A Voice, A Vision, A Voyage
My Roots: A Venezuelan Upbringing
Me with my parents, cousins, and family
My name is Javier Tarazona. I am twenty years old and was born in Caracas, Venezuela. On my mother’s side, I have Peruvian roots, on my father’s, Colombian. I spent the first ten years of my life in Venezuela. Because I lived in Caracas, I was raised in an urban part of the country, so my parents would take my younger brother and I to any place in a car, whether that was the mall, school, or a kiosk. I would occasionally take road trips with my family to other parts of Venezuela like La Colonia Tovar, Barquisimeto, and Táchira. Even though they were long, I enjoyed the landscapes and the restaurants we would stop by on the way to our destination. The beaches were incredible as well; Marina Grande was one I went to very often. Spanish was my mother tongue but in school I learned to speak English. My school had a system where I had a Spanish and an English teacher, so I learned both languages alongside each other at school.
The day I left Venezuela; at Simón Bolívar International Airport.
Most of my extended family lived in Venezuela - except for one aunt’s side, who lived in the U.S, and part of an uncle’s family, who lived in Bolivia.
I learned Venezuelan culture growing up, specifically through food and music - eating arepas (a type of cornmeal sandwich) and listening to “Gaita Zuliana”[1] and “Joropo”[2], traditional Venezuelan music genres. Family was always central during those ten years of my life, especially during Christmas, New Years, and birthdays. I would see so many of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents during these celebrations.
Life in Canada: A New Chapter
My family and I at my high school graduation 06/2022
In 2014, my father decided to pursue his dream of getting a PhD in Electrical Engineering at UBC. This led to a pivotal moment for me, as my parents, younger brother, and I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada. A part of me was excited to explore another country I have never been to, however a part of me was struggling to adapt to a new way of life. Not being fluent in English made it challenging to make new friends at school, and the lack of Venezuelans in the classroom made me feel isolated. As time went on, that loneliness matured to longing for the simplicity of visiting your extended family on a regular basis, and seeing your culture represented, despite me adapting to Canada. Living abroad, I resorted to video calling my relatives to stay in touch, practicing Spanish with my family, and making Venezuelan cuisines at home to keep my culture alive. Family and culture hold a part of who I am, and being away from those things made me appreciate my heritage significantly.
As the years passed living in Vancouver, I became fluent in English and found a diverse group of friends who made me feel included. I was relieved because I was not treated like an outcast; while our cultures were distinct from each other, we embraced our differences with genuine curiosity and kindness, celebrating what made me unique instead of seeing it as a barrier.
Academic & Career Aspirations
In 2022, I graduated high school with honours and receiving the PAC Merit Award. I am now studying at Langara College, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in accounting. While I am passionate about accounting, I also have a deep interest in world history and foreign languages. I learn best visually, so diagrams, timelines, and infographics are tools I rely on to retain information. After completing two years in Langara, I plan to transfer to UBC and become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
My Experience Interning at PCHC-MoM
Me interviewing Afgan Rasul
Currently, I work a summer job as a Digital Content Curator for the PCHC-MoM. My job is to prepare and conduct interviews with people who have a migration experience, and curate their stories to amplify the voices of those who shape Pacific Canada. I also research and organize relevant archival material, assist in writing, filming, and editing, and create informational graphics for promotion. Additionally, I help with administrative work, event planning and event execution. My connection to PCHC-MoM began during my gap year while I was waiting for permanent residency in Vancouver, BC. A family friend recommended I volunteer for the Museum of Migration. I started in October 2022 and have had the privilege of performing at their events, using music to help create a welcoming atmosphere. I was proud to be part of a team that uplifts immigrant voices and preserves migration stories. This role deepened my understanding of storytelling, equity and the importance of creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Performing at these events help me grow as a creative. I have learned that achieving your dreams often comes down to building connections with people who are following a similar path. PCHC MoM has platformed many talented musicians; one of them is Afgan Rasul. He is an accomplished Azerbaijani jazz pianist, and I got interview him because of my job as a Digital Content Curator. It was such a fantastic opportunity to connect with someone with the same musical ambitions as me. Also, by hearing his determination to his craft, it inspired me to keep dedicating myself to music.
My Musical Journey
Me performing at Momo Hut
While I have a strong interest in accounting, my biggest dream is to become a musician. Music has always been part of me. I loved singing as a child, and during middle school choir. Over the years, I also learned to play several instruments like the piano, violin, percussion, and baritone horn, but ultimately, I chose to focus on guitar, for the sake of singing and songwriting.
In my senior year of high school, I began writing my own songs, songs that were introspective, and vulnerable. My goal is to release an album that captures my dual identity as both Venezuelan and Canadian and share my immigration journey through melody. This is a way of honouring my heritage[3] and culture identity. Also, making this album will resonate with immigrants who have had to leave their past life behind in search of new opportunities.
Beyond Work and Academics
Outside of school and music, I workout and teach myself Portuguese. I also listen to music regularly and draw inspiration from artists who challenge the boundaries of music, like Nirvana, Elliott Smith, Black Country, New Road, and Fiona Apple.
I am also a huge fan of Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Castle in the Sky. These stories, with their emotional depth and imaginative world-building, resonate strongly with my creative side.
I am a spontaneous creative thinker. Ideas often strike when I am walking or listening to music. Letting my mind roam freely is when my best work occurs.
Prompt: Describe Yourself in 3 Words
If I had to describe myself in three words I would say I am creative, ambitious, and diligent. My family has instilled in me a strong moral compass, so I care deeply about social justice. As someone who comes from a country that is currently under a dictatorship, freedom is a noble cause to me. This advocacy for freedom extends to empathizing with the struggle of marginalized groups, keen to learning their history to understand their injustices. I believe No human is illegal, and that Oppression is interconnected, because none of us are free until all of us are.
Having integrity means you also stand by your values, so I have become more confident in who I am as a person, which allows me to set clear boundaries without feeling pressure to please or change for those around me. As Kurt Cobain once said:
“I’d rather be hated for who I am and loved for who I am not.”
Annotation and Works Cited
[1] Gaita Zuliana was created to portray Zulia’s oral traditions. Since the nineteenth century, most gaita songs have revolved around family, friendship, or society’s structure.
[2] Joropo is a Spanish rooted music genre with Indigenous and African incorporated elements. It is performed with vocals and instruments such as the mandolin, bandola cuatro, maracas, and harp in the ‘Llanera’ subgenre.
[3] Venezuelan music encompasses a mixture of genres including joropo, gaita zuliana, salsa, merengue, and Afro- Venezuelan rhythms. These styles encompass the richness of Venezuela’s musical identity.
Anais. 28 December 2020. 22 July 2025.
Romero, Angel. "World Music Central." Joropo, the National Song and Dance of Venezuela 18 January 2018.
Venezuelan music – traditional styles and music genres. 16 August 2020. 25 July 2025.
