I remember being a toddler who always roamed outside while my mom was asleep. I came across these hardworking men working construction not too far away from my apartment, and I would always linger around them even asking, “Can I help?” I was very small and young, but the manager of the crew became my friend.

One day he brought me home to my mom and asked what I wanted for Christmas. I said, “A skateboard.” On Christmas Day, he brought me one. Skateboarding has been rooted in my heart ever since.