A fantastic choice: Limitless by Jim Kwik. In the book, Mr. Kwik discusses how he was once a young boy who was referred to as "the boy with a broken brain," due to a head injury during his childhood. He proceeds to attend high school and college just sliding by with grades to pass but always having to work harder until he discovers how he learns and how we are never taught how to learn. By providing us with tips, tricks, and explanations, I was able to improve the rate at which I read books, improved my brain imagery, and created and achieved goals more efficiently. An improved version of myself would soon learn that I would have to improve again. One example would be how Mr. Kwik educated me on books stating that fiction books will increase activity in a portion of your brain that is not as active when reading non-fiction books. He explained to me how our brains are imagery based and how it is easier to remember images or a series of images, instead of words. By discussing certain foods to eat to improve brain function and breaking down goals with his S.M.A.R.T method that Google now uses, I have been able to become a better person and achieve the next version of myself faster than I thought possible. I discovered I have a gift for teaching and explaining when I began to confidently teach martial arts classes. Showing students that they can break a board and stand up to a bully provides a sense of pride on the inside and the new strong kids that they became made me feel like I was providing a service to my community. With that sense of pride in mind, I decided to see how else I could improve my community once more by bringing knowledge from another city, so I left for college to push my limits and improve myself even further. I woke up and was slapped hard across the face by college life and not knowing how to study, how to create a schedule, or even survive beyond basic needs. I struggled, kicked, used what Mr. Kwik taught me, and made it to the end of my first year. With a summer break ahead of me, I decided to try something new and work on my sales skills. These gentlemen were entrepreneurs and didn't stop at showing me sales skills. Every day I learned something about myself, people, and San Antonio. It was within these three months, I had to continuously change, push, apply what I had learned, and keep moving forward. I was once again someone smarter, stronger, and better than I was before. Upon my return to Austin, I lived with a relative to save some money and looked for something different due to my internship ending in San Antonio. After working for Best Buy for 9 months, I realized I had not improved myself in any areas other than product knowledge in the tech world. I returned to El Paso and am continuing my degree while pushing myself in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I must now learn how to manage my time for work, school, and fitness in order to become the next version of myself: a successful business owner. The word successful in this scenario can be defined as giving back to the community through school sponsorships, organizing and contributing to community events, and raising leaders for the next generation. I once heard my martial arts coach say "A true leader does not create more followers. They create more leaders."

Passionate about finishing. Ed Mylett, an American businessman, once said that a person's level of confidence is directly correlated to the promises they keep to themselves. In recent years, I have found Mr. Mylett's words to be true. By making and honoring small promises to myself, such as making my bed, reading, or practicing Spanish daily, I have discovered that I have more faith in myself when I assure someone that I will fulfill their requests. Moreover, I strive not only to go through the motions but to execute tasks to the best of my ability. My college career began in high school as an early college student. I finished and proceeded to attend the University of Texas at Austin. During Covid-19, online classes were difficult. I failed one class and my GPA was thrown off entirely. After looking into how I could change my major, I realized that I was ineligible. In order to change majors at UT Austin, one must have thirty local credit hours at the university, but no more than ninety. Sixty-three of my college credits from high school had transferred, so I never was eligible to change majors. I regrettably dropped out of college to pursue a career in sales. In the back of my mind was a voice that said "You have not finished your college degree. You must finish your college degree." It was at this moment, I felt my self-confidence begin to drop. Proceeding an internship in San Antonio, I returned to Austin. The next several months were a lie to my parents about how I am doing well in school when in reality, I am eating two bean and rice burritos from Chipotle to keep myself afloat financially and my confidence continued to drop. After every customer, a little voice in my head repeated to me "You have not finished your college degree. You must finish your college degree." After having enough to scrape by in Austin, I headed home to El Paso. Through my first 6 months, I advertised car washes and details along with yard work to build up some cash and go back to school. And the car breaks down, so I push back my start date. Being blessed to get a job at Best Buy, I begin to build up enough funds to go back. And my family requires babysitting services from me, so I push back my start date. All the while, the little voice whispers "You have not finished your college degree. You must finish your college degree." Life often tests our determination by placing obstacles in our path, gauging our level of commitment. After several months of hard work, I open a separate bank account and deposit enough for one class. God gave my parents the will to fight for everything that they have today, and it would be wrong for me to sit by and not advance my own education. While I may not graduate among my High School colleagues, I am determined to see it through. It was at the moment upon opening my college bank account, that I felt a small boost of confidence along with the volume of the voice receding into the nothingness from which it came because the voice, my conscience, knows that I will finish. As mentioned earlier, I have secured funding for my initial class. I am currently preparing for the spring semester of 2024, and I believe it is important for the judges to be aware of when their generous support will be utilized to further my education.

