084 | Finding The Right Stage with Antonio Aponte

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So many artists have come out of the Lower East Side, so many great writers, great musicians, great poets.
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It's really rich with creativity.
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I don't know.
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I think it was in the air, but it was my calling.
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It was my spirit.
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It still is my spirit to be creative.
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And I decided to uh pursue that and went through the whole journey of uh wading and bartending and then finally getting a big break on Broadway.
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Welcome to Career Cheat Code.
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In this podcast, you'll hear how everyday people impact the world through their careers.
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Learn about their journey, career hacks, and obstacles along the way.
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Whether you're already having the impact you want or are searching for it, this is the podcast for you.
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All right.
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Antonio, welcome to the show.
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Thank you so much for having me.
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I really appreciate the opportunity to share my story.
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Absolutely.
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Um, it's great to have folks like you over on Career Cheat Code, especially because you do so many great things that are beneficial to our communities.
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So let's just dive right in.
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Let's tell the world what it is you do for a living.
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You know, I have a title, and I mean director of educational and career services, and also for the Boys Club of New York, but also the founder of the Latino College Expo.
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But I always put all those titles under one umbrella, which is changing the lives of young people in the communities I serve.
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That's amazing.
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So tell me more about your your role at the Boys Club.
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Um, what is it that you're tasked with doing there?
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And when you walk in on Monday, what is it that you're that you're planning for the week and responsible for?
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Yeah, it's interesting.
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The work I do starts even before I enter the office as soon as I wake up in many ways, because I check, you know, emails and and and see if anything is needed by the parents that I work with and the families that I work with.
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But what I do, you know, under that title, it's not limited to educational career services, but it is opening access and allowing families to understand how to navigate this journey of getting their child into a great high school and into a great college.
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And not so much a great, but their right match college because it's not always about getting into because it has a name.
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It's about getting to the school that's the best match for your child's personality, for their interests, so they can have a better and greater chance of succeeding.
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Uh, we get caught up with names, but it's really more important the right match because it's their journey for the next four years or eight years or ten years.
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So it's important to do that.
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And that's quite what I do.
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And I also try to connect them to other resources out there.
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We don't have all the answers.
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I don't have all the answers, but I have quite a set of resources and relationships that I've built that I can communicate with them and also connect them to what else is out there that can help them.
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So while these young men are at the boys club for many different reasons, right?
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Because you can be there for recreational purposes or other things, you're looking at it from the perspective of how do we now think about their futures while they're while they're in in this building?
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How do we prepare them and their families for high school, college, um, and kind of using both the network that you've now built over the last decades, right?
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Um, but also just what you know about these the youth.
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What do we know about these kids or young young people to kind of make those matches?
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Well, again, knowledge is power in many ways, understanding how to navigate, understanding that there are resources, I mean, especially around education, people get scared of a price tag, but understanding that there are ways to overcome that price tag, and there are so many options beyond the radius of where they live.
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There are other states that are looking for kids that look like them, and parents especially to understand that it's an opportunity for your child, and if they if they've earned that opportunity, they should not hold them back.
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Not that they want to hold them back, but they're fearful.
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Don't let fear hold you back from trying to find better angles and better roads towards success.
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And if your child has earned it, why not?
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So a lot of it is inspirational.
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A lot of it is is is getting to know them, getting to know what their interests are, and trying then to connect those dots.
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Because kids have interests and they don't even know it.
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But when you get to talk to them, they kind of share and reveal some of their talents and some of their passions.
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And then if we really click, then I would help them to really follow that passion in a roadmap that's really going to connect all the dots for them and also inspire them.
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And it's okay to fall, it's okay not to have uh have made mistakes, it's okay to not be strong in math or English.
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We'll work with you and and help you.
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And also trades.
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Um, over the years I've gotten really much into talking to students about trade because not everyone wants to go to an academic institution, and trades are booming, and they're great careers, very lucrative careers.
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And if their passion is with their hands and doing things around HVAC or plumbing, it's okay.
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And it's a great career.
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But know how to do it right, know how to get the right certification, know how to think beyond and become the owner of a company.
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So have that entrepreneurial spirit is what I also try to teach students.
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They have it naturally, but they don't know it sometimes.
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Absolutely.
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And like you said, it's you know, providing some of that insight and knowledge and expanding their mind to possibilities, right?
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I know I've spoken to teenagers, so I have a kid in college now.
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I've spoken to teenagers that are his peers, and they're like, I'm not applying to college, that's too expensive.
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My parents can't afford that.
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I'm like, wait a minute.
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How about you sit down with some folks that do this for a living and they can tell you about some options, right?
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Because I'm a fortunate product of services like this, right?
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Not the boys club directly, but services like that of people that took the time out to say, well, let's let's explore some options for you.
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Like, I know your parents don't have a lot of money saved up for college, but can we use your financial situation to secure some grants, to secure some financial aid, to get you to the right place that'll that'll nurture your talents.
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So I try to like pass that down.
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But I feel like I relied so much on people like you growing up to help me jumpstart my career and get to the right place.
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No, I I agree totally.
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I agree totally.
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I I don't want to uh be remiss not to talk about the expo and the Latino College Expo, because that's part of this journey as well and what I offer and having that idea to start this event 35 plus years ago was definitely monumental for me, but also for the thousands and thousands of kids uh that have attended the event.
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And that triggered through my work in admissions, uh where I was seeing parents not as versed in the process.
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But again, putting it in perspective, 35 years ago, parents have become more knowledgeable, but with the influx of immigration and language learners, it's still a not known entity for them, uh, the idea of affording college.
