Aldair Callejas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV USA
"Whatever you want to do, give it your all and don’t hold back. Follow your dreams and don’t let anything stop you."
Career Roadmap
Aldair's work combines: Engineering, Acting & Theatre, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
People have tried to steer me into careers that I did not want to pursue. They've also claimed that I work too hard and I should start doing the minimum. I've realized that you have to stop listening to what others think of you and pursue your own dreams. Go out there, do the work, and give it 100 percent. People are going to try and stop you but don't let them. You go and follow your dreams.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born in Mexico and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, when I was five years old.
2.
From an early age, I knew I was interested in more creative subjects like music and art, but I was also intrigued by engineering.
3.
As a DACA resident, I didn't have as many opportunities available to me in regards to colleges, financial aid, and out-of-state programs, so I learned to utilize mentors for support.
4.
I initially thought I might pursue graphic design in college until one of my high school teachers told me that the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, had a new program for entertainment engineering.
5.
I took her advice and decided to go into UNLV’s entertainment engineering program—it has merged all of my interests: music, art, and engineering.
6.
I reached out to one of the department’s program coordinators for opportunities to gain hands-on experience with shows—I started off small, taking on tasks like managing cables.
7.
In addition to my studies, I work as an assistant sound designer for shows like “Dog Sees God” and “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” at UNLV.
8.
My goal is to learn a little bit of everything—audio, lighting, scenic design, venue design, automation, and coding—so that I’m a person of interest for producing big shows and music festivals.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You shouldn't pursue that career; go for this one instead.
How I responded:
People have tried to steer me into careers that I did not want to pursue. They've also claimed that I work too hard and I should start doing the minimum. I've realized that you have to stop listening to what others think of you and pursue your own dreams. Go out there, do the work, and give it 100 percent. People are going to try and stop you but don't let them. You go and follow your dreams.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
We left my extended family when we moved to the U.S. It's really hard at times because I'm not able to go back and visit my hometown or my family. It's a goal of mine to be able to visit again and make them proud with my accomplishments.
I'm the first in my family to go to college, but as a DACA resident, there aren't as many opportunities open to me. These limits and fear of being deported have made it hard to consider opportunities, find the right direction, and pursue my dreams.