A long time ago, in this galaxy, my parents made a decision to put me in martial arts. I left as a second degree black belt and a head instructor. Now, I get martial arts classes for free. They have expanded their programs to include Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. I have learned that it is very important to create a schedule and stick to it. My schedule consits of martial arts in the evenings for an hour to ninety minutes. It allows me an outlet to forget everything for a moment and enjoy the stress relief that the sports can provide. Along with the training, my instructors provide nutritional advice. For example, only drinking water, plain coffee, and regular tea means no sugar intake through liquids. Now, all I have to do is focus on eating oatmeal for breakfast along with some supplements, spanish rice and beans for lunch, and a protein shake for dinner. I've also noticed that my body has learned to adapt to what I eat, so if I eat a meal that is out of the usual, I can loose energy, feel stomach pains, or just not feel my best. Over the past several months, these habits of eating heatlhy and being active in a martial arts community have contributed immensely to a happier and healthier version of me. With time now, I work on other necessary parts of me so that I can achieve certain goals, such as increased focus or improving memory. In a book titled "Limitless," by Jim Kwik, I read that your stomach is your second brain, the only way to think clearly and function at your best is to feed your brain with good foods; that is why I focus on restricting my sugar content and consistently sticking to my strict diet. Everyone knows that excercise is necessary to live a long happy life, however, you should not be playing tackle football as a 65 year old, running can wear on your knees and joints, and other sports just take a toll on your body. Martial arts, fortunately, can be practiced as a life sport. I once met a 70 year old jiu jitsu practicioner, and my coach has been a martial arts practicioner for nearly 40 years. With the combination of a life sport, good eating, and a strong mind, I believe that I will be able to conquer not only my degree but also my life goals: starting and running a succesfull long term business.

Robert Kiyosaki and my martial arts instructor, Adam Morales, inspired me to start a business. There is a lot to it. While the majority believe that all you need is to rent a spot and sell a t-shirt or two, they are surely mistaken. There are risks, an EIN, leadership skills, tax and bookkeeping knowledge, marketing, psychological information, and much more that has to be known and applied. The best part is when someone fails...but gets back up and pursues their dreams! That is a determined business owner! However, this individual who has rebounded from the hurdles that life has thrown at them must take their business to another level. It should be the goal of most business owners to be entrepreneurs. I discovered this two weeks ago while I was supporting Mr. Morales' daughter at one of her volleyball games. Mr. Morales runs a martial arts studio in El Paso, Texas. They have been in business for 12 years. I always saw him at the school teaching, working in the back, cleaning, or signing up customers for a program. In the beginning, he rarely had time for his family; I never knew what his 12-year goal was until that night at the volleyball game. Mr. Morales was able to leave his gym and support his daughter, while his coaches taught classes. Mr. Morales was making money and was able to spend time with his family. It was at that moment I realized, Mr. Morales is not a business owner, he is an entrepreneur. I realized I wanted to be an entrepreneur when I heard several stories about how people run a business and are able to make money while spending time with their families. In order to be the best entrepreneur I can be, I believe that I need something that Mr. Morales does not have: A college degree. Professors can open your mind like a young child opening a Christmas present on Christmas morning. I firmly intend with the help of my future professors and peers, to grow a business, and improve the quality of not only our lives but also the lives of those around us. As an employer, I would be able to provide entry-level jobs and lifelong careers for those in the community. I would be able to participate in what Mr. Morales refers to as the basket brigade, an event where students raise money through kicks to fund the making of Thanksgiving baskets for those in need. As a resident of the City of El Paso, Texas, I believe that those who are fleeing their country will be in dire need of food this upcoming November. The pursuit of a college degree to build a business, so I can spend less time working at a job, and instead help those in need is what drives me to finish my college education and build a successful business.

