Q. What was life like growing up in Puerto Rico?
A. I was born in Jayuya, Puerto Rico, a small town in the center of the island. My grandfather owned a general store and both my parents worked in it. When I was 13 years old, my father decided to become independent and we moved to New Orleans. It was a big change, after being part of a family business, my father worked in a factory on an hourly salary. On the other hand, for me it was an important move, since I was able to learn English, necessary for my future professional life. We returned to Puerto Rico after three years, I finished my last year of high school and went to the University of Puerto Rico where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in business administration.
After high school, I started playing baseball and softball at the local leagues. In a couple of years, I was selected as a member of the Puerto Rico National Softball team, representing my country at international competitions such as Central American/Caribbean and Pan-American Games, obtaining various gold, silver and bronze medals. I was inducted into my hometown Sports Hall of Fame five years ago.