Carlos Rodriguez

Shortly after graduating López high school I began my path towards music performance where I had the opportunity to become a performer in different styles of music. Some of the groups being: Banda la kineñita, Blue Rio, Show band, Latin Vibe Show Band, La Gran Sonora De Mike, Son Montuno and Alberto Cruz y su 956. I have also had the opportunity to expand my classical performance by being participant of Camille playhouse in Brownsville, Texas, Harlingen Conservatory at Harlingen, Texas and with the Harlingen Family Entertainment in Harlingen, Texas.

Summer of 2020 to summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to grow in my construction job to lead a group of 15 workers. Despite my young age, the willingness of wanting to succeed made it possible to make this happen. From giving statements to new and recent clients, instructing other peers to jobs and supervising, to buying material for all potential jobs. Getting the best jobs possible, building my customer service skills, dealing with hard customers, to always finding the best deals for materials was a part of me. Working is a privilege to the ones that want to actually make it a difference in my opinion. Learning from my past boss and exercising good leadership skills really promoted me within the company to become a leader. Despite of my young age I found the best methods possible to teach the rest of my peers on sight. Working under these circumstances really made me realize that hard work was a part of me.

Fall of 2026 was a game changer for me. I took upon the best challenge yet so far, working retail at 5 below. Only two months into my time at 5 Below I was already giving an imported task at another location, doing inventory. Nerve racking? Absolutely, but my dedication to wanting to work is what promoted my manager, Obed Ruiz to place me in that position. I learned a lot in that just one day. Patience, muscle memory, counting and sense of urgency is what is needed to do such job. My past experience of completing cycle count really helped out in completing this similar task. Shortly after that I was called into helping out at a neighbor stores such as Lubbock, Donna, Edinburgh, Mission and Pleasanton, Texas. My short experience, only 4 months into the career at 5 Below really was exciting that helping other peers to purge, do freight and clean. I took my well known knowledge and encouraged others to get the job done.

April 2026 was another big step in my career with 5 Below. Having the sense of urgency during freight, my excellent customer service skills during face to face hours and a great grasp of leadership took me to applying and earning the position of Merchandising Manager for our New store in Brownsville, 5208 under Obed Ruiz. A roller coaster of emotions rushing in on a day by day basis with tasks to completed, merchandise to be moved really excite me as a person, leader and mentor for new generations to the 5 Below Family. Not forgetting to mention the level of expectations to what it is to open new a five below across Texas: Lubbock, Brownville and Mercedes Texas. This and more experience will continue to open doors to keep leading in different places and areas within the 5 five family.

During my Short time as an Assistant Band Director at Vernon middle school, I truly experienced the importance of making a teen student content. My passion for teaching and looking for the best option for a student really marked my characteristic to wanting to work with students. My past knowledge growing up in a tight and humble family really made me understand the limited options a student could have when wanting to achieve the imposible. As an Independent contractor I really had to negotiate the best price for my time and commute to get to school, teach and impact 25 students at once. This chapter in my life helped mold my characteristic towards teen kids to understand them to help them succeed or find the best solution possible.