“If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” This maxim from legendary surfer Frosty Hesson revealed itself to me during late high school, while drowning amidst the swells of trauma-induced anxiety, friendships, the lack thereof, and a highly competitive debate career. I desperately needed something to keep me afloat, which is why I decided to regularly awake at the crack of dawn and go surfing. Truthfully, I would have rather stayed nestled in my warm bed than plunge into the frigid Pacific Ocean, but all aspects of my life—mental, physical and emotional, all being connected—depended on this change. Hollywood’s idolized surf culture is depicted as effortless and hip. I quickly learned it is not so. Surfing requires dedication, endurance and grit. Though initially I was clumsy, kooky and exhausted, I was also happier than I’d been in a long time. Surfing was the solution. The Los Angeles Outpatient Center reported in 2025 an estimated 42.5 million U.S. adults are living with an anxiety disorder, a number nearly as large as the population of California, our most populated state! The American Heart Association and National Institute of Health are waving red flags about declining physical health in adults, young people and now even children. Has our country been riding the wave of wealth and comfort, neglecting to dip down into the swell that supports a crest and keep it strong? Biologically, physical health is intrinsically connected to mental and emotional well-being. Our bodies are cohesive systems working with different parts. Technology prods us to relax into sedentary habits yet physical activity paradoxically makes us accomplish individual feats that rejuvenate us. This is why doctors and psychiatrists alike recommend regular exercise as one of the first remedies for anxiety and depression. Though it is challenging to begin new habits, my journey showed me the solution to health can be summarized in one word, FIT: Fully commit to yourself and your outlet of activity; Immerse in the benefits; and Track your success in the physical, emotional and mental gains, they will be numerous! Upon arriving at college and parting with my beloved ocean, I began to deal with a myriad of resurrected challenges. I was faced with intense academics, work, friendships, and new pursuits. All were unfamiliar. Surfing had taught me to be FIT, thus I reapplied FIT in this new environment through hiking and rock climbing. A run or long walk sufficed on days when those were less accessible. Today, as a rising college sophomore, I firmly believe a day spent without exercise is a missed opportunity to encounter the gifts it yields. Surfing was my solution when I needed to establish fitness to overcome other challenges. Today, it has become a beautiful metaphor for my life. It shows how challenges initially so terrifying as six-foot waves become something conquerable. It shows how life supersedes the tugging pull of seaweed, kelp and an occasional seal. And it shows that paddling, resting, and paddling and resting again leads to eventual success. When I return to California, I still surf using that same foam board that caught my first wave to positive mental health and crisp clarity. The board is now duct taped at the nose and slightly water-logged, but it catches the waves to a brighter shore of holistic well-being, leaving anxiety far behind.

Como Aguantar Con Gracia: The Story of a Mexican Family One childhood memory impressed me more than any other: Tia Monica dropping off her children at school, driving an hour to care for my Abuelos in their home, and then driving an hour home to meet her children after school. Though one might suggest someone else could check in on my Abuelos so Tia Monica could pursue other endeavors, they were her endeavors. The world tells us to measure the successful individual as “creating themselves” and prioritizing their desires, economic gains, and public image. However, being raised in a Mexican family of eight has shown me that individuals must be taught about the indispensable parts of themselves from someone else in order to nourish those aspects. This is what I call, “familia”. “Familia” is an unbreakable organization run by abuelos, papas, hermanos, tíos y primos who teach you the prerequisite of becoming a successful individual is “como aguantar con gracia”: graceful resilience. Though there are many ways to accomplish this, my own family has taught me three: industry, celebrating hard work, and putting others first. In a Mexican family, industry is fostered at an early age and nourished over time. My Abuelo often called our home “the workshop” because of the industry represented in educating children, preparing family meals, and supporting those leaving the house for work or school. In the bright blue painted clay-walled home of my Abuelos’ home, industry also included cultivating avocados and limes in the garden to enhance every meal. In industry, there is a rhythm or craft present in every task. With this example, at the sweet age of thirteen, I started my own small business and sold hundreds of gourmet cupcakes baked in our kitchen. Industry and quality of workmanship are the foundations of Hispanic craftsmanship. Beauty, art, color and care are implicit everywhere. This leads to the second principle: work hard and celebrate. Mi papa asserts that, “God helps those who wake up early.” Thus, once in high school, my parents enrolled me in an online class at 5:30 a.m. so I could participate in speech and debate. Though not happy to be an early bird, my hard work was eventually recognized, and one late night, I arrived home with the trophy. My family eagerly awaited to congratulate me…with a container of mint ice cream. Similarly, we rarely leave a gathering before the cake is cut, because of the importance of taking the time to celebrate others. This leads me to a final reflection: others first. Studies show that, despite facing greater socioeconomic disadvantages, Hispanics tend to live longer by several years compared to the average American. Commonly, our most valuable commodities are not our cars, phones, finances, or degrees but the people around us, from friends to strangers. The gift of self is something to aspire to. Recently, my uncle contracted sepsis. His phone constantly vibrated, receiving over 200 messages asking, “What can we do for Luis?” Friends and family offered to donate blood on his behalf because my uncle, a caregiver himself, has always prioritized others as his true profession. A true education includes both giving and receiving. I have received this rich heritage. To seek to develop my mind and learn skills through a college education, I can, in turn, give back to others and become even more myself. I am grateful for the foundation exemplified in my familia and culture that prepared me to pursue higher education. I am also grateful to anticipate returning home to share in sorrows, joys, and, hopefully, a taste of Abuela’s sopes.