José Ruiz - Coach | Made in America
The following is the transcript of an interview between Sergio Muñoz and Coach José Ruiz
Sergio: Please describe your childhood home?
José: I was raised in New York City in an apartment building in the Bronx. My parents were renters. I lived in a beige brick building. It had six floors and we lived on the third floor, which was actually the second floor. I went to school diagonally across the street from where I lived, public school P.S. 76. In the 70’s the neighborhood was predominantly Italian but in just a couple of years it became primarily a Latin community. Our apartment was a two bedroom and I lived there with my mom and my dad. After about two years, things got complicated my parents separated. I was getting picked on a lot because I was skinny and my mom wanted to thicken me up. She would make me oatmeal, eggs, bread, orange juice and I remember that I couldn’t eat all of it. I was being force fed and I remember thinking I couldn’t go out because I would get picked on and I couldn’t stay in either because I felt picked on by my mother. It felt like a double whammy.
Sergio: Where were you and your family economically?
José: The first couple of years, things seemed good economically. My mom was a sales representative for Avon and my father was a hard worker with two jobs. He would leave early in the morning and come home past midnight. My dad moved out when I was 10 years old, He was a good dad who always made his presence felt in my life.. He would come to see me at school and spend time with me. He always helped my mom and I out economically as best he could, but it was never enough. My mom stopped working in Avon to focus on raising me. She raised me with an iron hand, and I am very grateful for it. I remember when it was 6pm she would call me from the window to come upstairs and I would answer, but the other kids are still out and she will reply. I don’t care about the other kids, they are not my son you are. Come upstairs now! When my mom and dad separated and she stopped working, economically we became poor. I didn’t realize until I grew up how many times my mom didn’t eat so that I could eat. Those were sad times.
Sergio: How do you identify?
José: I identify myself as a Christian believer.
Sergio: Where do you live today?
José: Today I live in a totally different environment in Irvine, California. I live in a very luxurious resort style apartment complex that has multiple pools, playgrounds, tennis courts, nature, mountains. The building is sand colored and it’s a one bedroom. I live with my wife and with a sheepdog named Einstein. The apartment has a balcony. There is so much to do within this community. We rent this home.
Sergio: Have you ever owned a home?
José: Yes, I purchased a home in Guayaquil, Ecuador. A three bedroom two bathroom with a big backyard. It had a lot of luxury amenties similar to the home I live in now. I bought it with the intention of engaging the business there since I had the business already for five years.
Sergio: What was the business?
José: We had a swim school business with the focus on drowning prevention. We started the business in Manhattan Beach California in 2010. In 2011, we moved the business to Ecuador and we operated it total of ten years. I am currently a swim instructor and drowning prevention advocate in Irvine, and am look to get the business going again, God willing.
Sergio: Who is doing better, 16YO José or José today?
José: José today is doing better. Then 16 year old Jose. I am blessed and have a lot to be thankful for.. I’ve lived through so many hard situations. God is merciful and good to me. I have faced the barrel of a gun multiple times. In New York, I had to commute three hours by train to my first year at St Johns University. One time, in the tunnel on my way to the train, I got stuck walking to the platform and coming towards me was a gang of 12 young men. Changing direction drastically is a sign of weakness so I continued walking on-guard and I could hear them scheming and I had to go into survival mode as they began to chase me. I thought that if I could get to the end of the tunnel, I could jump on the train if its waiting and I’ll be ok. If the train is not there, I’ll be trapped so, I began running and at the end of the tunnel, I decided to run into the tunnel. There was no room and there was no light. The deeper I would go, the darker it would get. The ledge in the tunnel was a foot wide and I had to run my hand against the wall to find myself. I prayed that the train wouldn’t come while I was in the tunnel because I thought it would be certain death because I couldn’t see. I prayed so hard and I started to hear the rumbling of the train approaching me. My worst fear was coming true and the only thing I could do was pray and hug the wall. If any part of my backpack or my body got caught by the train, I would not be here today. I am definitely better today.
Sergio: Do you have an understanding of the concept of “Prosperity?”
José: I want to make a difference in the world and I want my impact to continue even when I am not here. I want to bring drowning prevention swim programs and consciousness to as many people possible. This is need because their children are their most valuable treasures and drowning is one of the leading causes of death between 6 month to 14 years of age and it is preventable with early child hood teaching. Sometimes prosperity is what fulfills you but for me making a difference in the community. Saving lives is its own form of fulfillment. I want a drowning prevention swim program that builds trust in this community. I want it to be my legacy.
#Intelatin #Media #SwimSafety #Lifeguard
Sergio C. Muñoz is a Mexican banker writing on Latina/o Prosperity. His work has been featured in the US Hispanic Business Council; Caló, the Los Angeles Times, the OC Register, PBS, NPR, WNYC, Revista - Harvard Review of Latin America, Studio 360, Latino Leaders Magazine, Poder Hispanic, Sopitas, Animal Político & ¿México Cómo Vamos?
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