The pathway to passion often begins with reluctance. In this heartfelt conversation, acclaimed musician and educator Karina Vela reveals how being forced to take guitar lessons instead of joining the basketball team as a child in Matamoros, Mexico, planted the seeds for a transformative musical journey.

"I was forced into music, not pushed," Vela laughs, recounting the maternal decision that changed her life trajectory. What began with tearful guitar practices while watching friends play basketball through the window evolved into a profound love for mariachi music after her family immigrated to the United States when she was eleven.

Vela's story challenges typical immigration narratives. Rather than experiencing the American dream, she initially found herself in "a nightmare"—living in a hastily converted mechanic shop with outdoor showers after her family's comfortable middle-class life in Mexico. Music became her sanctuary during this difficult transition, especially when she discovered mariachi in high school: "I felt at home right at the moment I walked in that classroom."

Now the head orchestra director at San Benito High School, founder of the all-female Mariachi Margaritas (celebrating 16 years), and creator of the San Benito Music Academy serving 120+ students, Vela has become a powerful force in expanding music education throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Her ensembles have toured with Ángela Aguilar and performed at high-profile events, while her advocacy has helped establish new mariachi programs in school districts where none previously existed.

Perhaps most moving is Vela's reflection on how music helped her heal after losing her brother in a car accident. "Music does heal," she affirms, explaining how performance provided escape and expression when grief seemed overwhelming.

Whether you're a music educator, aspiring musician, or simply someone seeking inspiration, Karina's parting advice resonates: "Be either too stupid or too brave to do it. You're not going to regret it." Join us for this powerful conversation about finding purpose through unlikely beginnings.