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But the Expo was a bridge with parents to become better partners with their child, um, bringing in different colleges that are bilingual in terms of their representation so they can deliver the message not only in English to the students, but also Spanish to the parents.
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Um, we forget to feel that without the parents' support, it's not gonna happen.
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And um, and I really want to focus on bringing uh a partnership that's really gonna benefit them and the community they live in.
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Absolutely.
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So we'll spend we'll definitely spend some time talking about the college expo because I think that it all ties in and it all, as you said, it's one umbrella, right?
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It's just who you are and the work that you're doing to shape people's lives.
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We'd love to hear more about within the boys club.
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One, how long have you been there?
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And two, was your starting role the same role where you are now?
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Like, what does that look like?
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And I'm thinking about it from the perspective of you have a very mission-aligned career, right?
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And that's not always the case for us.
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It's like sometimes we have to figure out community impact outside of our work lives, but that's not your case.
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It seems very mission-aligned.
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So we'd love to hear more about how you started in in this path, and then we can we can talk about the career expo there.
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Sure, sure, sure.
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I mean, I as far as the boys club, I mean, I was a product of the boys club when I was a teenager, and I had the opportunity to go there when I was about 11 or 12.
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A little later than most kids, but it was the time that I was allowed to go by my parents.
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But it was pivotal for me to go there to help me to have a safe haven.
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So I know the impact of what that offers, just being in a safe environment where you can actually learn, expand, meet friends, and and and not have your parents worry about you being in the streets.
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That kind of morphed into going away to school, going away to boarding school, actually, which that was my pivotal moment for me.
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And then years later, you know, going on to college and then and then coming back to the boys' club to work in the position and in the program that helped me to go away, it was a no-brainer for me.
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It was like full circle for me.
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I said, wow, I can do what somebody else did for me to help them get out of the city and go away to these expensive schools that you have so many opportunities.
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And now I'm in the role of making that decision and changing a student's life.
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I just jumped on it.
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It was more personal than actually, you know, business or just moving up the ladder and going into a different career, which I've had a different career before that, which hopefully I can share.
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But so I've been there, you know, since then, and I was a director of high school and college placement.
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It morphed a little bit into educational career services.
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But, you know, to me, titles don't mean anything.
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I honestly, you really, really don't.
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It's the impact of the work.
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But the work and the impact of the work is around helping and elevating the educational aspirations of our young people and bridging the gap between parents and young people working together to get to the next level and bringing resources and connecting them to alumni that have succeeded so they can see and hear stories of people that look like them.
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So I really am holistic in my approach.
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Um, there are bullet points, applications, essay prep, test prep, bringing in schools for interviews, taking them to a school, visiting them, writing them emails, talking to the parents to navigate the financial aid process, advocating if they got in trouble, if they want to wait to a school or are adjusting to college and having challenges.
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All of that falls under my umbrella.
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So it is practical, but it's also holistic because we are human beings at the end of the day and have our own stories, and each of us are in a different place.
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And I have I try to really connect to where they are to help them get to where they need to be or want to be.
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Wow.
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So it sounds like not only is your role rewarding, it's also a full circle moment, right?
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Like you were a beneficiary of this program to then come back and say, you know what, how do I now help others achieve that path?
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And to then fall in love with it, right?
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Like you have to love doing that if you're if you're there, you know, over 20 years later.
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So we'd love to hear more about one, where did you grow up that you were going to the voice club?
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Where'd you end up going to college, that you went away for a while and came back?
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So let's talk about some of your upbringing.
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Well, I was born and raised in the Lower East Side of New York, and I'm very proud to be a New Yorkin from the Lower East Side.
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And as my partner calls me, Puerto Rican preppy from the Lower East Side.
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And I I say that because I'm, you know, I'm Puerto Rican.
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I went to prep school, but I also am from the Lower East Side.
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So I always tell kids, never forget where you came from.
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So I grew up in the Lower East Side.
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It was a very um interesting neighborhood back in the 70s when I grew up.
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I loved it.
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Well, it was had this danger points like most urban cities have.
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That era, though, was critically dangerous and and and really, really affected a lot of young people if they weren't strong enough or had some place to go.
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And for me, fortunately, I had a place called the Boys Club at the time.
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But it was a creative environment full of many artists and many poets and many writers.
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And and and I didn't really understand that until as I got older and realized the magic that was occurring in that neighborhood.
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You know, places that struggle, art is a way of getting out of that struggle, it's a way of expressing that struggle.
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And I didn't realize that until later on.
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But I'm very happy to have been born and raised in the Lower East Side.
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And then going to the boys' club, having the chance to go away to boarding school in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Uh, who would have thought of it?
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But my parents felt that it was important for me to get out.
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I was a good young man, but you've when you're around a lot of these landmines, you you just might step into the wrong time at the wrong place, and something could happen, even though you're a good person.
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So, but they saw that, and I didn't know that.
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I just said, wow, I'm going away to school.
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Did I do something bad?
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No, that I think they they, to their credit, they saw the future and didn't want that future to be derailed in any way for me.
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And then from there, I, you know, I I I had a great career in in prep school, I adjusted very well, uh, succeeded in a lot of leadership roles there.
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And then I went to college, which was inevitable.
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I went to Syracuse.
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I the college, the college guidance that I use now with our young people, I didn't have it then.
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I mean, I enjoyed my time at Syracuse, but I also, you know, got into Middlebury, you know, got into BU.
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You know, Middlebury would have been a nice small liberal arts school.
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But I went to Syracuse and I think, you know, like most kids, I went to Syracuse because they were in the final four the year before.
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So I was like, okay, I want to go there.
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Um, but I don't think now, as I talk to kids, I that's not a reason to pick a college.
