This Hispanic Heritage Month - which runs from September 15 - October 15 - Up2Us Sports will honor and celebrate our Hispanic and Latinx coaches, VISTAs, staff, and host sites. Each week we will feature members of the Up2Us Sports family who proudly represent their Hispanic heritage and who all wanted to share a bit more about themselves, their culture and how it has shaped who they are and the work they do in the SBYD field.

Name: Guerby Ruuska

Position: Up2Us Sports Coach

Location: Greater Tampa Swim Association - Tampa, Florida

How do you hope to inspire your athletes through representation as a Hispanic coach?

I inspire my athletes by building connections with them. Knowing them as people first and athletes second. When you know your athletes, you know exactly how to push them but know their triggers so you know when to start pushing. In terms of motivation, it’s simple, you have to fill them with belief. Many athletes don’t get told that someone believes in them, so just simply saying “hey, BLANK, I believe you can accomplish your goals.” Then after showing them you believe in them, you get them to believe in themselves.

What do you love most about your culture?

Everyone has goals and believes in themselves and their teammates. My athletes believe in their teammates goals and dreams just as much if not more than their own, because they use their teammates accomplishing their dreams and goals as their own personal motivation. They are really focused, engaged and about the process for a bunch of 10-17 year olds.

What would you like others to know about what it means to be Hispanic/about your Hispanic culture?

I’m not sure I can speak completely to this but I can say that we have a lot of Hispanic people on our swim team and Hispanic people work incredibly hard. I think I’ve met one Hispanic person in my life that didn’t train hard. It’s crazy and motivating because they grew up watching their parents putting in endless hours of hard work to help make their dreams come true so that hard work has trickled down into their kids and how they operate throughout life and it’s a joy to watch it in the water as well. They aren’t the kind of athletes that do the whole, “say jump, and I say how high…” No, they are better 0 they are the kind of athletes where you say “jump,” 100 times over, and they jump. Every. Single. Time.

Why is Hispanic Heritage Month so important?

I think it's important to acknowledge the many ways Hispanic culture has influenced the United States and how Latinos have contributed to the United States throughout its history.

What special point of view has your Hispanic heritage given you?

Having Hispanic heritage has broadened my horizons and allowed me to appreciate different cultures.

What would you like others to know about what it means to be Hispanic/about your Hispanic culture?

I'm Mexican and Spanish but all Hispanics aren't one in the same. There are over 440 million people and 26 countries in the Hispanophone World.