This interview documents Fernald's life as a first-generation college student of Colombian and Peruvian heritage. Born in Monroe, North Carolina in 2004 and raised in Charlotte, Fernald reflects on his upbringing in a close-knit Latino family, the importance of food and language in maintaining cultural traditions, and the influence of his parents' resilience and work ethic. He describes his educational journey from Pineville and Ballantyne schools to Central Piedmont Community College and his transfer to UNC Charlotte, where he studies computer science with a concentration in human-computer interaction. Fernald discusses his experiences with language acquisition, cultural identity, and navigating racism in school settings, as well as his sense of belonging within Charlotte's growing Latino community. He also recounts family visits to Colombia and Peru, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his family and his father's work as both a mechanic and restaurant co-owner serving Charlotte's Latino population.