I’m a 25 year old Texan who just took ten years to get here. As a Venezuelan citizen born to Colombian parents, I usually check the “hispanic”, “latino” or if really lucky “south american” box on forms. I don’t know that such a classification really -matters- but hey, if it floats someone’s boat, whatever.

As my family immigrated when I ten years old, I got a first hand view of the English as a Second Language program in HISD and started to learn about technology on an 286 PC. When I was little, I was argumentative enough that I thought I should be a lawyer, visually perceptive enough to be an architect and everyone else thought that I had the presence to start a grand company.

While at the High School for Engineering Professions, I discovered an aptitude for leadership and project management roles while participating in community service and robotics organizations. In the ongoing quest for knowledge, I attended the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and then took courses in -almost- every major. I am now -almost- done with a degree in Management Information Systems. During the downtime, I continued my involvement in FIRST robotics, joined the campus Social Committee and became a brother of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Eventually, I discovered the theatre and found a new love.

After some soul searching, I decided that I am simply not an east-coast boy and a return to Houston was in order. “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” as they say… And so, here I am. A stone’s throw away from completing my degree and looking for my place in society. I’m participating in community theatre, mentoring a middle school robotics team and trying to think globally and act locally.

I’m Jon Abad. I’m 25 years old, I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up but I’m enjoying the journey.