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

📘 It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn – On inherited family trauma and healing
🧭 TCOM (Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management) – Person-centered tools for change agents
🌍 ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) – Understanding the long-term impacts of early adversity
🎖️ Military Path to Citizenship – USCIS
🎭 Resources for Veterans in the Arts

💬 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.”

🎧 If You Liked This Episode…

EP13: I Just Wanted It to End – Richie Barlow’s journey from childhood trauma to business ownership
EP15: I Raised Myself – Mary Grace Lim on immigration, survival, and forgiveness

Additional Resources

Credits

Hosted by Kristen Cerelli
Cover art by @jacksonfall
Theme Music by Kristen Cerelli. Additional music by Ray Wyssman and The Simoleons
Podcast production by Timothy Fall