We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eric Rosas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Eric, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

A legacy is a foundation built by a person who regardless of all obstacles they are facing or are going through, whether at a young age or at the very current moment, they always find a way to overcome those obstacles and come out on top. A legacy is build by a person who humbles themselves to others so that this person can become a proper role model to newer generations and can be of an assistance when needed by those newer generations of people. A legacy shows that if this person can achieve and rise above obstacles, then anyone else can no matter the circumstances and that is what I hope people will say about my legacy after I am gone. I would like to be remembered as a person who never gave up on dreams and aspirations and loved what they did, and did what they loved.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Greetings,

My name is Eric Rosas and I am a First Generation Mexican-American born and raised in the city of Chicago. My parents come from Guanajuato, Mexico. I am an individual that was born with Spina Bifida, a condition and birth defect that affects the spine and causes many obstacles throughout the life span of the individual affected by the condition. First, I would like to say I am grateful with God and my parents because without them, there is no me. As for my career, I can say, I am a jack of all trades, as I am currently a Broadcast IT Systems Engineer for ABC-7 Chicago/The Walt Disney Company, a Photographer, as well as a Musician. My career within these fields has been filled with lots of joy and accomplishment. I developed the love for technology during my high school years. Ever since then, I knew this is what I wanted to do on a full scale. I love working with people and providing them with the best technology expertise so that their lives can become much easier when it comes to technology and as technology advances. I also am grateful that I am able to help Latino individuals with their technology needs, especially when language becomes a barrier. Regarding my condition with Spina Bifida, and given a chance at life, I wanted to push myself within my technology career. However, I never thought that my journey would bring me to ABC-7 Chicago. I am grateful and it has been a pleasure working with so many talented individuals and to bring the best possible technology experience that they have had.

They say without music, there is no joy in life. Hence, the reason why I became a musician. Throughout my childhood struggles such as hospital visits and surgical procedures, I knew that I had to uplift my spirit somehow later in life. I discovered how much joy music brings to one self, hence deciding that I wanted to pursue a musical career. Therefore, I became a keyboardist and since then, I have had the opportunity to spread the joy of music throughout the Mexican music scene in Chicago. From playing at family parties, neighborhood gatherings, and large venues, I have made sure, the crowd felt the same joy as I did when playing these melodies.

A picture says a thousand words and when you put technology and art together, they make a perfect combination. I believe this is the reason why I chose to become a photographer. The process behind photography is just not a camera, it is learning the mechanics, the inside technologies from settings, to the technical lighting adjustments, to the final editing process. Understanding these technologies behind photography have made me believe that I can bring a unique style of photography to the world hence creating Eric Rosas Photography. The understanding of the technical scale of photography has made me specialize in many photography styles such as fashion, editorial, family portrait, and business portraits. I also love bringing confidence to people within a picture and make sure they are aware of their outer and inner beauty.

Growing up with Spina Bifida has not been easy but I am grateful that I am able to do what I love and perform normal tasks, hence the reason why I call this condition a “gift”. A gift that has allowed me to live life to the fullest and that has given me an opportunity to fulfill my goals when working on technology, music, and photography. I will continue to make sure I give it my all and work my best. This is why I believe my career, my business, and services are unique, and the fact that I am able to bring such a joyful experience to other individuals whether if it’s with technology services, through my music, through my photography, it brings me a complete satisfaction about my work and my life as whole. It becomes a complete full circle moment.

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

My goal and mission is to hopefully inspire people that regardless of what they are going through, or what they have gone through, they can make things work if they work hard for them. I want to inspire not only Latino’s but all people, that if they have aspirations in life, to please work on those things they love to do, to do it and not live with the regret of “what if”. I also want to inspire not just young Latino’s but young people as a whole and make sure they can see that, whatever they put their mind, heart, and love into, they will achieve success and greatness. Life is not just about settling for less but to work on your goals and dreams. As my parents have said to me “mijo, you have to live off an aspiration”. As a person who was technically given a second chance at life, I want to make sure I live off these aspirations and show the world that they can to and do what they love and love what they do.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I am grateful that I was able to find the required resources to fulfill my studies, fulfill the desire to learn music, and fulfill the teachings behind technology. I am grateful that I was able to find organizations who support individuals with Spina Bifida. I had to work hard, speak loud enough so that my teachers, and mentors could hear my motivation and drive that all of this is what I wanted to accomplish. I kept looking and looking, researching until I finally found the resources I was looking for, from resume building, to music schools, to photography mentors, I was able to find all the help I can get and I am very grateful for that. I believe most resources are easily accessible now for so many people hence why I want to encourage people to accomplish their aspirations and goals because the resources are there, we just have to look for them. The internet, talking to people, knocking on doors, all these are huge resources, we just have to set our mind to it and be positive about every failure and successful outcome.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erosasphoto/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-rosas-9948a51a9/

Image Credits
Image Credits: Sergio Meza Photography – IG: @sergiomezaphotographer