If you’ve been following CNK for a while, you may have noticed I’m a new face that has recently joined the team within the last year. Although I love to keep things low key, I figured that a self introduction is long overdue. My name is Yaquelin, I’m 23 years old and I’m from Northern VA (shout out to the 703). I am the daughter of two Guatemalan parents and a recent graduate of George Mason University. By day, I am the Visual Merchandising Supervisor for my local Converse store. Outside of that, I write editorial for CNK and scour the internet for all the latest sneaker drops just like most of you. 

Sneakers always excite me. I wear what I like whether it be hype or not. However, there are those releases that really speak to me. It could be because of their construction since I’m all about the details. However, there are those drops that bring back memories to when I first started collecting sneakers. When I saw the Air Max Pre-Day, this was one of those sneakers that took me back. It reminded me of my humble beginnings and made me excited for what the future holds. 

Whenever I think about my sneaker moment, there are so many that pop into my head. However, the one moment that always comes to mind is when I was 15 years and my mom bought be my first pair of Air Maxes. I admittedly had just gotten into sneakers and maybe owned 2 pairs at the time. It was right around Christmas time and my mom and I took a trip to Foot Locker one weekend for me to pick out my Christmas present. After browsing the wide array of options and changing my mind 50 times, I finally decided on a pair of Air Max 90’s. They had a mauve, taupe colored suede upper with rose gold accents. They were feminine yet neutral and I was fascinated by the buttery suede. I was in love. 

What my mom didn’t know was that this was the catalyst for a lifelong obsession. I loved the confidence wearing sneakers gave me. When I’d walk down the hallway, people would stop and ask me where I got my sneakers or compliment them. I slowly started to realize that my shoes made me stand out. In a time where I was trying to find my own personal identity, sneakers helped me find that. My friends started asking me which shoe’s they should buy and I loved being their go-to person for footwear advice. Once I started working, I spent most of my money on sneakers. After I graduated from high school and was hired at Converse, my love of sneakers only heightened and my collection kept growing. I started to feel that sneakers were so much more than just that for me. 

I went on to study at community college for two years before transferring to George Mason University. By this time, I knew I wanted a career in the sneaker industry but I hadn’t told my parents. Mainly out of fear of judgement and disapproval. Explaining to immigrant parents an unconventional career path is never easy and that was a conversation I wasn’t ready to have. When I started attending George Mason in the Fall of 2018, my parents began asking me more and more what I planned on doing after graduating. As my graduation date approached, I couldn’t dodge the question any longer. I finally told them that what I really wanted was to work in the sneaker industry. Whether that be working for a big brand’s marketing department, doing visual merchandising or buying at the corporate level, all I wanted was to work with sneakers. Despite my fear of my parent’s disapproval, they were supportive. It took some convincing, but my parents knew I was determined and stood behind me. 

With my parents' support, I felt confident enough to start applying for internships within the sneaker space. Trust me, I applied for a lot. I was able to obtain a Marketing Research Internship with a company outside of the sneaker industry. While I loved the experience, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted because it wasn’t sneakers. My internship ended in April and I graduated in May of 2020 with no other internships lined up. Your girl was feeling discouraged to say the least. I started to have doubts about whether a career within the sneaker space was obtainable. However, shortly after graduating, I was contacted by Channing, Founder and EIC of CNK Daily, for an interview to be a potential Editorial Intern. It was the break I had been waiting for. I began interning in June of 2020 and the rest is history. 

For this sneaker diary, I decided to go to a place that brought me so much comfort during a very scary time. I remember visiting Occoquan Regional Park right around the time the pandemic began last year. I was finishing up school, things were being shut down, and I had to confront my fear of the unknown head on. Being surrounded by the water brought me so much clarity and made me feel that things were going to be okay. I hadn’t been back since then and with the weather warming up, I felt that this would be the perfect time for a walk in the park. 

It’s odd to say that a sneaker triggered such a huge moment of reflection for me but it’s true. The Air Max Pre-Day reminded of how far Air Max history has come and yet, there's still so much that can be done. I’m someone who used to be afraid of what the future might hold but now, it excites me. In a way, this sneaker spoke to me on that level. Not to mention it’s stunning construction. From the liquid lime colorway to the exposed Air unit, this shoe literally feels like you’re walking on air and even gives you a little bounce with every step. Since I wanted all eyes on the footwear, I kept my fit simple with black cargo pants, a gray cropped top, and a white Nike jacket with mesh paneling to keep things cool on this bright spring day. 

As spring approaches and I begin to pull out some of my bright colored sneakers, I know the Air Max Pre-Day is going to have its place in my rotation. I’m incredibly excited for you all to get your hands on the newest Air Max and to see what Nike has in store for the future. I want to close this off by saying that if you would have told 15 year Yaquelin that she’d be writing for a woman-led sneaker blog, she would have told you that you were crazy. I say that to say if I can do it, you can too. This community is constantly growing and that’s what makes it beautiful. Being genuine and pushing yourself will get you farther than you ever thought possible.

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