I auditioned for 'Coco' when I was nine years old, and I had no

When Anthony Gonzalez recalls, “I auditioned for Coco when I was nine years old, and I had no idea I was auditioning for a Disney/Pixar movie. When I was 10, they told me that it was going to be a Disney/Pixar movie, and I was just mind-blown. I was so shocked and thankful that I was going to Pixar,” he speaks with the innocent awe of youth encountering destiny. His words capture that sacred moment when a child’s dream collides with a reality greater than he could imagine. What began as a simple audition revealed itself as the doorway into a world of storytelling that would touch the hearts of millions.

At its heart, this quote is about gratitude and wonder in the face of opportunity. For Anthony, the chance to voice Miguel in Coco was not merely a job, but a revelation—that he was chosen to be part of something legendary. To discover that his voice would help carry the message of family, heritage, and memory to the world was a gift beyond expectation. His thankfulness is the natural response of one who understands that such blessings are rare and sacred.

History has often witnessed such moments, when ordinary beginnings blossomed into extraordinary callings. Consider the young Anne Frank, who began writing in her diary with no thought of fame, only to have her words become a testimony to hope for generations. Or J.K. Rowling, who scribbled notes on scraps of paper, unaware that those words would grow into a story that would enchant the globe. Like Anthony, they did not see the vastness of their path at the beginning, yet their shock and gratitude came when the world revealed the magnitude of what they had stepped into.

Anthony’s story also teaches us about the humility of beginnings. At nine years old, he did not know the weight of Disney/Pixar, only that he was auditioning, giving his best. This innocence is a lesson in itself: we do not need to know the scale of our destiny to walk toward it. Sometimes, the seeds of greatness are sown in moments that feel small, unnoticed, or ordinary. It is only later, when the fruit blossoms, that we realize how sacred those early steps truly were.

The phrase “mind-blown” speaks to the overwhelming realization of being part of something larger than oneself. In this recognition lies the seed of humility: Anthony did not boast, but stood in awe. And awe is the foundation of wisdom—it teaches us that the blessings we receive are not only for our benefit but for the service of others. His thankfulness is not only for himself, but for the chance to contribute to a story that carried beauty, culture, and love to the world.

The deeper wisdom here is to live with eyes open to wonder. Too often, people rush through opportunities without pausing to marvel at them. Anthony’s reaction teaches us to hold tightly to gratitude, to be astonished by the gifts life offers, and to recognize when destiny places us on paths greater than we dreamed. Gratitude magnifies these moments, turning them from fleeting chances into eternal memories.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: be ready for your own unseen auditions, the moments that may seem small now but could one day open to greatness. When revelation comes and you find yourself standing in places beyond your imagination, meet it with humility, with wonder, and with thankfulness. For as Anthony Gonzalez shows us, the greatest blessings often arrive when we least expect them—and the soul that receives them with gratitude is the one most worthy to carry them forward.