There are so many factors that affect how our lives turn out, but one of the most interesting is how our backgrounds give us unique strengths and perspectives that affect who we are as adults. We asked rising stars from the community to tell us about their background and upbringing and how they feel it’s impacted who they are today.

Kirsten Hill

I am from a small town in Louisiana called Amelia. It’s a little over an hour away from the majors cities like Lafayette, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge. I grew up with a single parent but it’s a unique experience that I utilized as motivation for the success I have now and the success to come. Read More>>

Rachelle Houston

I am originally from Chicago, IL, but I spent my summers in Alabama with my grandfather, where I learned both golf and entrepreneurship. He owned a roofing company and was the first Black man to own a Par 3 golf course in Selma, AL. During the school year, I was raised by my aunt, a single parent who worked tirelessly to support her son and me. Read More>>

Emmanuel Isai Lopez Martinez

The beginning of my journey began way back, maybe when I was around 8 or 9 years of age. I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León; a growing city surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Mexico. My life and memories as a child are very much intact, and vivid. My father worked in a tech company, graduated uni with a bachelors degree in engineering. Read More>>

Sean “Sdot” Mascoll

I come from a rich cultural and spiritual background that has played a major role in shaping the person I am today. My family is originally from Barbados, W.I., and I grew up in Brooklyn, NY—two environments that instilled in me a deep appreciation for both my Caribbean roots and the hustle and resilience that come with being raised in New York City. Read More>>

Hickman L.A.

I’m from Highland Park, a neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. I was born in 1992—the same year as the LA Riots—and grew up a ‘90s kid all about hip-hop, superheroes, action movies, and fighting games. My mom raised me on her own with a lot of help from my grandma. She introduced me to Hip-Hop at a young age, and being from LA, Tupac was naturally my favorite rapper. Read More>>