We recently connected with Kasaydia Carter-martinez and have shared our conversation below.
Kasaydia, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I consider myself incredibly lucky in the way that I have the greatest parents anyone could ask for. I grew up watching them run their own businesses, while also working whatever jobs were necessary for us to have everything we needed. I got to know the feeling of walking into a store that was ours, and seeing how my parents treated others from all walks of life. There was never a single moment growing up that I ever had any doubt that I wanted to be like them and to have something of my own, no matter how hard it could be.
As I started on my journey of creating my own business, they truly guided me every step of the way. From helping me with paperwork, guidance, pricing, everything you can imagine, they deserve all the credit.
A story that always stuck with me from my Dad was about what it was like for him as a kid. My Dad is mexican and he grew up in California and Mexico as a child. When he was in Mexico, he was considered “the blue eyed mexican” and would be made fun of for not being mexican enough. When he was in California, he was made fun of for being Mexican. It didn’t matter where he went at that age, there was always someone who had something to say and make him doubt himself. He told me this story and about how it influenced his choices in life. He never expected anything, or believed he deserved it more than anyone else, he just always worked hard and took all of the opportunities that came his way. He told me, “I have traveled many paths in life and I have regretted none. Never regret, only enjoy.”
That’s how I approach everything in my life, especially having my own business and the ups and downs that accompany that.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a videographer but more so I would consider myself a storyteller/memory keeper. I love what I do because it allows me to capture moments in time, that without someone behind the camera, would be fleeting. I’m in a field that let’s me take peoples memories, and help them to relieve them. Not many people can say that.
I realized at a young age that I love creating videos. I joined the journalism club in 8th grade and was assigned a piece on the boys basketball team. In lieu of doing my assignment, I decided to create a short film following the star of the basketball team falling in love with a teen popstar that attended our school. While my grade on the assignment was not the best, they showed the video at the school assembly before winter break. My love of video never faltered after that.
A lot of the work I do is for small businesses, weddings, and events. I work with a local dance studio for their recital every year, because I danced growing up and love being able to capture the show for the performers to watch back to see all of their hardwork.
At the heart of my work is my goal to have the opportunity to make documentaries that help people. I love exploring the human condition and shining a light on the good things humans bring to this world. Whether it’s overcoming adversity, helping others around them, moving through grief, or any other human experience. I think they’re really important stories to highlight and I hope to one day be able to do all of my work in the realm of helping others.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I believe the three most important qualities are different for every person. There are ways that we all shine and areas in which we all can excel. Rarely are they the same for each person.
In my experience the three qualities/skills that were most important to focus on for my journery were:
1.) Communication – I was a communications major in undergrad and moved on to study Intercultural and Interpersonal communications in graduate school. I love understanding the way people communicate, how is differs per person, and the different struggles that people experience. We don’t often stop to consider how the person next to us is experiencing the world around them, but through communication we are able to get a little closer to sharing our perception and experience in this world.
2.) Self discipline – When I started out, I looked up every single school in a 200 mile radius and called their drama department to find out if they needed someone to record their show. I spent weeks cold calling and hoping just one person would hire me. Oddly enough, eventually it worked and things really snowballed after that.
3.) Patience – This one, this day, is so hard for me. I am definitely an instant gratification, hope things move quickly, kind of personality. In this field I learned that patience is key. Everyone has things going on, we’re all doing our best. Patience will get you really far in this business. As will persistence. But it’s important to have a healthy balance and to read the room to know which one is needed in that moment.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I may have accidentally answered this earlier in the questions but honestly I can’t sing their praises enough. I’m eternally grateful for every lesson, moment, and conversation with my parents.
My Dad battled cancer for 7 years and I lost him about 6 months ago. Through the entire journey I watched my parents navigate the worst time in our lives with unconditional love. I watched them show such grace when they owed the world nothing. They had every right to lead with anger and frustration. Being dealt such an unfair hand would make anyone bitter. Not them. They knew early in the journery that time was very limited. We never really knew how much we had and instead of living that way, my parents lived with intention. Inbetween treatments, inbetween diagnoses, they lived their lives like they had all the time in the world. They loved each other and us as if we had no time limit.
They showed me that there are many things in this life we have no say in, that’s just the truth. However, the way we handle it and the way we move through life with it, is entirely up to us.
One of my last conversations with my Dad he told me, “I don’t want you to be bitter. I don’t want this to change you.” Even knowing that he was not going to get better, he cared more about us and how we would be in this world without him.
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was allowing me to know them and see them in a way that many kids will never experience with their own parents. I saw them being told things would not get better, things did not look good, and they clawed their way out of it together. They fought every step of the way together. Never once telling my sister and I that they were ready to give up. Even in the end, we never said that’s it, that’s all there is. We took every single day we had together and made the most of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kasaydiawindmedia.com
- Instagram: Kasaydia Wind Media
- Facebook: Kasaydia Wind Media
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kasaydiawindmedia2219
Image Credits
Erin Marie Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
