friends. They felt I threw my identity away.
3. I feel like I’m a pretty nonchalant person due to needed assimilations. When I’m faced with anything I tend to approach things in a logical way first because I liked to be investigative with things.
4. My mother went to Baruch College as a SEEK transfer student. She is from Costa Rica and came here as an immigrant. She had to come to the united states using limited transportation.
5. I feel more comfortable when I have an interest in my work so it doesn’t seem like a drag or I’m forcing myself to finish something.
Nice to meet you, I think it’s pretty cool you and your mom basically have Baruch as that mutual connected school.
Hi, fencing sounds like a cool sport and looks cool based on shows I’ve watched, living in the city you don’t really hear of fencing as a popular sport so what drew you to it?
Moving seems like a big part of your life, how did you react to whenever you had to move and pack and unpack constantly? Is it tiring?
I know for me moving around so much impacted me in different ways? Did moving so much effect you in any way?
Cyrus, First of all, I love that your mother is an alumna of the SEEK program. She must be very proud of you. It will be interesting to talk to her and find out how the program has changed over the years. Second, I am really interested in hearing about your experience as a fencer and all the complicated issues it raised for you. And third, I also moved a lot while I was growing up, so I can identify with that part of your story!