Eduardo Verastegui breaks down barriers

Not Your Average Kid: YouTube star Eduardo Verastegui breaks down barriers
Posted on 12/19/2018
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By: Jade Wise & Dwight Henson
Pasadena ISD Communications






From the moment Eduardo Verastegui stepped into the production studio of the Lewis Career and Technical High School, where he has studied audio and video production for the last four years, it’s clear that the high school senior is no stranger to being in front of a camera. 

Eduardo, an immigrant from Mexico, has amassed over 314,000 followers on his YouTube channel where he creates Spanish videos, documenting life in his new country for an audience who wants to know what life in America is like.

“I try to share the positive things about this country because there is no need to spread negativity on the Internet,” said Eduardo. “It makes me feel humbled and honored to be able to share my message, my story, my thoughts and ideas with people across the world.” 

Eduardo learned at a very early age that blending into the crowd was never an option for him, so instead, he decided to stand out and inspire others, both in person and online. 

Born with distinctive facial features caused by Goldenhar Syndrome, a rare birth defect that causes abnormal development of his eye, ear and spine, Eduardo has dealt with questions about his appearance throughout his life.

“A lot of people ask me about it, especially on the Internet, which is where people behind a screen feel more free to ask questions or state their opinions,” said Eduardo. “I used to feel discouraged about it but not anymore. I realized that it's not something that I should let affect me, my mental state, my desire to be a better person or from seeking the future that I want.”

As he sits down in front of the camera, his eyes burn with passion and a smile comes across his face. In perfect English, he asks technical questions about the interview as the microphone is attached to his navy blue vest.   

It’s quite an accomplishment considering that just five years ago, when Eduardo and his family moved to the U.S. from Mexico, he could barely say the word “microphone” in English.

“I used to speak very little English, just the basics. I had to learn almost from scratch,” said Eduardo.

Being an online content creator and having a passion for video, Eduardo turned to the Internet and committed time outside of class to watching English videos, in order to overcome the language barrier.

“What better way to learn the language than actually hearing conversational English? It really helped me a lot,” said Eduardo. “I've also been practicing a lot in school. I always aim to speak as much English as I can with my family and friends...I feel like practice is what makes you master anything you aim to learn.”

Becoming fluent in English is something that Eduardo placed a high priority on because he hopes to pursue a future career in Digital Media and Communications. 

Recently, that dream became a little closer to reality for him as he was conditionally accepted, pending his high school graduation, to Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida.

“A lot of people consider Full Sail University to be the Harvard for AV (audio and video) production,” said Eduardo. “I am really positive about this because I feel that it has everything that I need to be able to succeed in life.” 

He credits the opportunities he received at the Lewis Career and Technical High School for helping him build a foundation for a successful future.

“Being able to attend CTHS has given me constant opportunities. It has helped me get my foot in the door to a lot of things that I probably wouldn't have been able to achieve in another high school,” said Eduardo. “I feel like it has helped me in filling my resume with experiences and seeing what the industry actually looks like.”

Even with all his personal successes and the obstacles he has overcome, Eduardo finds the most satisfaction in being an inspiration and delivering a message that is meaningful to others.

“The best advice that I could give to anyone who is looking into pursuing a career in audio and video production would definitely be open to learning new things,” said Eduardo. “That is something that I always keep in mind because AV is a really extensive branch, there is a lot of things you can do. There is a lot of competition in this industry and it's something that you have to be on the lookout for and always learn new things and pick up new technology.”

An immigrant, a YouTube star and an inspiration, Eduardo Verastegui is anything but an average kid.