All my life, all I wanted was the Iron Throne. Kidding. But all I actually wanted was to be an actor and a musician. Fast forward to today: I am actively executing that dream in New York City. I have had the privilege of working on projects like The Equalizer with Queen Latifah, Caught Stealing starring Austin Butler, and Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet. I have trained under industry powerhouses like Lane Napper from Victorious and Eric Allan Kramer from Good Luck Charlie. But to get here, I had to take a massive, terrifying leap of faith. I had to move across the world from Costa Rica and step into the complete unknown. It was either going to work or it wasn't. But I had to go in with the mindset that it will work out because I was personally going to make it work out. Period. Nobody else can build your life for you. That is exactly why I created Compass. I realized that so many young people carry an unconventional dream, but the path to a massive vision can feel incredibly isolating when nobody around them understands their direction yet. Compass exists to bridge that gap, align them with their support system at home, and give them the real world strategy to execute. That is why it was structured specifically for teens and young adults ages 12 to 24. This window, from age 12 to 24, is the absolute crucible. It is the exact stage where you are just starting to explore who you are and who you want to be. The habits, the mindset, and the level of agency built right now dictate whether a person goes on to aggressively build their dream life, or if they settle for a routine they spend the next forty years trying to escape. Many adults look back later in life and wonder if they settled, if they gave up on their own leap of faith too early, or if they are truly satisfied with what they built. But the trajectory all starts right here in these defining years. Young people cannot keep waiting for the perfect, safe moment. They need to learn how to trust their own potential now.

The system chooses for you and for your kids. School, college, a traditional 9 to 5 job. How? By telling you what to think, when to show up, when to leave, when to eat and the list goes on and on. In 2 days I'm hosting a virtual workshop at 6pm eastern to help your teens choose with purpose, set priorities for themselves and as a group. There's no age to start learning to think more independently. Would you rather repeat the cycle and stay in the system or help them be more independent and live within their calling?

This is their chance to prove they're capable of making clearer decisions for themselves and as a group through a free online workshop taking place this Wednesday, March 25th at 6pm eastern. Please feel free to ask any question you have. I'm excited to see them there and share some of the insights with you as well!! This event is for teens ages 12 to 16. https://forms.gle/jH4eTQaothCMGqVT7

This weekend, because of the snowstorm, I found myself reflecting on something. I come from Costa Rica, where snow was never part of daily life. I was never a fan of winter, but I always loved short trips to experience it. A year and a half ago, I left behind comfort and familiarity because a dream of mine couldn’t wait any longer. This weekend was my first real experience with a serious weather alert, and I also got the flu, which made it even more challenging. It wasn’t easy, but it reminded me how much discomfort changes us, not just physically, but mentally. I’ve seen many people leave their comfort zones in search of better opportunities. In my case, what drives me is the desire to grow, to become better, and to make a positive impact. Being in New York constantly challenges my mindset, and that friction, as uncomfortable as it is, has been one of my greatest teachers. Having studied psychology and now working closely with young people and families, I see how powerful it is when kids are exposed to healthy challenges. Not pressure, but experiences that stretch them, build resilience, and help them trust themselves. Growth rarely happens in perfect conditions. It happens when we step into uncertainty, adapt, and keep moving forward. It made me think about how important it is for young people to see examples of courage, effort, and intentional living. What kinds of challenges do you feel are helping your child grow the most right now?

Comfort teaches less than challenge. Ease teaches less than difficulty. When teens are allowed to face real challenges, even when there’s a risk of failure, they learn faster, build resilience, and discover what they’re truly capable of. Failure doesn’t make them weak. Staying comfortable does. Growth happens when they have space to try, to struggle, and to try again, supported but not overprotected. It’s worth asking: What real challenges is your child facing right now that are helping them grow and trust themselves more?