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But again, made some great friends, a great school, would never change.
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I would never change anything in my life's journey.
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Everything was meant to be because that's the way it was laid out for me.
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So yeah.
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And then I and then after college, I came back to New York and wanted to be an actor.
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Oh.
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Um yeah.
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Is it did that start within your college career, or was that something that you had while you were in the Lower East Side and off to boarding school?
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Like, did you always have in your mind, like, I just I just want to be an actor?
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You know, when I think about it, now that you mentioned that, you know, I was very involved in creativity at high school, in high school, you know, did West Side Story, did some poetry and all of that, very influenced by some of the writers, New York City writers, that that I would pick up their books at a library and say, wow, a lot, you know, and he wrote this book.
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And then in in college, I got involved in a lot of theater projects.
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I think it was a calling, but I didn't know that a lot of it was probably embredded into me from growing up where I grew up and being in, I think it was in the air.
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So many artists have come out of the Lower East Side, so many great writers, great musicians, great poets.
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It's really rich with creativity.
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I don't know.
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I think it was in the air, but it was my calling.
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It was my spirit.
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It still is my spirit to be creative, and I decided to uh pursue that and went through the whole journey of uh watering and bartending, and then finally getting a big break on Broadway with a play about the Lower East Side, ironically, uh called Cuba and his teddy bear.
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And it was um the person who wrote it, uh someone I knew, and he was the second Puerto Rican ever in the history of theater to be produced on Broadway.
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And he got Robert De Niro to be in it and Bert Young, Ralph Machia.
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It was quite a journey.
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You know, I always tell Kit yesterday I was sharing some stories, you know, when we went to a party and danced with Madonna.
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I was like, wow, I'm dancing with Madonna.
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Uh but again, that was that was my journey at that time.
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And then it shifted.
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And ironically, it's because of the boys club in many ways.
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I was pursuing that that career, had a little girl, needed to really get a little bit more steady in my life.
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And he offered me to, or wanted to nominate me for a job to work in admissions at a school called SUNY Purchase, which for those who don't know, is a state university with a conservatory school of the arts, one of the best schools out there for a state university and in the country for performing in visual arts.
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Again, the right match for me as I was looking to transition.
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And then I was there and I got to be an adjunct faculty in theater, worked in admissions, and started really creating programs.
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So still, creativity is always around you.
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Just you don't have to be creative because you're an actor or singer or musician.
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You can be creative as a professional administrator, as a business person, um, you know, as a doctor.
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I mean, creativity is very important in everything we do.
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Yourself creating this podcast is a form of creativity to express, you know, and share to the people out there.
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And I did that at SUNY Purchase, and that was just the right match.
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And I created many programs, and that's when I had the idea to do the Latino College Expo.
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That's something happened during my journeys and admissions that triggered the idea to I need to do something.
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And I took the chance to do it.
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I still worked, but I had this passion to create this event, and it just it blossomed.
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It blossomed.
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Wow.
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So you're this young man from the Lower East side, figuring life out after college, doing some watering, all the things you need to do to pursue your your dreams at the time, and you actually get to act on Broadway.
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Uh, which also is not something to overlook, right?
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Like it's one thing to say, at some point I want to be an actor.
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It's another thing to actually do the thing, right?
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Like you have actually done the things that you have put into the universe.
00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:33.919
You know, I think one would love to hear about kind of your experience on Broadway and how kind of learnings that you got from it and how that helped shape you.
00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:42.799
And then two, I know you mentioned it sounds like you you had a daughter at the time that then sparked some thoughts into your head about getting some stable income.
00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:46.960
But, you know, we'd love to hear a little bit more about that process because that's a very unique path.
00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:49.600
Yeah, I mean, you know, I mean, it didn't just get to Broadway.
00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:54.320
I did some off-Broadway, did some commercials, and then had the chance to get on Broadway.
00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.840
It wasn't an easy journey.
00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.039
And when I first auditioned for the play, I made the wrong choice.
00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.879
So again, making choice is important.
00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:04.559
I make the wrong choice in terms of some of the uh choices I made when I auditioned.
00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:10.640
I if I would have twisted it a little bit, but again, so I didn't get the actual part, I got, but I got on as an understudy.
00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.640
Then when we went to Broadway, I took over the role.
00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:16.720
So I, you know, you have to be an understudy before you get the role, if you don't get the role right away.
00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:24.880
And that was a business because when you become an understudy, you don't that doesn't necessarily guarantee that you're gonna go on to Broadway when they start moving from off Broadway to Broadway.
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:42.799
They want to make sure it's a business that you can carry your weight for if that opportunity happens and you have to play the role that you're gonna do well enough, you know, to keep it on that level, especially with the actors that were leading the show, you know, you know, Bobby and um and and Bert and Ralphie and many others, um Paul called it on.
00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:47.119
And but I was taken to Broadway as an understudy and I took over.
00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.400
And I learned a lot.
00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.000
I learned a lot that I apply now.
00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:58.000
I learned about being committed, I learned about being truthful, I learned about my manager, being creative, being passionate, being creative, being truthful.
00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.599
As an actor, you have to communicate.
00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:03.519
As an actor, you have to connect to the audience, not only in their head, but in their heart.
00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:09.279
And you have to really listen and you have to really give and you have to be able to take back.
00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.960
These are all things of life.
00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:20.960
And and I studied with, you know, with the study with De Niro, but being on there with him and watching the energy just trans transmit from his body.
00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.799
When and this is different than a movie.
00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.160
Theater is real life.
00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.079
Theater is happening right there.
00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:33.200
You know, you're looking at it, you're feeling his heat, you're feeling his laughter, you're you're you're you're you're looking at each other.
