PASADENA, Texas — This week, Pasadena Independent School District proudly features a talented alum whose journey from Genoa Elementary to the global stage of FIFA shows how creativity, hard work and support from our district leaders can shape a successful future. A 2014 graduate of Pasadena Memorial High School, this former student turned a love for art into a career in multimedia design. 

Q: Can you share a bit about your background at Pasadena ISD?

I attended Pasadena ISD schools throughout my education. After arriving from Mexico, I started at Genoa Elementary School in third grade. I then went to Lomax Middle School, and continued to Bondy Intermediate School and later graduated from Pasadena Memorial High School in 2014.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your journey after you graduated from Pasadena ISD.

After high school, I went to San Jacinto College, where I focused on the arts. I studied photography, painting, drawing and sculpture, and earned my Associate of Arts in Fine Arts in 2017. Then I transferred to the University of Houston and was accepted into the graphic design program. I served as vice president of my class and learned more about motion graphics, branding and design, while also completing a minor in art history. I graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.

After college, I joined the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash as a multimedia designer and later became lead designer for the club. Earlier this year, I was proud to win The Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Houston Host City Poster contest. It was a chance to represent my city and share my love for art and soccer with the world. Today, I continue to design and create, and I’ve also returned to painting. My journey has been about growing, learning and making the most of every opportunity.

Q: What lessons did Pasadena ISD instill in you, and how have you used that knowledge to get where you are now?

Pasadena ISD helped me discover my creativity and gave me the confidence to follow it. I took art classes as electives throughout school and had teachers who supported and challenged me. Ms. Canalito, my high school art teacher for three years, always encouraged me and pushed me to improve. 

Ms. Crawford, my physics teacher, introduced me to the Houston Dash and supported me when I played soccer at PMHS. Even though she knew science wasn’t my path, she believed in me. Mrs. Ortiz, my AP Spanish teacher, also made a big impact with her kindness and encouragement.

I am who I am today because of the teachers and mentors in Pasadena ISD. They guided me, inspired me and showed me how important it is to support others. 

Q: What inspired you to pursue your current career?

I remember my high school art teacher suggesting graphic design, even though I didn’t know what it was at the time. The idea stuck with me. Later, a professor at San Jacinto College and my sister Priscila both encouraged me to take it seriously. When I transferred to UH, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But after my first design class, I knew this was the right path. Everything I had learned before suddenly made sense for a career in design.

Q: What does it mean to you to be able to come back and share your work with the Pasadena ISD community?

It means a lot to come back and share my work with the Pasadena ISD community because this is where my journey started. The campuses and teachers here helped shape who I am and gave me the support I needed to follow my dreams. Coming back now as an artist and designer feels like everything has come full circle. I hope my story shows students that their passions matter and that with hard work, they can reach their goals too.

Q: What’s your ultimate goal for your career?

My goal is to keep growing as a designer and artist and to use my creativity to make a difference. I want to work on projects that inspire people, celebrate culture and tell meaningful stories. In the future, I hope to share my work with more people and also help younger artists by mentoring them, just like my teachers helped me.

Q: What’s your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part of my job is creating and bringing ideas to life. Whether it’s through design, illustration or painting, I enjoy turning ideas into visuals that connect with people and tell experiences. It’s exciting to see my work make an impact and know that my creativity matters.

Q: What’s some advice you would give to current students or recent graduates?

Stay curious, keep learning and don’t be afraid to follow your passions. Find mentors who support and challenge you, and don’t worry if you don’t have everything figured out right away. Every experience helps you grow. Most of all, believe in yourself, work hard and trust that your creativity can take you far.

Q: Would you like to add anything else?

I just want to say thank you to Pasadena ISD for all the support and encouragement I received during my education. The teachers and mentors I had made a lasting impact on my life. I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire students to follow their dreams and believe in themselves.