Raul Cuero: Creating Creativity

I believe it is the utmost triumph for a person to break out of their shell (culture, social group, work group, etc.) and transcend over the expected norms pushed upon that person. Raul Cuero, a talented inventor, came from a unhealthy and illiterate family. Consequently, his abilities intellectually were limited and he therefore turned to basketball as a foundation for himself as an individual. However, when Raul moved to a bigger city, he faced discrimination and the burden that he, as a Columbian and person of that ethnic background, could not be academically advanced. Undoubtedly, he was seen as a talented basketball player but only in the physical sense; it was expected just from his image that he would not be one to be intellectually inclined. For anyone, it would be a hard step to not only take this type of criticism lightly, but also turn it into encouragement rather than discouragement. From the interview with Raul Cuero, I have been enlightened thoroughly on the fact that taking such criticism to heart is only self-destructive; it is through using the expected norms put on you by your outside environment that can motivate you to want more out of your life than what is standard. Raul used the prejudice he faced and translated it into the push he needed to make a more educated life for himself.

Confidently, Raul states that a life without complete intensity for your passion is not going to help you achieve your ultimate goal. Moreover, he believes that committing yourself to a goal and putting all your efforts into it is not only rewarding but also makes the outcome of your efforts more prone to being successful. On a more moral level, Raul believes keeping a universal consciousness throughout your life will bring respect to others but more importantly to yourself. Pertaining to the previous idea, Raul has disregarded the local expectations put on himself and instead utilized the idea that any human can accomplish any obstacle with the self perception of universality. I, myself, cannot say I have received such discrimination like Raul has endured, but I can confidently say I have acquired more knowledge by understanding his strength throughout this hardship. Conclusively, Raul made himself a well pronounced individual not by the usual pattern of one gaining fame through wealth or being a part of a prestigious community, but pushed himself beyond the limits society believed he would never be able to pass.