00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:36.160
You know, it's tremendous, a tremendous feeling.
00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.240
But but to bring that into this career that I do now, it's still relevant.
00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:52.160
You know, you have to communicate with families, you have to communicate with kids, you have to communicate with school officials, you have to really be honest, and you have to really sh tell your story and advocate.
00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:59.440
But you really have to also be passionate and and and be creative to make like Latino College Expo came out of creativity.
00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:09.279
I could have sat there and just uh introduced my school, go to all these different events, but I had a different eye calling or a different thought process in my head that I need to do something bigger than that.
00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.359
I need to really make a big bigger impact.
00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:18.079
This is important, not just for the school, but for the Latino community at the time and just all young people.
00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:22.240
And sometimes you have to follow it, you have to take that leap and you have to be creative.
00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:25.039
And I think theater is the same, theater is the same way.
00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.880
You have to take that leap, take a chance.
00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.319
You know, a funny story.
00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.839
I did the show one day and it was De Niro's birthday.
00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:39.519
So I come in on the scene, I knock on the door, his back is to the audience, and then he lets me in, you know, and and I'm and I'm saying, Who is he?
00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:44.480
I said happy because the thing is is um red lights was my character, but I changed it that day.
00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:44.799
Why?
00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.079
Because that was his birthday.
00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.480
So I said, happy, happy, it's happy.
00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:50.000
He said, Who, happy, happy?
00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:54.720
And he opened the door, happy birthday, you know, and no one knew what that all meant.
00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:58.480
Only he and I and somebody, but he looked at me because his back is to the ones.
00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.680
He just gave me a little smirk.
00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.720
You got me there, because he he loves improvisation, you know.
00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:06.000
So I improvise, but it added a little different element.
00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:11.279
But I think that's so wonderful to try to improvise and try to find new ways to keep things fresh.
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.440
And as a business person, you can understand that.
00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:16.160
As a creative, you definitely have to understand that.
00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:20.319
And as an admissions person, you definitely have to understand that as well.
00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:32.079
I've done seminars since then and workshops with admissions people to bring some of those approaches to the work of creativity and acting into the work of admissions because you are dealing with people.
00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.839
So I really combine both.
00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:39.279
But my foundation, I call myself a creative educator, not just an educator, but a creative educator.
00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:39.920
That's great.
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.000
And that, you know, I think that that term really embodies who you are, right?
00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:54.319
Um, from all I know about you, is like I'm gonna take all the pieces from the different walks of my life and bring them together for the impact that I'm trying to have here for the youth that you're committed to.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.519
I I love that term.
00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:07.599
Uh, would would like to hear more about now that you're working at SUNY Purchase, what is the moment that happens that lets you know, sure, I'll keep my enroll at SUNY Purchase or continue to work in this field.
00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.200
And there's a need for this Latino College Expo.
00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.400
Tell me more about that, Pat.
00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:18.240
Well, you know, being one of the only Latino administrators, you know, which is still kind of like that, make a lot a lot better now.
00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:25.920
But at the time, you know, I really gravitated to the Latino students on campus and all students of color on campus or you know, black and brown kids on campus.
00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:29.359
And I became an advisor to you know a Latino organization.
00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.640
Uh, they wanted to do a play.
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:39.359
When they heard my background, I actually helped them put together a great performance that I still have a video of it because I did the opening monologue, and they were like, Man, Mr.
00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.960
Ponty, you really know how to act.
00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:42.480
Oh, it was really funny.
00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:57.359
But being creative, I also saw a need, there's a program called EOP, H E O P Higher Education Opportunity Program, Education Opportunity Program, where in order to get into that program, you have to fit a financial guideline and an academic guideline.
00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:03.200
So during that time when I would go, I would see kids that fit the academic guideline, but not the financial.
00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.960
So they were in this catch 22.
00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:09.839
I can't get in academically, I can't get in financially, how am I going to get in?
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:14.240
So I approached the dean of academic affairs with an idea.
00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:22.240
Let's start a program where students who are academically not eligible and financially not eligible, a chance.
00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.000
And a handful, about 10 kids.
00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:32.720
And let me work with them, let me guide them and advocate how they can navigate the resources on the campus because they don't realize you don't have to be part of a special program.
00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.720
There are many support services on campus.
00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.400
Again, you have to know how to navigate.
00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.720
And he said yes, because it helped to build numbers.
00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.279
And we did.
00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.880
I had 10, 9 came back.
00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:44.559
Eventually, by the time I left, I had 150 kids in the program.
00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:51.200
But I gave chances to some kids that are excelling today, that even and one in particular that I always talk about.
00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:54.079
His name is, and I'm sure Anthony Goanaga.
00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.119
I always talk about him.
00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.519
Those that know me say, oh, again, you're talking about Anthony.
00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:00.640
But Anthony really uh deplics the work and the importance.
00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.160
He had a 75 average.
00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.759
I took him into the program.
00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.759
He wanted to be a bio major.
00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.880
He wanted to be a trainer.
00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:10.799
At the time, the New York Knicks were training at the facility.
00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:15.519
I went and I connected him to the trainer then to provide an internship for him.
00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.119
He got the internship.
00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.640
He ran with that internship.
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.440
He folded towels for the first, you know, four years while being a bio pre-med major.
00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:33.920
But he'd also gained the trust of the Knicks staff, coming there every day, committed to what he had to do, went on and got his doctorate and master's in physical therapy.
00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.440
Anyway, he is the doctor of the New York Knicks for training.
00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.400
He is the main doctor.
00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:43.359
He's been with them like 25, 30 years, but he's he started at 17 as an intern.
