We were lucky to catch up with Chris Ortiz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chris , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Excellent question, I can’t point to any singular incident or day that I knew this was a path for me. What I can say is that the constant grind of being an educator can be a taxing one. In the eyes of many we are seen as public enemy number one and I really can’t understand why. On the other end we are constantly given “one more task” with nothing being removed from our already full plate. The kids are the redeeming portion of the job and quite frankly the biggest reason why we continue to show up. With all that being said there is a pervasive feeling of burning our candle at both ends. This is where the idea of making a career out of my creative streak was born. Teaching and coaching is fun and I hope to continue to do it for years to come, I want to do more though, and on my terms. The educational system for better or worse operates by putting people in a box. At this stage of my life that box has gotten way too small and claustrophobic. Creating a life built around my writing would allow me the freedom and flexibility to do the things I want when I want. It is becoming increasingly apparent to me that we only get one shot at this thing called life, so we best make the best of it. Tomorrow is not guaranteed so we must enjoy the now.

Chris , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an educator by trade, I have taught at the same school “Knox JHS” for the last twenty years. Being in the classroom has taught me the importance and value of story telling. Everyone has a unique story that gives context to who they are and what they will become. This simple fact gave me the confidence to share my stories through the written word. The things that are deep inside my heart were very similar to what my students were experiencing. So I decided to write stories from my perspective to help clue young people on their experiences. If you take a careful look at my work you can see the relatability just from a different angle. “Dear Momma” is an ode to the mother and son relationship. “Drive Slow” is about a father and son taking the time to enjoy life without being in a rush. “My Wish” is told from a coach’s perspective as he shares the real life lessons we want our kids to garner from sport. “We Got Next” is about misunderstood kids in the school setting whose talents can fly under the radar because their teachers may not recognize them. Finally my last work “Flow State” is about the value martial arts can impart on our young people when they start training. I have simply taken the things from my life that were formative and condensed them into children’s books. These books have actually inspired me to chase a new dream and that is to get Brazilian Jiu Jitsu into the public educational setting. I am in the legacy portion of my career and doing something that will change the game is what I am focused on at this moment.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There is something special about the process of going from idea to a tangible creation. I am fascinated with the driving force that lives inside us that wants to give birth to our mental revelations. Once we delve into this force it is almost as if a door has been opened and continues to widen with each and every project. It is not so much about the end result but the struggle which has become addicting to me. I can compare it to lifting weights where the beauty lies in the process and not so much in the result. With each repetition I can feel all aspects of the process getting better. That may be why some artist do not create their masterpiece until much later in life. Once that gem is created though you best believe people always want to go back and revisit their earlier work and see what they missed. For anyone that has even the slightest urge to create I encourage you to do it at least once and see where it leads you. I promise you will grow in many aspects of your life. The act of daring and taking a great risk will make you a more bold human being. When we surrender ourselves and release the work into the world we make ourselves vulnerable. By doing so we may cease our rush to judge people so harsh and frequently. The benefits are endless and I could go on for days but will drop the mic right here.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, I would love to break the golden handcuffs that reside on my wrist. I have watched as important people in my life have passed on to the other side. I was in the room when Covid took my fathers life and I have spoken at the funeral of former students. Life on earth is not promised and can be over in the blink of an eye. I simply want the freedom to live on my terms. I have figured out the amount of money I need to make this a reality. If I can obtain this set amount then I know freedom has been obtained. I do not wish to quit teaching and coaching per se but if I want to take a day or week off to do the things that make me happy that would be great. Working in education for anyone that cares deeply about what they do can be both the best of times and worst. The young people remind us to be optimistic because of their energy and exuberance for life. That is what wakes me up in the morning but the part that sometimes hurts my heart is when I care more about the well being of my students than they do. The balance is off and in turn the energy is not good. I have not been able to successfully turn that part of my heart and brain off yet. Quite frankly it may never shut off but that may be a personal problem. Regardless I will continue to punch in each and everyday until my goal has been obtained. Worst case scenario I never “make it” but leave behind a legacy of teaching and coaching that I can be proud of. I just to want my life force to be extinguished before my time comes. Hopefully it will not!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coachortiz.com
• Instagram: chrisortiz3946
• Facebook: Chris Ortiz
• Linkedin: Christopher Ortiz
• Twitter: @BeSomone09
• Youtube: chrisortiz2945
• Other: Tik Tok: @CoachOrtiz09

Image Credits

Credit to: Christina Flores and Carol Carter