Episode Transcript
This isn't just a podcast, it's a reminder. A reminder of what makes America Stronger isn't a headline or a hashtag. It's people from the ones building our homes to the ones rebuilding their lives, veterans, tradesmen, neighbors and volunteers, real people doing real things. Here we find common ground first, and then we work on our differences.
This is the collective perspective podcast where purpose, people, and progress mean. Hey everybody. Welcome back to the Collective Perspective podcast. And today we're here with my good friend, Edwin Oro. Hey, Edwin. What's up? Hey, what's up man? Honor to be here. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, if you don't know Edwin Oreo, this is an introduction to a great man, a man of God, and he's also a teacher, which I don't know if you know the climate of, uh, being a teacher these days, but it's not the easiest job in the world.
It's probably the most underpaid job that should have more money. Oh, absolutely. I'm sure you can agree with that. Oh yeah. A hundred percent. A hundred percent. So, uh, Edwin has gone through the ranks of Teacher of the Year for his school. Yeah. Uh, 20, 23, 24. Yeah. I, I was a teacher of the year. You know, I was really surprised with it.
Um. I got actually nominated back in 2017 and I was like one point away from being Teacher of the year back in 2017. But uh, I did get a teacher of the year and top five for the county for school year 23, 24. That's a great, great accomplishment, uh, being a teacher man. 'cause there's such a huge field of them.
I mean, there's teachers. Hundreds of teachers, right? Yes. Oh, I mean, I, I've spoken to a lot of teachers and this is like, their almost kind of like their life goal. You wanna be able to reach that level. And I'm there sitting back, uh, I'm just there because I love being there. You know, I love hanging out with the kids and just, you know, how do you get nominated for something like that?
Um, it's a collaboration between students and teachers. Uh, they have a poll that they, they send out like email wise and they, you know. They write down that they speak highly of whoever, teacher. Then at the, uh, end of the day, they'll choose about five teachers, and, uh, they'll actually surprise you. They'll come to your classroom and, uh, you've been nominated and, uh, yeah.
Then you have some due diligence that you need to do, write some essays. Then at the end, end of a couple months, then they'll choose the teacher of the year. That's pretty remarkable, man. Um, uh, quite of accomplishment. Thank you. It's definitely something to put on your fireplace if you have one in Florida, right?
I have a fake one. You have a fake. Um, so Edwin and I met at a church. Mm-hmm. And Edwin has his hands and a lot of. Field of audio, video and lighting. Uh, I mean, heck, before this episode we were working on the lighting for the show. If you haven't noticed, it's a lot better. And he's also a videographer, uh, professionally out in town, uh, his own private business with his wife Joyce.
And, uh, like I said, a man of God. And, uh, what else do you do for the church? Um, I do a lot of. Props. I love doing, um, like visual aids for, for our pastors. Uh, if there's special events, uh, or like Easter or you know, if they're looking for some kind of, some kind of a prop, then, you know, anything styrofoam I can pretty much create, you know, I love being able to build things in, you know, for that matter pretty much.
Nice. And for the church, do you, you also play bass, right? Yes. So my main instrument is bass. Okay. Um, but I kind of move around. I'm more of a floater player, so if there's a campus that needs a, a keyboard player, then I'll go there and play keys. Um, you know, like a couple of campuses. I was there for a couple years playing keys.
If there's another campus that needs a guitar player or a bass player, then I kind of move around. I have this thing on the show that if you play an instrument like a bass, you gotta show us your bass face. Can you show us your bass face? Oh my God. I don't know. I squash my face, Lord. I don't know. I a ecker my lip or whatever.
Something like that. It's funny. Uh, it's quite remarkable that you play so many different roles in school, uh, beyond teaching kids, uh, photography and, um, media. Is there anything else, any other type of deeper connection you have with your students? Um, yeah. I'm actually more on the, the graduated students, so I keep up with my kids.
Um, you know, I, I, I love seeing the successes they have and actually, you know, in fact, I think we, last time we spoke, uh, one of my students, I'm almost kind of jealous of what she does. You know, she graduated through my photography program. Now she works for David Beckham. Wow. So yeah. Fo photo coordinator.
So yeah, it's, it's amazing. And one girl that we kinda shared, you know, I mean, I don't wanna drop any names, but I think, I think she's helping out Drake. Yeah, she's like a social media for Drake. So it's like, it's, it's amazing what these kids, uh, go and doing, be successful and stuff like that. So I, I love keeping up with my kids.
Could you tell us more about the significance of CTE program in schools and what, what does that mean? Well, a lot of people don't know what CTE stands for. It is basically, uh, it's career and technical education. Um, so basically the, the, the school system kind of understand and realizes that not everybody, I can't say designed to go to college or university, but, um.