If there is one attribute that I believe is missing in most people, it's honesty. This essay will provide you with my honesty towards our education system. Some teachers teach to inspire, and others teach to pay bills. Some teachers who have never started or run a business end up teaching intro to entrepreneurship, and while they may not be able to give you as much information as a successful dropout, they may be the inspiration you need to either start or continue your business. If I were to really compare starting a business to education, I would say they both come with a lot of homework and dedication. Without learning how to focus on your grades and discipline yourself to do certain things on time in college, you will never make it out in the real world. A great example would be paying your quarterly taxes. You will have to keep all your paperwork in order and turn in your "assignment" on time like you would in class. However, your teacher in the real world is the IRS; I would highly recommend turning in your assignments on time. Schooling can bring you closer to those lifelong friends who can help you grow your business. Education, however, contains the concepts necessary to make your business thrive in the real world. I was once told by my martial arts instructor, "be like a ball of putty," he said, "pick up a little bit of everything from everywhere you go." Yes, you can get plenty of education and experience from outside the classroom, but you may miss something that can take your business further faster with that little bit of knowledge than without it.

Mr. Ed Mylett. This gentleman started his journey in California, graduated with a degree in communication, and did nothing after he graduated. His father was an alcoholic, however, Mr. Mylett's father realized he needed to change if his family was to remain under one roof. After one year of sitting at home with a college degree, Mr. Mylett's father came home and provided his son with a job. The son, Ed, took the job. He was to mentor and watch after young boys who had been molested, orphaned, or have been through unthinkable pasts. Following his job there, he met Mr. Rich Thawley and went after his life insurance license. After 30 years of hard work, dedication, and the sacrifice he is worth over $400 million, is a top 50 speaker in the US (according to members.real-leaders.com), and author of "The power of one more." What excites me about being an entrepreneur is the ability to help people. Most jobs give people a paycheck and a retirement that drops with the market. I want to help prepare people for their futures. I have helped martial arts students achieve the rank of black belt. I love being able to help out younger teens understand algebra two or geometry when they have trouble grasping a concept. When an elderly couple needs their lawn cut, I would show up the next day. The idea of helping American Citizens financially did not hit me until the winter of 2021. Now that I have helped educate and set some families up for the future, I have found a divine passion not for financial products, but for assisting families financially because I know that the majority of the US population does not receive proper financial education in school. Now that my business is getting some traffic, I often ponder on how could I get further faster? My answer, finish my degree. With a degree, I will have more knowledge, necessary skills, and another credential to provide my future clients and business partners with confidence in their associates and leader.

I remember the day clearly. It was my first degree Black Belt test at a martial arts school in El Paso, Texas. There were eight of us. This was only the first of the two four hour tests. We were all pushing each other through the test. However, in the middle of our first test, my confidence dropped when my instructors said to sit down and told us that the only person who has the possibility of passing the test is a student who has 137 classes on their attendance card. This student was of Korean origin, and I could tell was somewhat favored over me in a small sense. We all continued to push. The sweat, tears, and puke all paid off on our graduation day. With my confidence low, I was invited to participate to become an instructor, and with the Korean student, I knew it would difficult. I finally regained my confidence when I began to work twice as hard. One year later, the student of Korean descent had quit his journey, leaving me and the others to be teachers. Through five years, only two of us stayed. I had continued to work hard, and my reward was becoming the first head instructor to teach alongside my instructor. It was, and still is, a great honor. I realized that without self-love and self-confidence, it is much harder to do anything because I was not able to believe it. It was through hard work, religion, and family that I was able to realize how far I had made it. With the ability to have confidence in what I do, and through God, I now know that all things are possible.

