I was five when I stopped speaking.

Back then, thoughts came to me one right after the other, faster than I could say them. That left me a silent toddler, frustrated at the world that couldn’t understand me.

It wasn’t until I sat in my speech therapist’s office that, between the coloring books and snack crumbs, I started to write. A patient dreamcatcher made of paper and pen, trapping thoughts and turning them into honest expression (or at least something my mom could finally understand).

It even makes sense of the cool, twisted fusion that’s my Spanglish (it’d happen to you too if you grew up in Puerto Rico, studied on an American military base, and then moved to Florida at 16).

Twenty years after giving up my silent protest, I still carry the lesson: to find the best words, you gotta have the patience (and pen) to dig for ‘em.

That’s fine by me.

Awards:

🏆 Young Ones 2026: Merit Recognition for Integrated Campaign (Google Gemini: Family Translator)

🏆 Art Directors Club 2026: Finalist (7Up: 7Up Yours)

🏆 Type Directors Club 2026: Finalist (7Up: 7Up Yours)

🏆 American Advertising Awards 2024 - Orlando District: Winner (Colossal Biosciences)

🏆 Antilles Elementary School Field Day: Participation Badge