Not everybody. And depending on their situation, you know, it could be financial, um, maybe they probably didn't make a grade to go to college or university. So what the, uh, the school system did, they brought college or vocational classes down to the high school level. Um, because some of these kids, they need to hit the workforce right after high school.
Um, so we made a way. A vehicle, basically, we call it, uh, for the kids to be able to learn things, uh, vocationally in high school. So even if they're waiting for a college acceptance or they just want to hit the workforce right away, then you know, they can, they can start working. So we offer welding, we offer automotive, we got aerospace.
Um, definitely on my side is the media. I, you know, I do TV production and, um. Photography, we've got fashion, we've got nursing kids actually graduate high school with their CNA, uh, you know, certification. So even with mine, you know, I get my kids certified in Adobe. I think that's really important to, in today's society for kids to have that.
Uh oh, absolutely. Uh, we, you know, growing up we didn't have that in schools. Mm-hmm. I, I went through an. My whole twenties, not really a hundred percent sure of what I wanted to do. Mm-hmm. Obviously, I finally landed in that, and this is what I'm doing, uh, audio, video and lighting to, I don't know, to any multiple different, multiple different degrees of it.
Mm-hmm. Um, and I, I find that these people are more, uh. How would you tailor someone, uh, a student more from being a consumer to contributor? Do you think you're doing that with this program? I mean, I think by, by nature we're all consumers, right? Um, but the way we cater these kids towards that, we, we try to help them be smarter consumers, basically.
Um, you know, they're able to not only contribute. You know, to the society. But at the same time, I mean, it kind of goes hand in hand anyway. You know, you, you become a contributor and at the same time you're loving all these things that, that are being presented to us. Especially, you know, technology. We've got so many things that are, you know, that are being updated, being added.
So, you know, we, we basically turn that consumer, you know, idea to becoming. A smarter consumer. So it, it, you know, it kind of helps both, you know, if I'm a business owner, I would definitely need consumers, you know, uh, for me to move up, but at the same time help them out. Yeah. Right. And there's different contexts of the word consumer.
Yeah. Uh, I'm not necessarily speaking of consumers as in like, as in purchasing things. Purchasing things, yeah. But you know, the difference between a consumer and contributor is. Do you participate in something? Mm-hmm. Or do you just sit there? It could be a service and benefit from it. Oh yeah, absolutely.
And um, you know, if you're, you know, like you were saying, like if a family or you need to get out in the workforce right away. Mm-hmm. Obviously going to college is not your solution if you have to provide your own rent. So, uh, I think this is a great vehicle for kids to be able to Oh yeah. Absolutely.
Actually have a job on the outside as soon as they get outta high school. Mm-hmm. And then, uh, which is what I had to do anyway, I joined the military. Oh yeah, for sure. So I had to get a job. Uh, it was more like, started a career that I. Halfway through. Mm-hmm. But here I am on, on the flip side of that, doing exactly what I love doing.
Oh, absolutely. Uh, but I didn't have that, you know, the resources weren't there really for us when we're graduating high school. Right. Yeah. So we, you know, we start them off from basics all the way to actually helping them out, write their resumes, putting it together. Just every school in, uh, high school in the district or the, so, I, I, clay County does, um, I believe.
For Duval, they may call it magnet schools, you know, because they, if they specialize in computers or media, and I think some schools do have it, but we do call it CTE. I'm not, I'm, I'm not too familiar if, uh, Duval has the same program, but all throughout, um, clay County, we do have it in, in, you know, about when did this start in public schools, would you say?
Wow. Uh. So I've been in a, you know, I've been a te a teacher now going on 11. 11 years. Okay. So ever since I started and talking at 2014 and academies has always already been there. So I think, I don't know, I'm just gonna assume, I mean, we're so far outta high school. Yeah, I know. No, for sure. We didn't even have computers maybe more than 15 years ago.
We barely even had computers, man. Oh yeah. Yeah. Sure. Computer lab. What? Yeah. Yeah. So do you call my class? Yeah. So yeah. Do you call my classroom a lab? Oh, wow. Well, it is. Yeah. Yeah, because it's all computers. Yeah. I, I don't know. You know, I, I don't have the actual year when it started, but I know when I started in 2014, academies already been there.
Two years is not that important. I was just, so, it's been in place for quite some time, but for quite some time. Yeah. Uh, we talked into the episode about consumers and contributors. Mm-hmm. And you are definitely a contributor to society more than the average person. Mm. Okay, good. Um, I see teachers as being a very huge contributor to society, not just society alone, but our individual kids.
Um, you, you're a gateway to the outside and, and helping these kids, and obviously they're gonna make mistakes. And especially where there's not really a. Mother, father presence, or parents. Right. Yeah, I, I agree. So that's usually the case where they gotta get out on the street right away. Right, right. Yeah.
