The only Brazilian named Derek that you get to meet
<p>Olá a todos!</p> <p>Quite unlike the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Valinhos+-+S%C3%A3o+Paulo,+Brazil&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-22.967561,-46.996765&spn=0.176387,0.309334&sll=37.269174,-119.306607&sspn=9.752605,19.797363&oq=valinhos,+sao+paulo&t=h&hnear=Valinhos+-+S%C3%A3o+Paulo,+Brazil&z=12" target="_blank">tropics I grew up</a> in, I live in foggy San Francico!</p> <p>I left the countryside of Brazil for the Golden State at age 18. I came as an AuPair (a live-in nanny) and took care of six-year old twin girls. Yes, two of them...I do love kids, but I'm glad that I'm done with that chapter for now. </p> <p>The plan was not to really move here, but I decided to throw myself in this journey. It meant I had to grow up fast. I'm proud to say I kept three jobs at one point, including keeping a shop for custom bike frames that was also a fancy olive oil store (that stuff only happens in Berkeley, seriously).</p> <p>I started Jr College, worked hard, and applied to Universities. Turns out Berkeley digged my application, and I got in. I'll be posting an embarassing video of me crying out of happiness here soon. The biggest honor only came after, and turns out I was granted the top scholarship on campus. </p> <p>That showed me that hard work, humility, and courage can make anything happen. It is exaclty those things that bring me to indiegogo today--apart from the simplicity of Equalize Youth, and its unique social value proposition! </p>