Shownotes
At five years old, he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with his mother, hidden on a bus. At twelve, he crossed again—this time on foot, in the cold, through a desert canyon. Years later, Abrahan served in the United States Marine Corps, completed two deployments in the Middle East, and earned his U.S. citizenship.
In this extraordinary episode, Abrahan sits down with Kristen Cerelli to share a story rarely told with such clarity, humor, and humility:
- 🇲🇽 What it meant to be “illegal” at five—and why he thought his whole family was in trouble
- 🧭 The emotional and physical toll of two border crossings before the age of 13
- 🎒 What 12 schools in 12 grades taught him about adaptability and empathy
- 🎖️ Why he enlisted in the U.S. military—and how it shaped, strained, and ultimately stretched him
- 🎭 How acting, self-reflection, and solitude became his path back to joy
- ❤️ The promise he made to his mother as a child—and how it still drives him today
This is a conversation about immigration—but also about what it means to belong, and how we carry the legacy of our family, culture, and trauma into every new identity we forge.
🔗 Related Resources
💬 Favorite Quote
“For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I have to take care of anyone else. I can take care of myself. And it’s beautiful.”
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