Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Rafael Flores Jr. | Comic Book Writer and Library Assistant

I was born in Dallas Texas, and raised in DFW my whole life. I grew up in a Mexican American household with a lot of older cousins and an older sister who were into stuff like comics, artwork, horror, and gothic culture. Being around that environment helped create the horror comic book writer you see today. Read more>>

Lee Moses | Art Photography from A Maverick

I am from Pennsylvania, city of Philadelphia. Leaving my city of birth to relocate to California, thousands of miles to the west, was a leap of faith. Staying put to what was familiar would definitely be worse than risking failure somewhere else. Imagine a closed door, light beams leaking through the gaps dimly illuminating a room that has become the corral of frustration and discontent. I know what is possible within that light. Everything there inspires me to seek something better. That something does not exist on this side of that door. Philly was/is a tough town, seldom forgiving but always coiled to launch a valuable lesson of survival. Some neighborhoods, mine in particular, never bore the fruits capitalism, instead cultivated varying degrees of frustration. Read more>>

Nyquan Sennett | Model

I am from Houston, Tx. My background up bring my impact because I always wanted to be a role model. I loved fashion and I loved helping people pick out their outfits. As I got older I started to find different styles that fitted me. I always like to stand out and my character speaks who I am today. I was inspired also by my mom. She model back in the way & it gave me confidence and made me feel royalty the image of being on a cover and how the picture captured you. I loved those things and took the chance to model. Since then and now I made history and made my dreams come true. Read more>>