My name is Genaro Ezequiel Hernandez Jr, I intend to major in Biological Sciences. I've faced many adversities and hardships that have shaped and fostered my growth. Some may include frequently relocating and losing my father. Though these events took a toll on me, physically and mentally, I learned to use them as motivation instead of a burden that would linger. Over the summer before my junior year, I changed schools. My family was also in the process of making some major changes. My father left due to drug addiction, and a week after I turned 18, he passed away. Being by his side when he passed away on August 28, 2025, at 2:13 AM was a feeling I'll never forget. It was the first time I had seen him in 2 years, and it was him, unconscious, lying down with tubes in his mouth. I felt like giving up, but then I remembered how much he wanted me to succeed. He was an undocumented immigrant who never got the opportunities that many other people did. He never had a stable job, so he and I used to work together to make money for the family by washing cars. As soon as school was over, he would pick me up in his little old truck with all of his equipment, and we would go wash cars for the rest of the day. Although I had little time for my studies, I made sure that I kept my grades up I wasn't embarrassed of my father when he used to pick me up, but instead I was proud of what a hard worker he was. It was memories like those that made me strive to be better. After he passed, I was forced to take on more responsibility at home. Being the oldest of three, I took on the role of looking after my brother and sister while also teaching them life skills that our father wasn't able to. I was forced to fill the shoes that my father left while I was still growing into mine. It was a lot to handle, but I was determined to turn this hardship into something that would inspire me. Adjusting to a new school and home during my junior year was challenging. I didn’t know anyone there, and the system was new to me. I used my communication skills to connect with teachers and students. I did not let fear separate me from possible opportunities. Within weeks, I settled in and began to challenge myself academically and socially. I enrolled in rigorous courses, including AP U.S. History (APUSH), AP Precalculus, and AP Language. APUSH was my favorite, not necessarily because it was not difficult, but because it was the most challenging. It made me want to become more, not just as a student, but as a thinker. I also remained in the AVID program for the third year in a row because of how well prepared it had left me for college success. Then senior year came around, and it had happened again. We moved houses as well as schools. I now attend Rialto Highschool but now things have changed. I used my previous experience with moving to an unknown area to help me adapt quicker by using the same skills I used last time while still taking rigorous courses that will help me reach my goal. These struggles and hardships have affected me mentally and physically, but they have not held me back from reaching my true potential. Instead, I used them as fuel and motivation to make my family proud.