I discovered my love for yoga through a kindergarten teacher who happened to have connections with my martial arts instructor. Approximately two years ago, our martial arts school added a program by the name of "Cage Fitness." One day, a woman by the name of Patrice walked in and signed up for classes. She was able to keep up, and she always stretched after classes. About three months later, we had a yoga teacher. She dedicated her time to teach yoga after classes so we can all profit from the benefits of yoga. I began to attend the yoga sessions after class and my height increased by two inches. Along with an increase in my height, my stress levels decreased. As a young man with eczema triggered through stress, less stress meant less redness and irritation. Without this loving and very passionate yoga teacher, Ms. Patrice, I would not be the taller, peaceful, and yoga-loving individual that I am today. Throughout my high school career, I was a teacher at our school. I plan to use what I have learned to hopefully teach the art of yoga to other students around campus. My goal as a teacher would be to inspire others to find peace within themselves while providing them with the physical benefits that yoga can offer.

Digital real estate is the new way to advertise and provide high-quality clients to business owners. I hope to develop a method of digital marketing to provide business owners with relevant ads so that they can do more business, and improve the quality of their lives without the struggle of working with inidividuals who do not convert into paying customers. Referrals are the backbone of scaling, however, referrals may not convert as easily as someone who wants to purchase the service. When I am able to develop a revolutionary ad generator, I can run digital ads on several platforms for local businesses to help their community and improve everyones lives for the better. I have already begun to work on dream and am listening to podcasts like the Dan Henry Show to better improve my knowledge and understanding of how to be a sucessful entrepreneur and reach my full potential. Once my business has acquired several businesses, I plan to begin hiring other individuals with like minded goals and continue to grow to be the most successful digital ad marketing agency in the United States. In the recent months, I have had visions of expanding to different continents, but then realized how some business owners may only want to hire local agencies to help support local business. My idea is about improving local bussiness, not outsourcing, so I decided to stay focused on conquering the digital ad marketing industry in the U.S. As soon as I finish working on school work, I continue my hustle and read, learn, and invest in myself so that in the future my dream will become reality. I understand that in order to be a successfull individual, you have to live like no-one else now, so that you can live like no-one else later. On Friday nights, while most go out to party, I stay in to work. When others go out to drink, I stay in and read. I am so focused on my goal, and will work day in and day out to achieve it.

I can see myself clearly in the future on the stage presenting a breakthrough in our transportation system. I am standing on the stage in front of a podium in a formal coat. There are spotlights, people are watching, and the pressure is on. My team and I have now, at this very moment had all of our hard work pay off. We have worked so hard, not cut any corners, and put our hearts and soul into this advancement in the way we get from point A to point B safely. I begin the speech, "My team and I help everyone get from point A to point B safely and efficiently without the stress and worry of collisions and fatalities on our daily roads by implementing our system into every vehicle manufacturer across the globe." I continue my speech and present how the system works, and how it can save lives. The evening is great, the plans are put into play and fatalities decrease by ninety-nine percent. My dream as an engineer is to create a safe and efficient way to protect the everyday people on our roads, and I plan to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the Univerisity of Texas at Austin and work with a team of engineers on how to make both the roads and vehicles of our roads more secure and free of any dangers. As a young man who will finish the first semester of his college career, and I have learned two major concepts: time management and focus. On August 26th, 2020, I had begun my journey and began to study for a degree in engineering. At the same time, I was also preparing for a black belt test in mixed martial arts, attempting to start a business, beginning to build a social life for myself, doing my best to manage my sleep schedule, and in October of 2020, I began preparing for my second semester. Unfortunately, I noticed I was sleeping less than 4 or 5 hours a day, my meals were full of sugar and shoved right down my esophagus, and I still had almost no friends. I realized that if I was to accomplish anything, I must focus on one task and give it my all. With this eye-opening experience, I dropped the business and the investments, I told my two friends that I could not hang out, and I stopped my martial arts training. With these restrictions put into play, I was able to focus on my school, sleep habits, and maintain a healthy vegan diet. Time management and focus are, in my opinion, the most critical part of anyone's life because they will do everything the way they do anything. If someone is not able to give 110 percent of their effort into a small project, then I hope their supervisor does not provide them the privilege to work on a larger project. Simply because that individual cannot focus and get the job done right. Similarly, time management, if properly managed, can provide people with an ample amount of time to focus on what they need to get done. I have, and still am, preparing myself for the future world. However, with these two major lessons learned early, I know that I can manage myself and provide the best work possible to my team and supervisor. In the future, I hope to be the leader of a team. By preparing myself in college with experience and other tools, I plan to change the world for the better and work to create a revolutionary way to help make our roads, vehicles, and hopefully all of our transportation system much safer soon.