And, you know, not, not every kid that acts out in class, you know, in the classroom, you know, that always, you know, somebody, the veteran teachers, you know, kind of, you know, in their head kind of label him, oh, he's a bad kid, bad, bad student. But you know, you gotta dig deeper into what's really going on with that person.
And then you find out. You know, he lacks that father figure. Then that's when as teachers we step in because literally if I have your child for like four years, I've probably seen your child more than, you know, uh, more than some of these parents. So what is it about you that makes you the cool teacher?
The one to go to, the one that they can trust? I don't know. Um. Obviously just like, obviously you're a great guy, you can definitely attest to that and you have a huge heart and you care. Would you say that's probably about it? Yeah. Yeah. It, it, it's all about relationships, you know, all different levels of relationship.
Um, so, and you know, there's two things. You, you can make the student move by yelling at him, Hey, do your work and all that kind of things, or. Have a relationship with that student and they'll, they'll do beyond what you ask for because they're there to please you. I think they have your trust. Yes, definitely.
A hundred percent. And they trust you. Right. And respect. And respect, yeah. Matters. Oh, absolutely. Can you tell us about, uh, you now you said you were outside, uh, photographer. Yes. Uh, I guess that would assume that you're also a videographer. Yes. And, and you have family. Your son's a really well accomplished videographer.
Yeah. Yeah, he is. So, I mean, I've worked in a corporate world, shout out for a long time to Yeah, yeah. Um, you should check out his, uh, his stuff that he's knowing. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It is amazing. Yeah. But, um, yeah, so I've worked, I've worn many hats, uh, throughout the years. You know, I've, I've managed. Big companies in, you know, hotels and apartment complex.
I've been in financial, but on the side, just to kind of, you know, clear my head I picked up. Photography and, and it become almost kind of secondary hobby for me, and later on turned into a business for us. And, um, it, it worked out, it worked out really well. So I do, I still do photography, um, less than I used to, um, because, you know, I, I teach now, but at the same time I still enjoy.
Um, doing photography and videography. Really. I've recently gotten into it too. It's kind of just like a, I call it my fourth job. Yes. But I've actually gotten a job, uh, and already did two commercial spots for, uh, paver Company. Nice. In Jacksonville, Florida or in Orange Park. Uh, shout out to op pavers, orange Park, pavers.
And, uh, it was just something I kind of stumbled on like yours too. Yeah. So I haven't had my first. I almost had my paid first paid photography gig. But, uh, the good thing about it being a secondary, or I guess what is beyond Tary Retary right side gig, uh, job is that, uh, you can pick and choose what you wanna work on.
Um, and so, uh, there was one project where I felt it was a little unethical involving dog breeding. Um, and so I passed on it. But, um, I'm always looking for that opportunity. Yeah. But it has to be something that I right into. Yeah. Yeah. I, you know, I've done it so long. I've been around so long. I don't even give out business cards anymore.
Uh, you know, the medium now, Hey, do you have Instagram? Do you have, so they, you know, they look, um, into your work through there to social media and they, they message me like literally 99% of the time I'm getting message on, on my social media. And even this podcast has an Instagram page. It's kind of like your portfolio these days.
Mm-hmm. Oh yeah. Especially in our business of videography. And you know, the great thing about video these days is that it's even going to the point of where it's, uh, becoming in shopping. So for example, uh, you can go on Amazon and look at. Someone with a black shirt on and you can see a video of them turn around, you can see how the shirt fits.
You can also see 'em in wearing a different color just by clicking the button. So the amazing thing about it is, is like, man, that's sold. Done deal. Consumer. Yeah. Consumer taken, you know? Right, right. Man, remember back in the day, like they tell you don't give any information on social media, no phone numbers, no emails, nothing.
Now it's, it's, yeah. Yeah, people do. Yeah. Now you got people hacking you and, uh, it just makes Oh, yeah. Room for more people to take advantage of those that are innocent and don't know. Yeah. But hey, just since we're on that topic, if somebody is trying to, uh, urgently, urgently trying to get you to do something, it's probably not right.
Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Yeah. Man, I've been hacked like three times already. You've been hacked? Yes. How has you been hacked? Through email. Yeah. What'd they do? How they ask? They, they used my email. Oh, they used your email? Yeah, they used my email. They, they act like you're, you know, their friends, they act like your family member or sometimes, Hey, I'm in deep trouble.
Can you, you know, can you peep Not PayPal people, people still use PayPal. Yeah. PayPal is still a thing. Yeah. They please Venmo me, whatever, you know, I'm really in, you know, but come to find out they're not even, you know, that's unfortunate. Yeah, I know. Uh, could you, we go into more of your, including your musical talents?
Oh. Yeah. So you, you, you mentioned that you kind of float around. Yeah, I do. And that bass is your, is your number one thing, but Right. Yeah. It, how, how did you start music? Weren't you almost a movie star? I was. I cried. I tried, dude. I, I tried. So I, I, I, I, you know, so data generationally, um, I came from a. A musical family.
