gunshots in Manhattan,” his mother claims; his parents really do believe the move to Brooklyn was a good choice. At the age of three his parents split up, and Eric moved to Guatemala with his father to learn how to read and write Spanish better. While in Guatemala Eric lived on his grandparents farm where he rode horses and was the mascot for his father’s band “Grupo Tempestad,” which means “Storm Group” in English. About a year later, still in Guatemala, Eric and his father moved back to Brooklyn, after his parents decided to get back together. Eric lived there until he was in fifth grade, where he attended one of the top elementary schools in Brooklyn. Once again Eric’s parents decided to move. They felt that Brooklyn, just like Manhattan, was not a safe place to raise Eric, and his younger brother. The family packed their bags and moved in with Eric’s Aunt, who lived in Fredricksburg, Virginia. While living with his Aunt, Eric’s parents found an affordable house in Fredricksburg, and his family moved in shortly thereafter. Eric attended Drew Middle School, where he was the valedictorian of his eighth grade class. He then went on to Stafford High School, where he met many new friends and acquired many new interests.Eric learned how to skateboard while in high school, and it stuck with him. He has skateboarded for hours upon hours because he claims it “relieves stress.” While in high school, Eric excelled in his math and science classes. He says his favorite class is chemistry because the “sub-atomic worlds fascinates [him].” Knowing that he loved science and math, he decided that he would go on to college to major in Engineering. Eric believes that his fascination with math and sciences runs in his family. His dad currently works in a Hydro – Electric Power plant where he is a safety technician. Eric and his father have very similar interests in the sciences, and as it turns out, many of Eric’s more distant relatives also have jobs in the field of Engineering. Eric says he is “anxious to graduate from Virginia Tech with a degree in Engineering so [he] can finally be doing Engineering work in the real world and make money doing what he loves.”
Eric’s friends describe him as a “very relaxed and mellow guy,” and also said that he would never do anything to stab them in the back. Apparently Eric met them through skateboarding; he saw them skateboarding one day and approached them to ask if he could give it a try. After that day Eric continued to skateboard with them, and eventually became a member of their “crew.” Since then he has
shared many experiences with his close knit group of friends, whether it was normal days consisting of skateboarding, or partaking in other activities such as going to Fear Fest at Kings Dominion. Eric’s friend, Kurt, told me that “Eric has gone from being the ‘new kid’ of the crew to being the MOM of the crew, because he is always making sure that [they] don’t get in any trouble or do anything too stupid.” Eric’s close friends have been a big influence on his life ever since he moved to Fredricksburg. He feels comfortable going to them for advice and feels that they can always cheer him up when he is feeling down.Eric’s younger brother, Jose, has always looked up to him. Jose told me that “Eric has always been a great role model,” aside from the occasional beatings he receives. Eric provides great guidance for Jose in whatever he needs. Eric often helps his younger brother with his school work, with any problems he may have, and especially with GIRLS. “Eric is a genius when it comes to girls” Jose told me; “He has helped me to impress many girls in my class.”
Eric’s parents see him as a “very hard-working, determined young man.” They told me that they saw him struggle through several high school courses, but they were very impressed to see him “persevere through and still receive a high mark in the class.” They also told me that they had no worries sending him off to Virginia Tech to study Engineering, because they know he has a great work ethic. His parents also told me that they are very proud of the way he has been a role model for his younger brother. Because both of them work full time jobs, they depend on him to guide his brother and help him in any way possible. Eric went above and beyond these expectations and helped to turn his younger brother, Jose, into the great young man he is today.
Eric made yet another move recently from his house and family in Fredricksburg to his dorm room here at Virginia Tech. “I am used to moving around and adapting to new environments”
Eric says, so the change from his home life to his college life was not as big as a challenge to him as it would be to less frequent movers. Eric really misses his friends and family back at home, but he knows that they miss him too. He also knows that all of the other members of his crew split up and went to different colleges, so it gives him a feeling that they are all in this together. He is anxious to return home for his Thanksgiving break so he will be able to spend more than just a weekend with his family and friends. “ I feel like I have seen it all” Eric says, as he reminisces of all the places he was lived in the past, and he still wonders where his future is going to take him.
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