I can see myself clearly in the future on the stage presenting a breakthrough in our transportation system. I am standing on the stage in front of a podium in a formal coat. There are spotlights, people are watching, and the pressure is on. My team and I have now, at this very moment had all of our hard work pay off. We have worked so hard, not cut any corners, and put our hearts and soul into this advancement in the way we get from point A to point B safely. I begin the speech, "My team and I help everyone get from point A to point B safely and efficiently without the stress and worry of collisions and fatalities on our daily roads by implementing our system into every vehicle manufacturer across the globe." I continue my speech and present how the system works, and how it can save lives. The evening is great, the plans are put into play and fatalities decrease by ninety-nine percent. My dream as an engineer is to create a safe and efficient way to protect the everyday people on our roads, and I plan to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the Univerisity of Texas at Austin and work with a team of engineers on how to make both the roads and vehicles of our roads more secure and free of any dangers. As a young man who will finish the first semester of his college career, and I have learned two major concepts: time management and focus. On August 26th, 2020, I had begun my journey and began to study for a degree in engineering. At the same time, I was also preparing for a black belt test in mixed martial arts, attempting to start a business, beginning to build a social life for myself, doing my best to manage my sleep schedule, and in October of 2020, I began preparing for my second semester. Unfortunately, I noticed I was sleeping less than 4 or 5 hours a day, my meals were full of sugar and shoved right down my esophagus, and I still had almost no friends. I realized that if I was to accomplish anything, I must focus on one task and give it my all. With this eye-opening experience, I dropped the business and the investments, I told my two friends that I could not hang out, and I stopped my martial arts training. With these restrictions put into play, I was able to focus on my school, sleep habits, and maintain a healthy vegan diet. Time management and focus are, in my opinion, the most critical part of anyone's life because they will do everything the way they do anything. If someone is not able to give 110 percent of their effort into a small project, then I hope their supervisor does not provide them the privilege to work on a larger project. Simply because that individual cannot focus and get the job done right. Similarly, time management, if properly managed, can provide people with an ample amount of time to focus on what they need to get done. I have, and still am, preparing myself for the future world. However, with these two major lessons learned early, I know that I can manage myself and provide the best work possible to my team and supervisor. In the future, I hope to be the leader of a team. By preparing myself in college with experience and other tools, I plan to change the world for the better and work to create a revolutionary way to help make our roads, vehicles, and hopefully all of our transportation system much safer soon.

I am thankful for my karate family. I began my journey back in 2010. I was eight years old, shy, and rude to my parents. My first day as a student under Mr. Adam Morales was spectacular. I did not know the future, but I could tell it was full of both hard work, rewards, and a caring family. Over the course of four years, I was able to achieve the level of first-degree black belt. During my training, Mr. Adam's instructor, Mr. Joe, was invited to teach in El Paso. He had moved from El Paso to Georgia for his family, but after a few months of convincing, he decided to teach alongside Mr. Adam. Prior to my two-day black belt test, I was asked to assist in classes and had enjoyed it very much. After my black belt graduation, I was asked to join the leadership team. These people were essentially those who had made a commitment to become a martial arts instructor. Mr. Adam had provided my rides, food, drinks, and his phone number, and over the years, I have become what Mrs. Morales calls "her second son." Mr. Joe and I had a student-teacher relationship until I met his family. They were, and still are, so very kind, loving, and accepting. I have attended several gatherings and have really come to know several martial arts families. Over the years, my instructors provided me with lessons that, in my opinion, I would have never learned if it were not for them. They really are a huge part of me and who I have become. In 2017, I had achieved the rank of second-degree black belt and was promoted from "junior instructor" to "instructor." In July of 2020, four years of teaching paid off, and I was promoted to the rank of "Head Instructor." It is because of this family, that I was able to accomplish so much, namely: top five percent of my graduating class, NHS officer, Student council officer, United States Military Academy nominee, and Air Force Academy nominee. I may not have been appointed to attend, but I am proud to say that I would not have been able to name not one of my several accomplishments with the love, support, and compassion of my karate family. The picture provided is from 2018 when I was a junior instructor. I am the individual on the far left in the all-black uniform. Mr. Adam is on the far right and Mr.Joe stands on the left side in front of the wall with the logo. An individual by the name of Mr. Enrique is the other all-black uniform behind Mr. Adam. The picture was taken before the group's black belt test.

