Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Serrano.
Christian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Christian Serrano and I am the founder and CEO of Christian Serrano Construction. Twenty-nine years ago, you would have found me in the streets of Fresnillo, Zacatecas in Mexico, riding in my mom’s arms while my older brother was in my dad’s arms as we drove on our bike to “El Mercado.” If you asked my mom, she would tell you that I was always “Haciendo travesuras,” which translates to always doing things I was not supposed to be doing. If you ask me, I was always looking for an adventure. I loved the feeling of adrenaline running through my body. I loved the excitement I felt when I finally reached the top of the tallest tree. I loved the feeling of doing things that most people were too afraid to do. I guess you can say that the thrill of knowing I can do anything is what pushed and guided my ambition.
When I was five years old, my parents made the decision to come to the United States and begin a new life. My dad made this decision with exactly $83 in his pocket. I did not understand how little that was until I started working for my own money and began my own struggle as an immigrant. This is when I realized how valorous my dad truly was.
Other than having to repeat 2nd grade due to not knowing English, I did not have much difficulty adjusting to life in the US. I learned the American culture, language, and the best part, the food. I met my best friends. I went to parties. I lived life like a normal American. However, once it was my senior year in high school, that is when I started to realize that I was not normal at all. My friends were getting cars, jobs, applying for college, and getting a driver’s license. This is when it all fell into perspective for me, that because of my legal status, I could not do any of that. There was a moment when I wondered where I was going and what I was doing with my life. So, one day I told myself I am going to go to college, and I am going to do whatever I need to do to pay for it myself. I wanted to prove that I can do it and I can be somebody because nothing, not even my legal status, was going to stop me from being someone great.
It was my dream to go to a prestigious university where engineering was one of their main focuses. However, as I grew older, reality hit and I realized because of funds and my legal status, I was going to have to go somewhere closer to home. It took me six years to graduate, which is longer than it takes most college students. It wasn’t because I was not as smart as everyone else or I was out partying and not worried about my studies. It was because I paid every dime of my education out of pocket. For the first two years of college, I worked for a company that my immigrant father also worked for. It was not the ideal job for an 18-year-old guy, but I can say that I learned the value of a dollar and the value of your legal status. I went to school and worked long hours with my dad in the heat, building and making things for the engineers “upstairs.”
These engineers and architects sat upstairs in their offices and designed and created things for us to put together and send to the construction fields. It was a humbling experience, as I was getting paid what felt like minimum wage to do the hardest labor that I had ever done in my life. Because of my legal status, I did not qualify for government assistance and unfortunately, during high school, I was a typical teenager with education not being my number one priority, so scholarships were not an option. Therefore, I was left having to pay for my college education with a little bit of money I earned from this company.
While in college, just like in high school, there was a moment I realized I was not like the rest. One of my professors, Marcus Washington, informed me of an intern position open at HDR Engineering and how great he thought I would do at it. Unfortunately, when I mentioned my legal status, he told me I could not apply. This was when I really started to question everything I was doing and asking myself, why the hell am I doing this? I would go back and forth in my head, telling myself to just quit and step out of this dream I was trying to generate, step into reality. I went through many obstacles but I finally did it. I went after my goal to design, engineer, and build homes and buildings in Texas. So, I guess you can say nothing much has really changed; I am still that ambitious young boy running through the streets of Mexico looking to see where I can leave my footprint next.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As soon as I had almost given up on my education and dream due to lack of money, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was passed. This policy changed my entire life because it gave me hope and got me back into the right mindset of chasing my dream. For the first time in 20 years, I saw my hard work and dedication starting to pay off. This policy gave me the extra push I needed to keep going, keep getting paid minimum wage, keep pulling all-nighters, continue learning from the people around me, but most of all, keep fighting for my dream.
After I applied for DACA and got approved, my professor reached out to me and told me to apply to the intern position that was available a few months before. I quickly filled out my application and a few days later, I was offered the position. I was excited and ready to embark on this new journey. For the first time, I had my own job, using my own ID, using my own legal status, a dreamer.
Although DACA provided me with a great sense of hope, things did not get any easier. My classes got harder, my bills got higher, and I was still working as an intern where my check went to my education and gas. I remember one specific day when everyone in the office went out to happy hour on the company card, and this happy hour turned into a few hours of drinking and having a good time. What my colleagues did not know was that I was already planning on sleeping at the office that night, not because I knew I was going to have a few drinks, but because I did not have enough money to pay for my gas to get me back home. My bosses came in that morning surprised to see me there an hour early, I laughed and brushed it off and we continued to talk about what a great night it was. This is the first time I am telling this story to someone who is not my wife or my best friends and I’m saying it because I think it’s important to look back at the struggle to be able to appreciate where that struggle got you.
Around my year five of school, I was given the opportunity to work with another engineering firm as one of their intern engineers. This is where I learned the ins and outs of not only engineering but also architecture and project management. The following year, I graduated with my degree in Civil Engineering and after receiving multiple job offers, I decided to continue to work with this company. After a few years of working and networking, I decided to take the step to start my own company. This is when Christian Serrano Construction was born. I started having clients of my own. Small remodels and a few blueprints here and there. Because of this, I decided to file a DBA under Christian Serrano Custom Homes.
After my clientele grew, I asked my then fiancé what she thought about me quitting my job and working for my own company full time. Without hesitation, she told me to go for it. See, two things we both have in common is that we are both ambitious and huge risk-takers. I knew she would not say no but I also knew that her yes would give me the push I needed. I informed my job and about a month after, I filed for an LLC as Christian Serrano Construction and here we are, a dreamer.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Christian Serrano Construction is a construction firm that focuses on making our clients experience a smooth process while building their dream home or commercial business. While most constructors outsource their design work to one architectural firm and their engineering work to another engineering firm, Christian Serrano Construction is one of the very few companies in the DFW area that offers all of the above within the same company, which makes the process much easier for our clients. We guide our clients from designing their future home or commercial building with our in-house professional architects to engineering those same plans and preparing them for city permitting to building and furnishing the entire project. We make it that easy. Renderings is also one of our specialties. Our state-of-the-art technology allows our clients the ability to get a true vision and feel of what their project will actually look like in real life before even breaking ground.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
As a teenager, I always thought money defined success. I wanted to have all the nice clothes, cars, and luxuries life had to offer. As I grew older and gained perspective, I realized that success means positively impacting the lives of others. This includes my family, friends, and even strangers. Another way I define success is by setting concrete goals and pushing myself to attain them while still remembering my purpose. Lastly, I define my success by my internal happiness with myself, my wife, and my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: christianserranoconstruction.com
- Phone: 4693836084
- Email: info@cserranohomes.com
- Instagram: @christianserranocustomhomes
- Facebook: Christian Serrano Custom Homes
Image Credit:
My wife – Marie Serrano
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