Q&A: ROBERTO LAMA

What are your hobbies?

I like to do a lot of different things. If the surf is good, I like to paddle out and enjoy the surf. My main sport is basketball; I was co-captain the past two years for the varsity team at Benjamin. I also like to play tennis with my family. Non-exercise related, I love 3-D printing, and I started my own company, Real3Ddesignz. I take custom orders and make them for clients. I also love playing the piano, and I love chess.

What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

If I were invisible for a day, I would go to D.C. and watch a top-secret security-level meeting. It would be a unique experience to see what really goes on in the highest levels of American government.

If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?

Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci is the quintessential Renaissance man and a personal hero who, along with other Renaissance figures, set Western Europe on the course it’s on. He was an incredibly talented artist and scientist, combining the two talents to imagine incredible things. He thought of the original drawbridge, tank and helicopter, among other things. I think any conversation with da Vinci would be extremely interesting.

What is the best advice you ever received?

“Good thing comes to those who wait, but only things left by those who hustle.”

What event in history would you have liked to have witnessed?

The March on Washington for jobs and freedom.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

One of my favorite childhood memories is running around in my backyard with my brothers and my (at the time) new dog. The other one is the first time I went deep-sea fishing and I caught a giant bonito.

Who is your hero, someone who inspires you?

My dad is my hero. He has shown me how perseverance and confidence in yourself are two of the most important traits for success. Even though he was already a trauma surgeon in Ecuador, he was denied a spot as a trauma resident in Miami for many years because he was an immigrant. Eventually, out of hard work, persistence and dedication, he earned the spot despite the troubles he faced from other doctors. He taught me that no matter what I want to do — be a successful doctor, businessman, lawyer — I can will myself to do it. If I put 110 percent effort into my goals, I can get to them.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that I used to compete in chess nationally. I was the No. 1-ranked player in my age group in Florida, and my best national place was third at a tournament in Houston.

What three things would you bring with you if you were stuck on a desert island?

I would bring fishing equipment (net/rod/tackle), a satellite phone and a knife.