Under Pressure I Found Myself
In this deeply personal talk, Heriberto Javier Perozo Soto takes us through a life lived bajo presión (under pressure) from his early years as an overprotected child in Venezuela to his time on the national karate team, and his journey of adaptation and growth as a foreign educator in Turkey.
Through stories of isolation, high expectations, cultural adjustment, and emotional turning points, Heriberto shares how pressure shaped his identity, taught him resilience, and led him to his true purpose: teaching.
With honesty and heart, he explores how pressure can both hurt and heal, and how, when met with courage, vulnerability, and support, it becomes a powerful force for transformation. His message is clear: pressure doesn’t have to break us, it can shape us into who we were meant to be.
Heriberto SOTO
Spanish Teacher at Eyüboğlu Schools
I am a Venezuelan educator, athlete, and world traveler who has spent years navigating life under pressure, both in and outside my comfort zone. My experiences range from competing for 12 years on Venezuela’s national karate team, where I learned firsthand how pressure can drive performance, to teaching Spanish in an international school in Turkey, where cultural adaptation and professional challenges tested my resilience in new ways.
Beyond my professional and athletic background, I am passionate about Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and the power of education to bridge cultural gaps. Living in a foreign country, I’ve experienced pressure in multiple forms: academic, professional, personal, and societal. I’ve faced moments where pressure was a motivator and others where it felt overwhelming. Through it all, I’ve learned that pressure itself is neutral; it’s how we respond to it that defines our growth.
I want to share my story not just as a foreigner adapting to a new culture, but as someone who has learned to reframe pressure into a force for positive change. My goal is to help others recognize that while pressure is unavoidable, it doesn’t have to be destructive. If we learn to manage it, ask for help when needed, and embrace it as part of our journey, it can shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals.