My real name is Jessica Ortiz and my nickname is Paraiba. I currently attend the University of South Florida and my major is biology with a minor in chemistry and biomedical physics. My goal is to one day go to med school and become a pediatrician. I have been training Capoeira under mestre Lazaro and Capoeira Brazilian Pelourinho group for about 5 years now. I started Capoeira around the year 2000. I first saw it when I went to visit a good friend of mines in San Francisco. After that visit I was fascinated by the art and wanted to learn it but nobody heard of a school in Orlando, fl. One day while waiting for my class to start in Valencia community college I saw to guys doing. I immediately asked them were the school was at and one of them actually took me to the school that following week. After my first class I was hooked. Capoeira changed my life. It taught me that I could do things that I never thought I could ever learn. I was also believe it or not a heavy drinker but with the help of my mestre and Capoeira I completely stopped. I was also very overweight and Capoeira helped me trim down. Through Capoeira I have learn to be a leader, positive role model, not shy, teach, and got a chance to perform around Florida and America. I also gained a new family with the group, lasting friendships, and a great mestre. I hope to continue this art for many years to come and maybe one day become a mestre. Mestre, thank you for everything you have done for me and being there. Thank you my friends at Capoeira Brazilian Pelourinho for being there for me.