Meet Yisel Arias | Sports Reporter N Journalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yisel Arias and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yisel, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea of my business started when I was a senior in high school during the pandemic. Since everything was online, I found myself having a lot of free time where I began to contact women in the sports industry. I contacted the women in the sport’s industry to get an idea of their journey and obstacles in a male dominated industry. I know that I wanted a career in sports. As a long time athlete, an individual, I fell in love with all sports. I first started off by contacting women through social media who were already in the sports field of where I wanted to be some day. I would spend 2-3 hours daily finding women to contact about an opportunity to speak with them via zoom since it was during the pandemic. There were a good number of women who gave me the opportunity and of course there were some who rejected me as well but I never gave up. For the ones who said yes, I was able to connect with them. Through the connection I wanted to build a relationship, and also understand their story and what they had to do and go through as women. Still till this day the women I have connected with I keep in contact. After I spent time connecting with women through zoom, that’s when I really figured out what I wanted to do. At that moment it was just about okay how do I start and where do I start. I started researching what mics I can use for interviews, and I covered my first interview late into highschool softball season. The rest is history. Alpha Athlete Vision was about to change the world for athletes.

What should our readers know about your business?

Something I want people to know about my business is that at the end of the day it is for the athletes. I wanted to build something from the ground up on my own to help provide athletes with endless opportunities. I know what it is like to be an athlete so to create a business that focuses on the next generation of athletes and help them in any way possible is the main purpose. I cannot do what I do without the athletes. So to have them give me their time and energy for interviews, and coverage is amazing. As an individual covering athletes you want to give athletes the best and all of you, because it is your work going out at the end of the day covering athletes. Remember I started as an eighteen year old senior in my room during the pandemic. Nobody told me the steps to take, or gave me a map to start with. I just figured it out on my own. I have faced a lot of yes and rejections in my time already…but as long as you believe in yourself, and you work hard you will accomplish what you want to. You have to believe in yourself. Bet on yourself. Work hard, and dont ever give up.

The most important lesson my business and my journey has taught me is that it is not going to be easy. It takes everything in me to do what I do. I come to understand I need to invest everything in myself to get myself where I want to be in life. That there will be days where it may get chaotic and some days where I may feel exhausted but it is a part of my whole career. There are a lot of things people don’t see on the other side of sports for me what goes on in my life. Through ups, and downs.

Something I would want the world to know is that the journey to your dream requires you to champion yourself, to be your biggest motivator and put it all on the line with the belief that the sacrifices will pay off. If you find that you don’t have the opportunities in your community- create them. I come from a small agricultural community near the Mexico border and I decided that I would create a place for myself to foster the experience I may need in the future. Ultimately, I want to leave a mark and make a change.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Brawley California is a very very hot place to be in the summer so let me start with picking the fall or winter for my best friend to visit. Throughout the week we will have a shopping day, picnic at the park, and definitely visit our local favorite Johnny’s Burrito. I am a family oriented person and the most fun, interesting exciting people are my family, so a family cookout with carne asada is a must.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

The most important factor behind my success is first my mother. My mother has taught me never to rely on anybody for my success and happiness. I just took that to heart and worked hard knowing it’s up to me to get myself where I want to be someday. The support from my family and my community. I am very fortunate to come from the family I come from. My family supports me and accepts me for who I am. They help me so much from my own brother to my cousins sacrificing their time to come with me to cover athletes when they don’t need to. They each in their own way help me out till this day, especially the woman in my family from appearances to growing as a person.The woman in my family from my mother to my tias are very strong women, so you kind of grow up as a strong woman. My community of the Imperial Valley is something so special. Coming from a community who supports me, especially the valley being small compared to other valleys just brings us all closer. It allows me to meet athletes, from athletes to their own families, all just building those close family relationships. At the end of the day they don’t need to support me or anything so to have the love n support from my family, and community it is everything to me. I hope one day I can give back to my family, and the people of my community. Knowing one day we did it…together. Inspire. Empower. Motivate Next Generation Athletes.

Instagram: @theyiselariaschavez

Linkedin: Yisel Arias

Twitter: @theyiselarias

Facebook: @theyiselariaschavez

Youtube: Yisel Arias Chavez

Image Credits
Mercedes Silva IG @mercyfotos Me holding camera – Ernest Ramos – local photographer Black and white photo- J.Q. Quesada III IG @el.q.pix.photography