Communication helps him break out of his shell

Luis Hernandez, 19, is studying finance and marketing at University of Houston.

“I like interacting and socializing with others, but I wasn’t always this way. I used to be very introverted.”

Why did you change?
“One of my inspirations in life is to own a business. To do that, I finally realized I would have to be able to communicate well with people. So to help me get over it, I just started going out on the streets, approaching people I didn’t know and striking up conversations with them. Actually, I met my girlfriend by doing that. Just from walking up and talking to her.

“Another time I ran up to this person who looked very presentable and said, ‘You look like a very successful person. I have to get to know you.’ She was like, ‘Well, yeah, I’m a lawyer,’ and she told me about how she did pro bono cases and that she was starting her own business. We talked some more and then I told her, ‘I’m actually quite interested in that field as well. If I could grab your number or business card, maybe I could be an intern for you later on.’ She was open to that idea. So after I finish this semester, I start the internship.”

— Luis Hernandez