Yisel Arias shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Yisel, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of building, and molding into the woman I am destined to become in this world. Shedding the old version of myself that no longer lives within me. That no longer serves me. I am proud of building the foundation within me in what I was born on this earth to do. That is to change the world. To inspire, motivate, and empower the next generation of athletes to come. I am not the same person I was a year ago and I won’t be the same person I am now in a years time. I am falling in love with my own journey to become who I am set out to be in this world. That is the Face of ESPN and worldwide positive changer.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Yisel Arias I am the face of sports. I am a twenty two year old sports reporter pursuing a career in the sports field at ESPN. At just the age of eighteen years old that is when I made the decision to create my own sports reporting platform called Alpha Athlete Vision. As a former athlete, I know what it’s like to put in the countless hours for the love of the game we play as athletes. I wanted to create a platform where it shines light on athletes. To provide athletes with coverage I didn’t receive during my time. It is about giving back to the athletes who put in the countless hours into their craft. To provide them the recognition, and opportunity to share their voices at a young age. It is about creating something bigger than sports that is a worldwide change for athletes for generations to come. I know what it’s like to be an athlete. During my time there was not many coverage on sports especially sports reporting. I know this is my calling. This is what I was born to do in my life. To pave the way for athletes to come. To inspire anybody with a dream, and goal. I started as a senior in Highschool with a passion, and dream. There was no book in how to start. I just did. Nobody will understand the drive unless they have it themselves. I am already working at ESPN. I know it in my mind, and body. Even know people question how am I going to do it, I don’t know how. I do know is that I’m going to do whatever it takes. Nobody will understand it unless they have it themselves.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the relationship I have with my mother. For as long as I can remember she installed in me not only by her words but her actions she shows me everyday that I don’t need anybody. I grew up with my mom telling me “Don’t rely on anybody, you don’t need anyone. You may want them but you don’t need them”. So when you grow up listening to those words you grow up to be a beautiful dangerous woman. Dangerous in a good way of course. I was raised to not rely on anybody for anything. That is what shaped me. That my life is up to me. There is nobody coming to safe me. Nobody is going to just give me an opportunity. I must go out there, and take what is mine. I mean how many girls grow up with their mom telling them that. I did. I am grateful for my mom helping me, and continuing to help mold me into the woman I am set out to be in this world. Most importantly she loves me. She supports me. She believes in me sometimes more than i believe in myself. I will be grateful to be just 1% percent of the woman she is in this world. She is the alpha in her family, and ours. I know I am the hers, and my families alpha female.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I will never give up however there were times this year where certain situations did not plan out the way I have intended them too in my head. It led to me feeling frustrated, questioning what is next, and how I was going to do it. I would go outside to look at the sky, and I would question so many things when it came to my plan in life especially my career. I feel that I am a rush to accomplish so many things in my life at the age that I am, that I forget it’s about the journey. I feel like I really had, and continue to just believe. Believe that the things that I thought would happen didn’t for a reason. Even though I may be frustrated or disappointed in the moment. I now have the mindset instead of just telling myself “well It didn’t happen so maybe I should just give up” now it’s more like “everything is happening for my highest good. I may not understand now but soon I will know why it didn’t work out.” I really just had to work on my change of perspective. Easier said than done, of course. I won’t ever give up. What kind of message would that be to the next generation of athletes with a dream. Don’t ever give up. Everything happens for a reason. Hard work always pays off. No matter the time frame.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me I would say is only a part of the whole individual that I am. My sports career, let alone sports alone is a big part of the individual I am, but it is not the only thing that defines who I am. What I leave behind me is my legacy. How I want to be remembered. That is the character that I am. How I am seen on the public through my sports platforms that is me. As an individual who loves sports with all my heart. We all have different sides to ourselves as individuals. My platforms people see a sports woman who loves what she does, and the change she is making. At the end of the day I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a cousin. I am a niece. I am me. I have many different personalities, and sides people may or may not see. In reality I am very shy. I grew up very shy. People wouldn’t think that after looking at my sports platform. So yes the public version of me is my real me. That is my work, I love what I do but it does not define all of who I am. I am a woman who gets to do what she loves. How many get to say that.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What light inside you have you been dimming?
The light inside me that I have been dimming would be the light I have within me. I feel that in this lifetime we become different versions of ourselves as individuals. I feel that sometimes we lose ourselves in order to become the best version of ourselves. I feel that this year has become a year of becoming the best version of myself and remembering what I was born here to do. Yet losing a piece of myself. I feel like I did forget who I was, and I have to take myself to places where it will help me become the best version of myself. I just want to remind people to take care of themselves. That is the most important. Do why makes you happy. Especially if you have the opportunity to make your dreams happen don’t mess it up, don’t waste it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Theyiselariaschavez
- Linkedin: Theyiselariaschavez
- Twitter: Theyiselariaschavez
- Youtube: Theyiselariaschavez
Image Credits
Mack Pane
@mackpane