A coach never quits. As a martial arts student and instructor, I was devasted when I heard the news and had to quarantine. Our school pivoted from in-person classes to online classes. I was fortunate enough to have a key and a vehicle to get to and from the dojo and train as I please. However, there was a difference. There was no noise. I started to get mentally unstable but realized that my students still saw me in their homes. They could not see me struggling. If they saw me struggling, they would begin to fall apart. I had was teaching approximately 70-100 students per day, with the help of my fellow teachers and other instructors. I learned and was able to realize that we had to pivot. I was able to begin reflecting daily on my goals when I woke up at six in the morning, and when I went to bed at ten in the evening. These students were looking up to me, as I was told by their parents during our over the phone conversations. I saw, and still see, so much potential in all of them. It was time for me to conitnue pushing and show them that they can do anything. My vision for my students is that they will go on to apply what they learn in martial arts to real life. For example, organization is a huge part of my daily life and has helped me stay on top of grades and other activities. Patience is a virtue that I have been working on for the past ten years, and am still working hard to slow down because I am so very anxious to grow up. Covid stole from me my final high school days, but I was more upset about the fact that my first year of college has the feeling of prison, rather than that of freedom and experience. Yes, I have had several breakdowns, but have managed to get through it. "This too shall pass," I remember that quote, and constantly pick myself up. In this pandemic, my eyes are now opened in the sense that we, as a species, can get through this pandemic and we WILL get through this.

As a karate instructor, my coach constantly observed how I taught. I have been a martial arts practitioner for over 10 years and have been teaching for four. One day, my committed instructor, Mr. Adam, decided to watch a portion of my class. I was teaching white belts, so I knew that I had to work drills that made them both sweat and smile. I got nervous, but then almost instantaneously, I got bold. I took action and led that class to be engaging and fun. After years of just confidence, I finally got bold and inspired the entire dojo.

Crude oil, gasoline, and fossil fuels are literally the biggest pollutants of the modern-day transportation system. Unfortunately, as much as we try, hybrid cars are not reducing the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere as much as everyone thought they would. There are still planes, construction vehicles, and ships that still run on crude oil and gasoline. I plan on working on this problem by supporting a group that has already found a solution to what is going on. Their name is Manta Biofuel, and their solution is crude oil produced by algae. I have already begun to get in contact with them and can hopefully use my skills as a digital marketer to spread the knowledge of this revolutionary product that can change the way we get around in the sky, over the sea, and even in our daily lives. Their website is https://mantabiofuel.com/ I encourage you all to take a look at them and see how their idea will change the world in the near future.

I am an achiever. My dreams scare me, and that is how I know that they are big enough. Since first grade, it was difficult for me to fit in because I was not the best at sports, nor was I a genius when it came to academics. Fortunately, my parents placed me in a martial arts school, and I realized that I have the ability to lead by assisting instructors with their classes. Within four years, and after long days of hard work, I achieved my first-degree black belt in mixed martial arts and was invited to no longer be an assistant. My instructors wanted me to become someone who teaches assistants. This was my shot at greatness, so I took it and started as a junior instructor. I strived to be the first second degree black belt and head instructor alongside my instructors. It was because of this goal that I did not fit in with kids at school. I never went to Friday night football games, I went to the dojo. I did not attend pep-rallies because I went to the dojo. I sacrificed a huge portion of my high school life for my goal. It was because I was always involved in things that my "friends" were not that made me feel like a misfit. I could not, and barely can keep a normal conversation going about what is going on with celebrities. I talk about finances, karate, education, seminars, masterminds, and topics that very few other teenagers, in my opinion, also talk about. I sacrificed my social life and became a social misfit. Was it worth it in the end? I would say so. In May of 2017, I had received my second-degree black belt in mixed martial arts and was promoted to the instructor. It was not until July of 2020, that I was to be promoted to head instructor ever in the history of the school. Being a social misfit shaped my dreams because it allowed me to focus on my students who I can lead, and show them how to live their lives to the fullest potential. I hope this short story can provide a unique perspective on the world by telling everyone that you are unique, and you cannot just look for something within school. If you have the opportunity, go and live YOUR dreams, that is why this is YOUR life! Not your so-called "friends," not your parents, not anyone else's life. This is YOUR life. If your goal doesn't scare you, set a bigger goal, then make a plan, and do not lose sight of that goal. Go be the success you've always dreamed you could be!