00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:49.200
And he's so successful and so so indicative of giving someone a chance.
00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:51.519
And I have thousands of stories like that.
00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:58.799
And and and he he came back and spoke to some of my kids about the value of internships to understand if this is something you want to do in life.
00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:02.240
Really don't disregard doing an internship if you're not getting paid.
00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:07.680
You know, it's all about getting experience and all about exploring whether this is something you see yourself doing down the line.
00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.039
So he he's tremendous.
00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:20.480
Luis Roseto, another great person, accepted through my program, who was on the board of Hispanic Federation, doing really well, you know, uh financially and career-wise.
00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:25.519
And these guys always remember that pivotal moment that they had um with me.
00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.559
And I feel really good.
00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:30.319
I I really get excited about all the young people I've helped over the years.
00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:41.440
I can go on and on and write a book just on all these people that that that really um display how important getting that pivotal moment in your life can do for your trajectory of your future.
00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.559
No, absolutely.
00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:48.319
So I'm sure you have so many more of these folks that are like just prime examples of the great work.
00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:56.640
Tell me more about how do you then grow this from a one-time program for 10 students to just help them, right?
00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.160
To what it is now, right?
00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:00.960
Like this is now 30 years later?
00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.680
I mean, I don't do the program now.
00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.960
I mean, I'm not there anymore.
00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:08.000
And the program has evolved and morphed into something else.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:14.000
But at the time, it was the original idea and concept that really was the springboard to what they do now.
00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.799
Interesting.
00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:32.319
So so you're doing that and you're having that impact within within the campus, and then you go off and say, you know what, I also am gonna host this college expo too, as you said earlier, to then bring in also the parents, um, get them a little bit more involved.
00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.519
Like what right.
00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:36.160
How how does that how do those pieces come together?
00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:41.680
How do you go from just doing the work internally for a subset to then saying, I also need to do much more?
00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.440
I mean, you have to have passion, first of all.
00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:55.759
And the and the expo evolved by going to college fairs as a representative for the college I was working at and seeing students not asked the right questions, seeing parents not as invested or unaware and really holding them back.
00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:05.119
And one evening, driving back after I spoke to a young lady with her mom in the Bronx, SUNY purchases in Westchester, literally a half hour away.
00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:11.759
You know, if you take the Beeline bus or the Metro North, and mother saying, no, you can't go, you can't apply, it's too far.
00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:17.519
And I was like, wait a minute, mom, this is really this is closer than her going to SUNY Binghamton or something like that.
00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:24.319
You know, and and and um I came, I was driving back with a colleague from another institution, and we were just talking a lot of Latino mail.
00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:27.680
Um, and together we just said, you know, we got to let's try to do something.
00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.599
And we said, let's, and it's really funny.
00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.920
We just said, let's call it Latino College Ex.
00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.440
It was on a drive home.
00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:36.160
And they say, well, let's call other colleges then.
00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:57.839
Let's call and try to find a space to do a college fair, making sure that most of the college admissions people are bilingual, offering some workshops to explain the basic financial aid process and how to fill out an application, and let's see where it goes, you know, and and do it on a Saturday so there's less red tape with getting kids out of school.
00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:03.680
And first time I had maybe like 30 colleges and and maybe about 350 kids, but we did it.
00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.279
Kept doing it every year.
00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:08.559
That, yeah, but you know, it is, it is, it is for the first time.
00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.599
I mean, that's not bad.
00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:14.640
But it grew at its peak because things have changed recently in this whole landscape.
00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:20.799
But at its peak, I would get about 150 colleges, about 1,500 to 2,000 kids coming.
00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:31.759
And I had some of the greatest speakers that you can imagine come and offer their time to speak to the students in the opening leadership summit, uh, which my partner helped me to really evolve that even greater.
00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:36.319
And then, you know, I got to give props to, you know, Diempo, the talk show on Channel 7, Mr.
00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:41.599
Joe Torres, who's had me on his show for over 20 years, or or close to 20 years.
00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:52.559
And two years ago they celebrated their 40th, and he even put me on and said, And this is Antonio, who I've known him since we both didn't have hair, or I he had black hair, now I have he has gray hair, and I have no hair.
00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.559
Um, but we've known each other, become friends.
00:27:54.640 --> 00:28:02.640
But people like that have supported the visibility of the audio, you know, AM New York, you know, the Makardo project.
00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.839
They've they've supported.
00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.119
I've gotten a lot of support.
00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:08.000
Now it's been challenging the last few years.
00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:13.839
The landscape has changed, you know, after COVID, you know, a lot of virtual college fairs have popped up.
00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:16.319
That personal touch is not there as much.
00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:30.880
Um, also, you know, the landscape with immigration has caused some fear with us, our young families and and kids, you know, to last my last expo last year that I, you know, it was good, but it wasn't, you know, I felt, I felt the little gap.
00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:34.240
And I think there was the fear of what was going on in this world today.
00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:37.839
And so I'm I'm reevaluating the next one in 2026.
00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.200
I don't want to stop.
00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:40.400
I will keep doing it.
00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.839
Is it gonna be a virtual event?
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.440
Is it gonna be a live event?
00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:45.440
I still have some time to figure that out.
00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:50.799
I'm gonna speak to some of my colleagues and people that have supported me and figure this out.
00:28:50.960 --> 00:29:02.000
If I do it in a virtual method, I really want to get a good platform, you know, get the sponsorship I need to create a really, in, really robust platform where it almost feels like you're there in person.
00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:16.160
I know in person it's always best, but I think if if my vision comes together, I will have a powerful virtual uh platform that'll still educate everyone, provide, and I can always work with them individually afterwards.
