Dirk Alvarado, Neighbor

Growing up in South City, I remember my first trip to Half Moon Bay. I was a freshman at El Camino riding the team bus over the hill for a football game. I am pretty sure we got beat soundly that Friday night and, except for a distain for the football field, it didn't tarnish my view of Half Moon Bay as a whole.

When I turned sixteen I started to drive my car to the beach on a regular basis. As time progressed I continued to make weekly trips to the coast as I feebly attempted to surf. Fast forward a few years and I was spending a lot of my time at the harbor as I had won an internship with California Canoe and Kayak. As a recreation major at San Francisco State I had access to far better intern opportunities than, say, accounting majors.

Over the last four years I have been fortunate to work Coastside helping people make the most of their recreational time. Working in the public sector I never expected to be a part of a project like Día a Día. During the last four years I also became involved with some great organizations such as the Community Soccer League, Half Moon Bay Police Activities League and CPALS. All organizations contributing towards strengthening the community and supported by incredible people.

Being privileged enough to weave in and out of the many segments of the community I have been fortunate to be exposed to so many amazing Coastsiders. I am really excited to be a part of this column and hope that it helps to dispel some misconceptions and opens a path to greater understanding. I believe one of the best ways to achieve these goals is to share stories and encourage communication. That is the reason I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Día a Día<b> </b>this upcoming year.