The Mission

 

 

Ernie Mariscal is an inspirational speaker who has turned a life marked by adversity into a mission to inspire others.

Ernie endured abuse as a child, experienced homelessness as a teenager, and eventually dropped out of high school. At 17 years old, he found himself living on the streets and making choices that were putting his life in danger.

Then came a near-death experience that changed the direction of his life.

Determined to make a change, Ernie returned to school, graduated, and joined the United States Army at 19 years old.

Ernie proudly served his country for 21 years, including two combat deployments to Iraq. His first deployment was from 2004–2005 with the 1st Cavalry Division, and his second was from 2009–2010 with the 1st Infantry Division, where he served as a combat advisor to Iraqi forces.

After retiring from the Army in 2012, Ernie faced a challenge he never expected: learning how to adjust to civilian life.

Within one year, he went through five different jobs while struggling to find his purpose outside of the military. Severe depression began to take over his life, and Ernie turned to alcohol to cope with his pain and suicidal thoughts.

Then, one phone call changed everything.

A local high school administrator who had heard Ernie's story invited him to speak to students about his military career.

When Ernie stood in front of those students and began sharing his story, something happened that he never expected.

He found his calling.

For the first time, Ernie felt a deep sense of purpose, belonging, and worth. He realized that the experiences he had spent years trying to overcome could become the very experiences he could use to help others.

Today, Ernie speaks to corporations, schools, organizations, and communities about veteran transitions, overcoming trauma and PTSD, workplace leadership, healing from abuse, personal accountability, and maximizing the opportunities life provides.

His message is simple but powerful:

Your past may explain you, but it does not have to define you.

Ernie believes that every person wakes up with two things: opportunities and choices. What we do with those opportunities—and the choices we make—can change the direction of our lives.

His personal motto says it all:

“I am addicted to inspiring the world!