Genaro Flores

  Sailing Teaching Assistant As I’m floating in the bay, completely soaked in water and taking the accidental sips of salt water, and with an FJ (13ft two person boat) rolled on its side, also laying on the water, I ask myself, “What did I get myself into?” More intriguingly, “Why do I do this to myself?” To answer the first question, I got myself into a capsize situation that was mainly caused because the student did not ease the main sail in time, but he doesn't know that, yet. Not to worry though, we’ll get the boat right side up in no time and debrief after a warm shower.  These are some occurrences that I manage as a Teaching Assistant for the USC Nautical Science Program. The program takes USC students, both new and experienced sailors, through a unique world where we learn about different types of dinghies (small boats) and keelboats (bigger boats), the rules of the water, and how to be “one with the boat”. I have been fortunate enough to help different classes of stude...

  I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I moved to the Bay Area for high school and came back to LA for university. So I was very fortunate to grow up in a multicultural city like Los Angeles and to also develop in a small town like Portola Valley. I am graduating this semester and foresee myself working in a financial institution. A goal of mine is to get my Captain's license in the near future, depending on how fast I can collect my sea hours. I would also like to travel to Latin American and Eastern European countries to further my language development skills and cultural knowledge. All of these goals require time and dedication, and that's what I plan on doing. Even after graduation, I plan on attending language and sailing school, all in efforts to get closer to my goals. I am similar to my parents in that we are constantly planning for the future and looking/ preparing for potential obstacles and noting how we can overcome them. I am unlike my parents in that they possess...