There was no way for Luis Manuel Gomez Martinez to have predicted when he grew up in a city just outside San Luis Potosi, Mexico, that he would one day become one of the most beloved members of the Tyler Perry Studios team.

Our studio knows Luis for his tireless work ethic and his positive outlook, both of which were in full display this last month when Luis became an official US citizen. We asked Luis a few questions about his work at the studio and what becoming an American citizen means to him.

How did you end up working at Tyler Perry Studios?
Someone I knew was working here and told me they were looking for one more person.

What did you do before you worked at TPS?
I did different jobs, delivery truck, fork lift driver, in warehouses, lands keeping, repairing houses, and a few more. In Mexico, I worked on the fields harvesting corn, cotton, sugar cane, and more. I also did jewelry repair and for two years I was a firefighter (I started to work when I was about 8-10 years old).

What is a normal day like for you at the studio?
Mmmmm, I don’t think there are normal days at TPS! What I mean is that I never know for sure what I’m going to be dealing with every day. I need to keep up with daily, weekly, and monthly checks around the studios, buildings, picture cars, and different crews. I assist and help with the projects that are going on in the property, production, construction, maintenance, and more. And basically I respond to any needs that are through the day. It’s super fun!

What does becoming an American mean to you?
Becoming a citizen of the United States of America, it’s literally a dream come true for me! It is hard to describe with words what I feel, but it means pride, strength, knowing that I can keep going through any situation on my life, and more. It was really hard to get here and to stay, I’m going to work harder, on my family, myself, and my job to show how much I appreciate the opportunity.