00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:20.079
But I want to keep going with the mission of the Latino College Expo.
00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:22.160
It's really taught me everything I am today.
00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:24.960
It's really been embedded into my DNA and who I am.
00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:30.960
It really set me up as a leader, much more than all the other work I've done, because the Expo was expanded.
00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:38.400
I've had calls from people to do it in other states, other people have replicated it, like in California, in Miami, and in you know, Florida.
00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.359
Um, and that's okay.
00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.880
That's that's a testament to the work.
00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:47.200
Yeah, I feel really proud that I that I, again, being creative, that I took that leap to do something.
00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:50.480
And you never know unless you try, as an old adage.
00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:59.759
But that's kind of how I approach life now as I get to my my years of going to my third chapter, you know, more consulting and and events planning.
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.400
Yeah, no.
00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:02.960
So you see, I think this is so powerful, right?
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:08.160
Because you already had an impactful role within a university, right?
00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:13.839
You're a SUNY purchase, you're helping students like myself that went through HEOP or EOP, right?
00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.400
You're providing so much access to things.
00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:25.599
Somewhere in your brain, you go to so many college fairs all the time, and you're like, actually, why don't we just host one for the kids that we want to support, right?
00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:36.559
And like to then go from that kernel of an of an idea to the first year already having 350 people there, over 30 colleges, like that's really powerful, right?
00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:46.160
And then to build on that year after year, like we're talking about thousands of students, families that have been impacted by your work and that are able to trace a direct line.
00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:49.440
And I'm I'm sure a lot of these stories you may not even know how that impacted them, right?
00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:56.079
Like even yeah, like even just that person of oh, SUNY purchase is so far from the Bronx, and you're like, it's 30 minutes.
00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.960
Like you can go to St.
00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:59.519
John's and travel longer, and that's in the city, right?
00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:02.880
You can go to Brooklyn for college and that's further.
00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:08.720
But just that like expanding and and giving some of that knowledge away is just extremely powerful.
00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:13.359
And I'm sure your work has had so many ripple effects throughout our communities in a way that's well.
00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:13.839
It's interesting.
00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:15.519
That young girl did go to SUNY Persia.
00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:19.440
That young girl is now, you know, a mother and has her MSW.
00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:27.519
And I saw her about maybe like six months ago in an event at the Museo El Barrio, and she walked, she like ran, she saw me, she knew I was there.
00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:31.119
You know, Tony, because people they've known me for a long time, and now it's not Mr.
00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:31.680
Ponty.
00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.720
I mean, she's in the dope.
00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.920
Tony, oh my God.
00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:36.799
And I said, Doris, oh my God, how are you doing?
00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:45.599
And it it it's really, I I I don't even have words that can express the feelings I feel and and how proud I am that my calling has been the work that I do today.
00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:48.000
Yeah, no, that's absolutely fascinating.
00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:53.200
I think it's it's such a blessing, and it's something that not many people get to realize within their lifetime.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:55.920
And I think you've done that multiple times over, right?
00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:58.559
Like you have, you're like, hey, I want to be an actor.
00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.680
You're an actor.
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:02.000
Um, I want to help the youth.
00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:11.359
You did that both through your career as SUNY Purchased and at the Boys Club and continue to do that work, and then you go above and beyond and say, Well, I still want to do more.
00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:27.039
So let me do things like this Latino College Expo and help even more families um get the right resources, just understand information better, know their options, and just let them do with that information what they will, but at least they won't make decisions without information.
00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:34.559
Um, so it's like extremely powerful and extremely, you know, just life-changing to have people like you that go above and beyond their nine to five.
00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.319
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm just one of many.
00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.119
Thanks, thank God.
00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:49.039
There are a lot, a lot of people doing this work, a lot of my colleagues, a lot of other organizations that I've spearheaded or supported or mentored and or offered best practices or inspired to do the same thing.
00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:53.279
So I think, you know, it's really snowballed into a movement in many ways.
00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:57.920
Back in the day, Aspida was the organization that provided for our Latino community.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:01.519
Now you have, you know, Hispanic Federation is one of the largest ones out there.
00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:10.640
You know, the Expo is still a small kid on the block, but a very impactful small kid on the block that really did it with passion and with creativity and with truth.
00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.799
What are you more most proud of in your career?
00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.160
Well, I'll probably the expo.
00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:18.799
I think the expo, being on Broadway with Robert De Niro, it's like a dream come true.
00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:24.640
Just to work every day and and seeing lives that have been changed, and and they they say, Thanks, Mr.
00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.000
Ponte, for helping me.
00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:32.400
And at that time, I mean, they've taken it to a greater heights, but you always need that pivotal moment, you always need that start.
00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:48.400
And to be the the start of someone's, you know, seeing that there's more out there in this world, I think it's one of the greatest uh moments, you know, and and trying to be a good father, and you know, made my mistakes, you know, it's hard being a single father, but uh, but at least I stayed there.
00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:53.119
And and and whether she sees it or not, I think as she gets older, she'll see it.
00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:59.440
But I've been there and it will never leave her and always will do my best to support her in her her journeys.
00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.079
Great.
00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:02.079
Are there any forms of media?
00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:11.360
I mean, that could be a play, that could be a book, uh, that could be um any anything else that you have consumed that has shaped you personally or professionally?
00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:14.159
Yeah, I mean, I like looking at books, I like reading books.
00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:20.639
I love theater, you know, uh and and and and the message that it can share if it's if it's well written.
00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:27.360
But I think some books is uh I say pivotal moments a lot during our conversation, but that is a book by Roberto Espinosa.