So my family, my, the, or Mayo family is, it's whether you're a preacher or you're in music ministry, pretty much. So, you know, kind of got involved with that. Um, got involved with, you know, with groups and singing groups and acting groups and and whatnot. So when we all decided to go to the States, that's what I wanted to do.
So I took. Theater arts in college. So you weren't born in the United States? No. You were born in the Philippines. I think I was born in the Philippines. Yeah. So here we have, uh, an immigrant that went through the legal process. Thought I heard her door and, uh Yeah. Is here, uh, his whole life. Yeah. So we, we went, we went legally on every step.
Uh, you know, we. My dad actually processed the whole thing. Um, so, you know, I kind of miss the guy. He's, he's already, um, he passed like six, seven years ago. But yeah, my dad did everything for us as far as the process concerned. Um, so a church in California called him to be. The pastor and DA process, the petition that comes along with the family and whatnot.
So yeah, so we went the legal route. So it's land of opportunities, you know, it's, it's possible as long as you follow the law. Yes. Yeah. You've had a remarkable career. That's still not over. I mean, we're still, yeah, we still got a lot in us. Oh, I know, I know. We're about the same age, right? Yeah. I think, yeah.
So I think we're probably the same age. Yeah. So 53, 54. Oh wow. A year older, right? Yeah. Yeah. I, I, you know, I mean, you know, my back and my joints, you know, doesn't agree with me. 'cause you know, you hear. Crackling popping and snapping, you know, when you get outta bed. But once I'm up, you know, it's like, what can I do today?
You know, I, I, I don't like sitting around. That's why I try to keep the podcast below 30 minutes. Yeah. So we can actually get up afterwards. Yes. There we go. I'm just kidding. Ibuprofen is my buddy. You gotta watch it though, 'cause that low highers your blood pressure. Oh yeah. Yeah. So anyway, anyway, uh, old man talk, but Right.
Could you give us some future aspirations? Do you have any, uh, goals that you'd like to accomplish or, um, oh, I've got more impact on the city. I've, I've got, like I said, we, we, we still got a lot of stuff to offer. Um, so never stop learning, always be assertive, not aggressive. There's a difference between being assertive and being aggressive.
Um, you know, because. Every day we wake up, you know, God gives us the breath every time that you're able to wake up. That's already a blessing. Um, so I just, yeah, never stop learning. Um, I love doing different things and um, you know, I may be undiagnosed a DD, but I'm always into something. Well, you know, being a creative is just that.
A contributor is someone that creates, and a consumer doesn't. Not to be stuck on the consumer contributor train, but mm-hmm. Uh, this podcast, um, is generated towards showing those that contribute to society. And I would definitely say that Edwin is that exact definition. If we had it in the dictionary, he'd be one example of not only does he contribute, uh, to the education of children, but.
The future enhancement of their life. And I can tell you as a creative myself that it is an emotional release like you would never imagine, uh, if you're not a creative, uh, you know, you may be able to make a cake or something like that and be accomplished by that. Mm-hmm. Uh, you can do lots of things in life and, and feel that way, but to be creative, to create something out of nothing, uh, is pretty remarkable.
And to teach it to others. Is is gold, man. I mean, yeah. Learn. That's always been my goal. You learn from the best and they'll always remember you. Oh yeah, absolutely. You know, that's always been my goal is, you know, I can't, 'cause one day we're not gonna be here, you know, one day, one day. Then, but the stuff that you've contributed, the stuff that you, you've helped people out and you know, they can tell story after story that like, oh my gosh, remember Jeff, you know what that's called?
That's called creating a Legacy, and that's something that we're both creating a legacy. Yeah, absolutely. This podcast, as long as YouTube is up will forever be there. My kids and his kids and his grandchildren, my great-great-grandchildren that probably never meet, uh, will all be able to see this and it's pretty Oh, absolutely.
Yeah. So, hey, if you have any comments or if you have some type of contributor in your life or in your community that you wanna highlight, please reach out to me. Uh, we're more than open to, uh, interviewing that person and delving into their life and what makes them strong and what makes them a contributor to today's society.
I like to thank Edwin. For Mayo for your time. Thank you. Uh, this is actually a re-shoot because this is a technical journey of mine and, uh, as you can probably tell, we have better lighting, like I said, mentioned earlier. So thank you. You're welcome. If you haven't liked comments or shared, please do so.
Please subscribe. That helps me out. It gives me, believe it or not, it gives me more motivation to do more of these videos than you can ever imagine. Uh, do you have anything lasting to say about brother? No. I mean, at the end of the day, yeah, we do work for somebody, but our ultimate boss boss's guide. Can we do one last thing since we obviously have the same glasses, let's power on and take some video of each other just to be weird.
All There you go.
So it just takes a minute. It does.
