el CAMINO de MARIO

(Mario’s path)

Having bet on myself for the last five years, there’s no chance in hell I could ever go back.

I could have turned this into a post, instead of a page. I also could have written a book talking about who I am, where I came from, where I am going.

This page focuses on the last 5 years, though so much of my life has been shaped prior. This small snippet of my memoir is where I share my path back to creativity, or in Paulo Coelho fashion, the Alchemy of my creator journey. I was (and am starting to reclaim my identity as) an inventor, a creative young boy eager to make things and discover the alchemy of design, of engineering and of life. This website and all the things within it and outside of it are the ingredients to who I am becoming.

As a child, I was an avid inventor. I creatEd whatever came to my head. My Erector (Meccano) and Lego sets became raw materials as I formed new creations with them and other things I could find. This early passion for innovation led me to earn a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (or I’d like to think so), followed by working as a systems engineer… but then the path ended…

My focus shifted, with it primarily concentrated on my personal and spiritual development, searching for my next steps. Reflecting on my childhood, and healing various aspects of myself has been such a beautiful journey which I share all about here.

Quitting my engineering job provided me with the first exposure to self-reliance, the attitude that my path is much better than any other prescribed path, even though it was often unknown.

Later, living in an intentional community with great people who were seeking a similar non-traditional (deeper) path opened more doors than I could have otherwise in this season of my life.

Becoming a teacher deepened my understanding of being human, my blessings, and of engineering and design. I grew more aware of life beyond my immediate spheres of influence. Having experienced those three years, I am dedicated to participating in activities that promote inclusive design. There’s simply no way to ignore it after seeing the affects of its absence.

Creating Courageously has allowed me to embrace my humanity and creativity as an engineer in a much more substantial way. I can create for the sake of bringing ideas to life. Answering the call of the muse whenever she visits. No fear in creation. I go into the details below.

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The years from 2020 to 2023 were among of the more challenging and transformative of my life, representing both the culmination of my hopes and my fears. The COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly a significant catalyst in this journey. Of course, it is but a single catalyst in this journey. Let’s begin.

To start, I accepted a full-time position from Leonardo DRS as a systems engineering intern; transitioning from intern to part-time to full-time.

More elaborate adventures were inspired by previous challenges. When you become inspired by seemingly impossible goals and yet still pursue them, something special begins to happen. I began to recognize who I am and who I am not.

Having finished my century ride without any real training or proper equipment, I found the next adventure. It was pure happenstance that my Google Maps panned a little too far to a random trail labeled “Coast to Coast” connector. I soon learned it spanned across my state and the trailhead was only 25 miles from my apartment at the time. So on Saturday, December 26, 2020, I set out with no plan to bike the C2C trail. I was greeted that morning with six strangers setting out to do the same thing I was. So that began my trip with these six wonderful people. Sometimes, you just have to dive in headfirst and trust that things will work out. More often than not, they do.

I had been grappling with the decision to pursue passion projects and my business full-time. This meant I needed to leave my “safe” and “secure” career engineering job, which I spent a long time desperately seeking. After the C2C trip, I decided once again to bet on myself. I resigned the first week of February 2021.

happiness vs. joy vs. Joy

In May of that year, my friend and I backpacked a short section of the Appalachian Trail, from Clingman’s Dome to the Nantahala Outdoor Center. I would love to one dayy thru-hike the entire trail. So this adventure was a chance to immerse myself in the experience and to get a preview of what it would be like. But the greater gift came from what I learned along the way. After a hellish day of freezing rain and wind as we exited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we found ourselves soaked and exhausted in a hotel room at Fontana Dam Resort. I just remember feeling so joyful. I cried. I felt a deep and overwhelming sense of peace while sitting on my bed at 1am. It was in that moment I understood, in a profound way, the difference between happiness and Joy. Happiness is fleeting, dependent on circumstances, while Joy (capital ‘J’ Joy) is something far deeper. I have come to know it as an enduring state of happiness that thrives even in discomfort.

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say,

‘It is well, it is well with my soul!’

Horatio Spafford

In the months that followed the trip, I entered a period of deep desolation. Every day, I grappled with a host of fears, some familiar, others unknown, that surfaced incessantly. I guess the pursuit of greatness often encounters paths of solitude; it comes with the territory. I began to understand what Steven Pressfield called “Resistance”, which for me frequently manifests as fear, especially during moments of great significance. My inner demons were quick to remind me of all the reasons I couldn’t succeed. At the time, it was incredibly difficult. Now, however, I’ve come to welcome them as companions on my journey, realizing they are simply part of the process.

I was toying with the idea of serving with AmeriCorps during the Spring of 2021. I yearned for some expression of my heart and my gifts. After many weeks of analyzing options, I decided to create a profile bio on the Catholic Volunteer Network website. A week later, the recruiter at Bon Secours reached out to offer me the application for their year-long Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry program.

In August 2021, I committed to the program and flew to Richmond, VA where I found myself forming a new family. A family which grew throughout my time in Richmond. My life would once again change forever.

As part of our service program, we were assigned to various service sites within the Richmond, VA community. I spent my year volunteering at Cristo Rey Richmond High School, contributing to their Corporate Work Study Program. It was also during this time that I met my now wife, who was in the same program. Here is a piece I wrote during my volunteer year.

After a year, I transitioned to teaching Physics and Engineering as a full-time educator and embraced my bowtie ⋈ persona. I had the privilege of empowering students from diverse backgrounds to explore opportunities in STEM and being empowered to do the same. Together, we honed our critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which not only broadened their horizons but also opened new avenues for my own personal and professional growth.

After three years, we’ve chosen to chase new dreams. New Haven, CT is now our home and the setting for our upcoming adventures.

Teaching in Richmond was the reason I strive to create courageously and it is the reason for this website, among other things. I am actively honing my creative skills as I embark on building businesses. This process involves not only developing innovative ideas and solutions but also learning to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship. By engaging in diverse projects, I am expanding my ability to create.

The story continues…