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:39.920
And I and I that really triggered a lot for me because it made me realize, you know, that I create pivotal moments for kids and for young people and for people I meet, and that a pivotal moment can really change their life.
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:50.880
And everyone, if they really think, has had a pivotal moment, whether it's their basketball coach, the school counselor, their parent, someone was that moment that was pivotal in their lives.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.840
So that's one book.
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.280
Another book is starts with why by Simon Sinek.
00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:55.920
I love that.
00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.800
I love what he says.
00:34:56.880 --> 00:35:00.559
It's not what you do, it's not how you do it, it's why you do it.
00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:03.119
And that why is so important in the work that we do.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:06.480
Because everyone does this work, but why, that's how you sell it.
00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:08.480
Um, that's how you connect it.
00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:11.599
Because if they understand the why, it takes on a greater importance.
00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:18.719
And um, and then this other book that I really like is called Um The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, the musician and producer.
00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:21.440
And he really touches upon so many things.
00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:29.280
You know, again, uh combining creativity with education, uh, with realization, with purpose.
00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:36.559
And um, and I think that book has also been very, very good to me and continues to to invigorate the work that I do.
00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:38.960
And and I look at it from a creative lens.
00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:43.519
Everything I do, I'm not I'm not a textbook guy with saying, you know, the metric show.
00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:54.960
I'm about connecting and really, really seeing if there's 2,000 in my best approach, every single one approach and support them as the individual they are.
00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:56.480
And that's a lot of work.
00:35:56.639 --> 00:36:05.199
But I think when you develop something and you know how to do it and it's innate in your in your DNA and in your spirit, I think it just happens naturally.
00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:12.719
I think I've been gifted with that and have that that that that that I don't want to get into spiritual, but but that spiritual connection that I that I have.
00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:16.000
I'm Latinos, we know we're gonna grow up with some spirituality.
00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:23.840
But I do believe in really connecting with a person's soul and and listening to their their their their needs and goals and trying to help them.
00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:28.000
So you've had so many different kinds of careers.
00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:34.559
Um at each point, can you talk a little bit about how much money folks can make in different fields, right?
00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:41.039
So in the acting space, I know that that was one of the determining factors for you to then go back to getting a full-time role, right?
00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:51.199
But like kind of just give folks a sense of at that time how much money people can make in that field, um, and then through the work that you're doing in direct services with something like the boys club, right?
00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:57.519
Um, and then as someone that has your own organization with the Latino College Expo, like how how do these pieces come together?
00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:59.039
Ooh, it's a lot there.
00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:00.880
You know, being an actor, you have to have a passion.
00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.920
I mean, you have that passion, right?
00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:09.760
Be an actor is the high is the high and the lows the low, someone told me, you know, and you have to be per you have to persevere, you have to be persistent.
00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:11.039
You have to have some talent.
00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:13.840
That's not good enough, but you do have to have some talent.
00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.840
I mean, you have to just follow your heart, man.
00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:21.599
If, you know, and if you really want to be an actor or musician or an artist, follow it.
00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:28.800
I'm never gonna turn anyone down, but just be strategic and work hard and understand that the high is the high and the lows are low, and you always have to learn.
00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:34.639
You always have to continue to grow as as a performer and learn the tools and learn from some of the greats.
00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:36.480
And always but be out there.
00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:38.400
Always audition.
00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.760
You learn, always.
00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:45.360
I I did a play, I auditioned for a play, I didn't get the part, but the the act the director remembered me.
00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:47.760
And then there was another play like three months down the line.
00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:52.719
I got a call, you know, hey, you audition for you, you weren't right for the road, but I remember you.
00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.920
You had a really good audition.
00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:56.880
Would you like to come in and audition for this part?
00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:05.360
And um, so always leave a good impression, but just understand, you know, also, I mean, just understand that if if this is the path you choose, then go for it.
00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:11.840
I mean, one of the reasons I stepped out was not because I I wasn't succeeding or I wasn't on the cusp of maybe.
00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:13.760
You have to be very selfish as an actor.
00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:17.360
I mean, I just had my little girl and I had her by myself, so it was a lot more work.
00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:21.280
And I knew there was a calling, maybe, to do the work that I'm doing now.
00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:24.480
And and I knew there was something still not satisfying me.
00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:28.480
And there's the art of acting, this is the business of acting, understanding both.
00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:30.000
So I can't say how much you make.
00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:32.559
Yeah, you can hit it big and make really good money.
00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:35.599
Um, but you can also be struggling around along the road.
00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:40.960
But if but you got to be persistent and know when to step out if you have to, but also just stay persistent.
00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:47.440
In terms of admissions work, you know, that's not something, you know, while now they do have a lot of courses and a lot of certificate programs.
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:54.239
I think, you know, you can explore it as a young person by volunteering, you know, at your college with the admissions office giving tours.
00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:56.480
There are different levels depending where you work.
00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:59.519
You don't become an admissions or dean of enrollment right away.
00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:02.000
You have to be patient, a young person.
00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:03.360
You have to be patient and grow.
00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:12.559
You have to start as an admissions counselor, um, work your way up, maybe become associate, maybe become senior, and then maybe become dean or dean of enrollment or director of admissions.
00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:20.880
There are many, you work for city university, for state university, for private institutions, you know, independent schools, you can work at a private school, you can work at a charter school.
00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:24.400
They all have different levels, but just again, you have to stick with it.
00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:29.440
I think there's a great, great growth, growth growth path in that field, but you have to stick with it.
00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:32.960
You have to understand that it's a process, that it's a marathon and not a sprint.
00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.800
I tell that a lot to a lot of young people.
00:39:34.960 --> 00:39:36.559
It's a marathon and not a sprint.
