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For Erik, the path to his dream career didn’t follow a straight line. From taking a break after high school to earning his college degree and working at NBC 7 San Diego, Erik’s journey is a story of patience, purpose, and perseverance.
Discovering His Direction
Growing up in San Diego, Erik was always drawn to storytelling. He first picked up a camera at church, helping run the Sunday mass livestream. That experience planted a seed for what would later become his career in broadcasting and production.
However when high school ended, Erik wasn’t sure what came next. He joined Reality Changers’ College Academy during his senior year, which gave him the tools to apply to college and imagine a future he hadn’t thought was possible. Still, when he tried a four-year university right after graduation, it didn’t feel like the right fit.
Taking a Step Back, Then Moving Forward
“I think I just wasn’t ready yet,” Erik says. “I passed some classes, failed others, and realized I needed to take a step back. I had to work, figure out life, and come back stronger.”
Rather than seeing that pause as a setback, Erik turned it into an opportunity to reset. He worked full-time, saved up to buy a car, and eventually decided to start again.
He enrolled at San Diego City College, where he earned an associate’s degree in business before transferring to San Francisco State University to study broadcasting and cinema.
“At first, I thought business would give me something general to fall back on,” he recalls. “But sitting in those accounting and economics classes, I just kept thinking, ‘Where are the cameras?’ ‘Why am I not in a studio right now?’”
At SF State, Erik rediscovered his passion for storytelling. He threw himself into film and broadcast projects, learning every angle of production: from editing to directing. “Broadcasting came naturally to me,” he says. “It just felt right.”
The Power of Persistence
When Erik reconnected with Reality Changers, it was during a time of transition. He was ready to take the next step in his career and wanted guidance from someone in the industry. Through the organization’s alumni mentorship program, he was paired with Omari, a mentor who worked at NBC 7 San Diego.
“That connection changed everything,” Erik says. “Omari reminded me that if I stayed true to my dream, I’d find my way back. Follow your dreams. Just go for it.”
That mentorship led to Erik’s first professional break: an internship at NBC Bay Area, followed by a full-circle moment: landing a job at NBC 7 San Diego, the very station where his mentor worked.
“It was surreal,” he says. “That connection helped open doors, but it was persistence that got me through them.”
Coming Home
Today, Erik works as a part-time fill-in director at NBC 7 and continues to freelance around San Diego, directing live productions and building his network. His ultimate goal is to one day direct for a major national program like Saturday Night Live or The Today Show.
Moving home has also brought him back to the community that helped launch his journey. Now, he’s exploring ways to give back. Whether it’s mentoring students or helping create new digital media opportunities for local youth.
“I really want to give back to Reality Changers’ and find ways to stay involved, because the program did so much for me.” Erik reflects.
Finding His Own Timeline
Looking back, Erik is proud of the path he took to reach his goals. “There’s a lot of pressure to go straight to a four-year university after high school,” he says. “But everyone’s path looks different and that’s okay. Taking a break didn’t mean giving up. It meant giving myself time to grow.”
Erik’s story is proof that success isn’t about how quickly you get there, it’s about staying committed to your vision, even when the road takes a few unexpected turns.
This blog was written by Volunteer Storyteller Victoria A. Sanchez.