Martial Arts is an art for everyone. I have seen my students, who began throwing temper tantrums every five minutes to being able to control themselves for an entire class. Martial arts did that for me, and much more. I have been a practitioner of mixed martial arts for ten years now, and do not plan to stop. My students inspire me to continue learning and growing. When I began my journey ten years ago, I was very shy and timid. Over the years my teachers, Mr. Adam Morales and Mr. Joe Rojas have brought out the very best in me, and have led me to become the first individual who was ranked a Head Instructor ever in the history of the Championship Martial Arts El Paso. I worked hard for ten years, and have seen students make the same change. These young children go from crying on the first day to helping others in times of difficulty. I have seen one student lose weight, and gain the confidence they needed to improve their grades. The possibilities are endless of what martial arts can do for anyone. My inspiration would be my teachers. They built the dojo from the ground up, and have shown me how hard work pays off not immediately, but absolutely and definitely. When I began to apply for scholarships, I was disappointed to find no scholarships that could help me through my education as a student. I decided to change that. These funds will go towards a brighter education for me, and in return, I plan to establish a national scholarship fund for all martial arts students in the world. Tae Kwon Do and Judo should not be the only martial art styles with scholarships available when there are so many hardworking young future leaders who just happen to be practicing the wrong art. It is wrong for someone to put in blood, sweat, tears, and years of hard work and not earn a dollar for it. When i have the funds to provide for others, I will do so generously. That is my goal as an artist, to provide for and guide others so that they can live their lives to their fullest potential.

Diversity. As a martial artist, I plan to travel the world to gather ideas and not only expand my own knowledge, but also the knowledge of others around the world. Upon my return, my goal is to teach to my karate students or aspiring young children who yearn to be the next Roland Osborne, Jackson Rudolph, or Mackensi Emory. My martial arts teacher has been teaching me for ten years. I started in 2010 and will return upon graduation from the University of Texas at Austin. I learned how to defend myself and others. I was taught several values such as organization, leadership, honesty, and respect. Two years back, Mr. Adam decided to expand our knowledge and began to take a select few, myself included, to several martial arts schools around the city. He always told us he wished he could take us to the Martial Arts Supershow in Las Vegas, so we could really experience the travel and education that true masters had to offer. It was from this small sentence I realized that there is more to be learned, more to understand, and more to teach. I began to teach martial arts in 2016, and ever since have realized that I can influence the next generation of my hometown. By traveling and growing, I will be able to return to El Paso with new skills, life lessons, and new topics to help improve my students. It was not until recently that I realized, I do not live teaching because of the money. I love teaching because of the relationships I build with students, instructors, and training partners. If I were to travel, the benefits would go beyond me. The city of El Paso would receive new knowledge and from there the county, all the way to the great state of Texas, or even the entire nation.

