One night, gunshots banged left and right, sirens blasting outside my windows. All I had to hug was my soccer ball; no teddy bear, no favorite toy, just my soccer ball. For, as long as I knew, I felt sure that everything would be okay, as long as I was holding that ball. The following day, on my way to school, I saw blood on the floor, cops around the scene, my mom by my side saying, “Dale mijo, sigue caminando,” “Keep walking son.” My mother never liked the fact that I had to see and experience these things. But, she always told me, “Pase lo que pase sigue enfocado hacia adelante.”Similar to Dory in finding nemo would say “ Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” Following up to my freshman year of high school, Soccer was now not just a distraction from all the violence, it was something even bigger. It was about representing my school, teamwork, and dedication. Soccer is sublime. Through sweat, tears, triumphs, and loses; there was beauty through the challenges. With my moms phrase in mind, I was ready for anything that came in my path. I learned to adapt to new teammates, a new environment, and be disciplined to manage my academics, all while getting to experience a once in a lifetime path to championship. Me and my teammates' accomplishment inspired the younger version of myself. The drive to help me be the prime example to youth in the community, and show them that the path that soccer leads to is also attainable to them. Soccer has been the driving force of who I am today and who I aspire to become. Hope, the force that leads youth and myself in a positive direction in the midst of chaos. In hopes for a better future and becoming a role model, I have become a well rounded student through the skill of discipline. With the guidance of God and Soccer, I want to show youth you can do both, successfully.

As a first generation child of two immigrant parents, I aspire to get a degree in Agricultural Business. Growing up in the Salinas Valley, surrounded by field and field workers, I witnessed the challenges faced by them. Busting their back in the hot scorching sun, and it aspired to make a difference within my community, by continuing my education. With higher education I hope to collaborate and gain the knowledge to come back and change the industry for all people who make the difference. I overcame many challenges, one being the violence and limited resource within the community for the youth. I was once that youth who was surrounded by hurdles to higher education, or plain simple a high school diploma. One night, gunshots banged left and right, sirens blasting outside my windows. All I had to hug was my soccer ball; no teddy bear, no favorite toy, just my soccer ball. For, as long as I knew, I felt sure that everything would be okay, as long as I was holding that ball. The following day, on my way to school, I saw blood on the floor, cops around the scene, my mom by my side saying, “Dale mijo, sigue caminando,” “Keep walking son.” My mother never liked the fact that I had to see and experience these things. But, she always told me, “Pase lo que pase sigue enfocado hacia adelante.” Similar to Dory in finding nemo would say “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” Following up to my freshman year of high school, Soccer was now not just a distraction from all the violence, it was something even bigger. It was about representing my school, teamwork, and dedication. Soccer is sublime. Through sweat, tears, triumphs, and loses; there was beauty through the challenges. With my moms’ phrase in mind, I was ready for anything that came in my path. I learned to adapt to new teammates, a new environment, and be disciplined to manage my academics, all while getting to experience a once in a lifetime path(road) to championship. Me and my teammates' accomplishment inspired the younger version of myself. The drive to that would help me be the prime example to youth in the community, and show them that the path led by soccer is also attainable to them. Soccer has been the driving force of who I am today and who I aspire to become. Hope, the force that leads youth and myself in a positive direction in the midst of chaos. In hopes for a better future and becoming a role model, I have become a well rounded student through the skill of discipline. With the guidance of God and Soccer, I want to show youth you can do both, successfully.