Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Medina-Plascencia.
Hi Aaron, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am 21, a proud Mexicano/Nicaragüense, born and raised in the amazing city of Los Angeles. Although I lived in Las Vegas for about 11 years during my childhood, I always came back to LA during my school breaks. I am proud to say I am a world traveler and amateur artist. I have been lucky enough to study abroad in France, intern in Italy, make my grandmother’s dream of traveling Europe come true, and soon to be a volunteer in Tanzania for construction. Ever since I was young, I had a passion for the arts and learning about the world. I remember wanting to be in Kids Bop and try to start in entertainment, but it was never an option for me until my mother decided to move us back to LA during my freshman year of high school. I decided to attend Ramon C Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts in DTLA. This is where I was able to grow my love for music, dance, and many different arts. I am trying to stay creative with my major in Architecture and keep my talents thriving.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road. I have had a very eventful journey in life so far. My early years were spent living a nice suburban life with my family in Las Vegas. Although the suburban life sounds amazing (and it was) there was a lot more chaos behind closed doors. My brother and I were 2 of about 5 Latinos in our school at the time and got treated differently for it. We went through many events that I wouldn’t wish on any family, but we grew from this portion of our lives together. We became a single-parent household when I went into middle school; this was challenging financially for all of us. We moved around a lot and did not have a stable home until coming back to LA. I see everything that I went through with my brother and mother as great life lessons. Seeing my mom get us through bad situations with a smile and hard work inspired me to also work hard and is still my inspiration today. I wouldn’t change anything that I went through, for it made me the person I am today, the person I want to be in the future, and created the bond that can never be broken between my mother, brother, and I.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am currently a full-time student of Architecture. I love the design and creativity involved in my study. In my free time, I love to play the violin, which I have been playing for about 10 years now, and also dance Folklorico at Mexico Moderno Dance in Northeast LA. I have always had a passion for the arts and got to take this passion seriously in high school when I started attending Ramon C Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts. I was really able to explore the arts at this school. I involved myself in Stage tech, where I got to work with TEDx and create/work many school productions. I was involved in the Symphonic orchestra, where my love for the violin grew more and more every day. When it came time to think about my future and graduate, I knew I wanted to study something that would let me continue my love for creativity but also be able to grow in a successful career. Architecture was the path that called me. I love everything about this study. Being pushed to really think outside the box while staying within restriction guidelines has opened my mind to see things I couldn’t see before. I am most proud of being lucky enough to do an internship for five months in Florence, Italy, with Alessandro Romito Architetto. During my internship, I was able to learn firsthand about being in a firm and the work involved. Not only was the work experience amazing, but I was in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with the best Renaissance architecture and culture. I felt inspired every minute of every day to pursue my studies and travel more. Architecture is everything. It is beauty, sorrow, history, the future, our playground and shelter, our everyday. I still have a long way to go in my school journey, but I am no rush. I will forever be a student to architecture and to the world of creativity.
How do you define success?
I define success as the accomplishment of any goal or dream and the feeling of true happiness. Success is not limited to the amount of money one has, or materialistic goods one owns. I do not see success as being famous, a billionaire, or corporate for a company. I see success as the little things, the accomplishments that make us feel joy. If one is truly happy with what one has and what one has made possible, then that is success. Life is too short and valuable to be worried about materialistic success. It does not matter how much one has or accomplished if they are not truly happy with their life. My version of success means I have made my family and friends happy, myself happy, and have accomplished the goals I set for myself. Once I have all of this, I will be the richest man alive.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.aronmedina
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-plascencia?trk=contact-info
