I am from Hot Wheels cars, Pokemon trading cards and Saturday morning soccer games.

 

From Disney Channel on the weekends and Minecraft worlds with friends.

 

I am from the beaten and battered Xbox 360 in the basement,

and from Madden games against my dad when he always let me win.

 

I am from Schoolhouse Rock,

whose creative approach to learning changed how I look at teaching.

 

I am from “Every silver lining has a touch of grey” and “Nothing gold can stay.”

 

From persistence, the Chilean mine rescues and Messi’s long-awaited World Cup victory.

 

I am from Spotify playlists and music analysis,

and from YouTube guitar tutorials.

 

I am from Skype calls and from Zoom meetings.

 

I am from Snapchat streaks and Instagram posts.

 

From skinny jeans and flat-billed hats.

 

I am from the death of Kobe Bryant.

 

From iPhones and MacBooks.

 

From becoming better at using technology than my parents.

 

I am from content creation and gaining an audience online.

 

I am from these moments that have shaped me into the person I am today.

 

I am from the media that both controls me and I control it.

 

I am from influencing and being influenced.

 

I will be a navigator of media and not a passenger of it.