00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:37.760
And understand that.
00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:44.480
And you have to have that willingness to get out of your comfort zone and meet people and connect and learn.
00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:47.039
Always be a learner, always be a sponge.
00:39:47.199 --> 00:40:00.000
And I think if you dedicate and you show your work ethic, it is going to be highs during the, especially the academic season, where you're working days, nights, weekends, but it all settles in later after you've met your class.
00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:04.239
But if you like it, if you really want to do it, just meet, learn, and connect.
00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.920
There are a lot of organizations out there.
00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:10.239
College Access Consortium of New York is one that I believe in very much.
00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:12.320
I was a founding member of that.
00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:15.599
And it's a great network for anyone interested in college access.
00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:17.360
You know, there are a lot of there are a lot of ways.
00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:21.360
You just have to really uh be out there and and and be a student of the game.
00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:22.639
But you can make a good living.
00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:26.000
You know, and if you work in an independent school, you can live on campus for free.
00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:28.480
You know, that's always a wonderful first job.
00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.679
It could lead to a career.
00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:40.239
But when you're young, go to and not pay for rent, not pay for gas, electricity, maybe have your family or your significant other with you, get your, you know, get your your graduate degree paid for.
00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:44.559
I mean, I think it's a great start for someone and then see where life takes you after that.
00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:46.639
Um, that's how that's my answer to that.
00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:47.360
Absolutely.
00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:50.960
No, that's a you know, those are some really good career cheat codes there, right?
00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:56.880
Um, especially if you think about having a role early on in your career that gives you free education.
00:40:57.039 --> 00:41:02.719
That gives that was you know something I definitely took advantage of, and that's how I have a master's degree now, right?
00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:05.920
Thinking about a place that gives you free housing, right?
00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:12.079
Like that's an opportunity to cut your biggest expense normally and save that money and set your family up for the future.
00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:15.199
So those are those are some really good points that you mentioned there.
00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:25.519
You are a very layered individual, and you have so many kind of pieces that may seem disconnected to others, but you you bring them together really well.
00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:33.199
Um, I really like the frame a creative educator, um, because I do think bringing that creativity to all of your spaces is important, right?
00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:40.000
Like I don't think we're all linear, and even if we're an accountant and that's what we do, there are creative ways to do that.
00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:50.159
There are creative things that you can bring out into the world that that make you just better at what you do, or separate outlets that at least kind of bring the full person together.
00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:52.079
Um, so I appreciate you sharing all of that.
00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:56.239
How can people support the uh Latino College Expo or learn about it?
00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:57.519
Well, they can go to our website.
00:41:57.599 --> 00:42:04.960
I mean, obviously, when I do promote, just continue to check the website and I'll have more updates on when the next one's going to be.
00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:21.920
I think, you know, I do a lot of workshops or try to do a lot of virtual, you know, uh panelists uh to have people like yourself share their share their story, you know, offering time, though I do have quite a resource of people over the years that I've helped, uh I can always use more.
00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:25.599
Obviously, you know, we're 501c3, but we're still growing.
00:42:25.760 --> 00:42:28.960
You know, I I just keep letting it, just keep supporting it.
00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:36.159
You know, if you're an educator and work in a high school, supported within your schools to attend, to attend any of the events we do in person or virtual.
00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:49.280
You know, if you're in the high school, you know, come and seek out the work of myself and and others out there to help navigate their journey to have that opportunity to make an opportunity of a private school affordable, if that's what you choose.
00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:56.960
You know, and or if you're looking at staying local with public or charter, you know, seek out our help and my help to um to navigate that journey.
00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:59.280
There is nothing I haven't seen over the years.
00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:05.360
And and I don't care if you have a 60 average or 98 average, I will find a home for you.
00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:08.639
So don't feel I'm not doing well in school, I can't go to college.
00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:10.559
No, that is so untrue.
00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:23.199
You know, you just have to want it, and then there are people like me, but if not, you can just reach out to me and I will help you to navigate a roadmap, a game plan to get to where you want to be.
00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:40.559
At the end, you have to carry it out, but I will provide a script to use the term, and you have to bring your individuality to the script, but at least you'll have a script to follow that if you've if you work hard to learn the lines, to to inject your own personality into it, you will uh succeed.
00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:44.320
Is there anything else we haven't discussed that the world should know about Antonio?
00:43:44.719 --> 00:43:57.920
Antonio loves movies, Antonio loves live salsa music, Antonio loves animals, Antonio likes to embrace life, and Antonio likes to help anyone that asks for help if I if it's possible.
00:43:58.159 --> 00:44:00.800
If not, then I will lead you to someone else that can.
00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:12.079
And Antonio's very very blessed to to his parents in heaven and to the people I've gotten to know, and now you in my circles um that I've gotten to know.
00:44:12.400 --> 00:44:16.559
So thank you to you and to the world.
00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:17.360
Thank you.
00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:18.159
I appreciate it.
00:44:18.239 --> 00:44:19.039
Thanks for sharing that.
00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:21.039
Thanks for coming on Career Chico today.
00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:22.079
Thank you for having me.
00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:28.000
I really um, you know, I was honored when you called and and excited that we completed this conversation.
00:44:28.159 --> 00:44:35.440
And I hope that when it does air, that people can, you know, try to read between the lines and and try to maybe capture what I was trying to say.
00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:36.639
I hope they get it.
00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:37.280
Absolutely.
00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:38.719
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:47.119
If you did and believe on the mission we're on, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you're using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks.
00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:54.400
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00:44:54.639 --> 00:44:56.639
See you next week with some more cheat codes.
00:44:56.800 --> 00:44:57.119
Peace.