Willingness To Give When I was a little boy, I quickly learned that in every community, there are people who are disadvantaged. Not because they are lazy, but through one factor or the other, these people could not afford to live as comfortably. It is with this knowledge that I, one day, found myself face to face with a young boy walking home from school with his backpack torn, books hanging from the holes, clutching pencils, pens, and a ruler in his hands. It was then that I resolved that even though I could not save the world, I could at least do something to put a smile on one person’s face. I resolved to purchase him a new backpack. The smile on his face was priceless, and worth me spending my little bit of savings. This experience birthed my community driven backpack supply project, Equipping Our Children for Success (EOCFS). For the past 8 years, I have collected, solicited donations, and purchased backpacks and school supplies to be distributed to kids that are in need within my community. Partnering with local churches and community organizations, to date we have distributed over 400 backpacks with supplies. This backpack project was an eye-opener into what an individual can achieve in society with just the willingness to help. Consequently, it motivated me to participate with habitat for humanity, where I assisted in painting walls, hanging doors, and cleaning floors, for families that have been gifted low cost housing. I currently spend my free time volunteering with Contra Costa Food Bank, where I assist in sorting & packing food at the warehouse, and visit my locations where food is distributed to families. I find great joy in doing whatever I can to help better the lives of others. Growing up my family was barely able to meet our basic needs, which caused me to go without things, feel less than the other kids, and even being ostracized. Ultimately, this has led to me developing empathy and a great compassion for those that are in need. Being able to give just the little that I can has shown me, that you do not need a bunch of money to help others. Giving of yourself and time is the greatest gift that you can offer someone, and it cost you nothing. I can image the impact we could make, if each of us had a heart to help, compassion for people, and the willingness to give.

Angela Duckworth True Grit; says ,"Grit is a combination of hard work and perseverance while keeping a growth mindset. It is living life like a marathon not a sprint”. To me this means that life is not about who starts off the fastest, but who is able to embrace the setbacks and endure to the very end. This quote is special because I ran across it at a time in my life when I was spiraling downwards and these very words taught me the meaning of resilience and guided me on the right path, and I haven't looked back since.

My greatest inspiration is the desire to succeed. Through past struggles I have learned that a person goes through many types of difficulties in life. Some people lose hope and think of quitting. Failing once or several times does not mean that you have failed. There is always a way of overcoming the hard times to achieve your idea of success. Success is so many things for so many people. My ideal of success is living my true purpose and having a positive impact on the lives of people that I encounter. At the age of three when most kids are discovering themselves and the things around them; my world was abruptly disrupted due to my parents’ divorce. At a time when a mother is the most important female influence that a growing boy needs; my mother was gone. I remember feeling rejected and unloved, and my life spiraling downwards. The next several years was rough, I was always fighting, acting out, failing in school. At such a young age, I had virtually given up. It was not until high school that things began to change. I read Angela Duckworth’s True Grit. This book made me understand hard work, perseverance, and resilience, while keeping a growth mindset. I learned that life is like a marathon and not a sprint, it is not about who starts off the fastest, but who is able to embrace the setbacks and endure to the very end. I graduated high school as a scholar athlete in both football and track. Today as I enter my final year of college, I know that I am preparing for success. I have taken my love of sports combined with my passion for helping people and chose a career as a physical therapist. After graduation, it is my hope to go back to my high school and work with the sports program. I have created a foundation that provides backpacks and school supplies to local kids. To date we have donated well over 200+ backpacks. I commit to volunteering numerous hours at the local food bank when I am home for summer and holiday breaks. My greatest success is knowing that I have positively impacted the life of another person.