The greatest challenge I have ever faced was a challenge of honesty and integrity. The night was dark, and after eight years of hard work, I had finally become an instructor. I wanted to continue to prove myself, so I stayed as late as my instructors. When we finally closed up our karate dojo, I hoped in my little white Chevrolet pick-up, and let out a sigh of exhaustion. I started the engine and put the gears in reverse. Unfortunately, I did not look back, and two seconds later I heard a loud BANG. My truck stopped dead in its tracks, my head flew back against the headrest and my water bottle had begun to let the water flow all over the floor of my truck. I stepped outside to assess any damage that I had caused on the other vehicle, while my truck merely had a scratch, this big black truck had a big white hole in its bumper. For a second, I thought about leaving the truck there and just heading home, but something inside of me knew that I had to make the right choice. Luckily, my karate instructors were just about to leave and they asked if everything was alright. I simply asked for help and guidance on how to make this right. They parked their trucks and had agreed to help me follow the proper steps. Across the street was one shop, so I knew the owner was somewhere in there. We walk inside and ask the receptionist for the owner of a black dodge ram pick-up truck. She asks around and finds us the owner. We call up the insurance agencies, and later that night, he made a claim, and my rates for insurance went up. I realized I now needed Geico so that I could save fifteen percent or more when I switch. The next morning, my dad asked me what happened and I told him the story. He called up the owner to try and work something out, only to discover that the black truck had already been fixed with the money from the claim that was filed on the previous night. I am now eighteen and will be nineteen this upcoming December of 2020. This little story left me with more life lessons in a few minutes than I would have learned over a few years. It taught me that no matter what always be honest, always make good choices, and always ask for help if you need it. It was because of the mental and ethical challenge I was faced with, that I now hold myself to the highest level of integrity everywhere I go in everything I do.

My role models are martial arts instructors, Mr.Adam Morales, and Mr. Joe Rojas. These two individuals have provided me with rides home, food, training, coaching, financial advice, relationship advice, life lessons, and so much more. Had these two gentlemen not been involved in my life, I would not be anywhere near the person I am today. It is because of them I stayed out of trouble, got good grades, and am now a respected instructor to over 300 mixed martial arts students back in El Paso, Texas. It is because of their knowledge, and my hard work that I was nominated to attend a United States Military Academy, and finished top five percent in my class. I do not strive to live the lives that they do, however, I strive to love, give, and teach the way they do. They are dedicated individuals who love their students and families. They have turned their business into a home for families, and young individuals like myself. I have seen countless individuals post a picture of their logo, and use the caption "HOME," when they arrive at the dojo. Before I left for the University of Texas at Austin, I took one last word of advice from them. They told me "You will do everything the way do anything." They were telling me to give everything my all, and to do the very best that can in all of the tasks on the road ahead of me. I strive to be the best individual I can be and hope that one day I can impact the world so that everyone's tomorrow will be better than their today.

Martial arts is the superior sport, and here is the reason why? Sports are extraordinary, unfortunately, they cannot engage your brain the same way arts can. Arts are vibrant and spontaneous, but cannot provide you the physical physic that sports can. Martial arts is the one exception to both of these because it requires both your brain and physical fitness. I have practice mixed martial arts for the past ten years and have also been engaged in music groups and school organized sports, but I always longed to continue learning about martial arts. Once I achieved the level of first-degree black belt, I began to expand on what I learn and teach to others through hyper martial arts. Four years later, I advanced to the rank of second-degree black belt in mixed martial arts and continued to grow even further. I am grateful to have me Master Eddie Diaz, co-owner of Diaz Martial Arts, and learn from him every chance I get. Master Diaz is a sixth-degree black belt in mixed martial arts (Tae Kwon Do base), a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hagganah, Kali, and Arnis, Jeet Kune Do, and several other arts. He has been a martial arts practitioner for over thirty years, which leads me to another point about why martial arts is superior. How many sixty-year-old individuals still compete in professional sports? Zero. This is simply because the demand for sport is too much for their body at that age. However, several martial artists are life-long practitioners and are constantly growing, training, and teaching. A perfect example would be Grandmaster Helio Gracie, who invented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a co-founder of the UFC. Master Helio Gracie was and still is a great teacher, martial artist, and leader for all of those who practice martial arts. Martial arts is superior to all other forms of sports and arts because it involves and expands your brain, physical physic, and because you can practice until the day you die (literally). Without martial arts, the world would not know of Bruce Lee and the life lessons he spoke of. The world would not know of the humility that Chuck Norris brings, and people would not know of the great character of Mr. Jackie Chan represents. If I had one area of study to practice for the rest of my life, and I could live, eat, and breathe only one topic of study. I would choose martial arts so that I can constantly grow, learn, and develop into the best version of myself. And along my path, I would choose to teach and inspire young children to develop into the best versions of themselves to change to world for the better.

You are driving down a highway, and see a billboard for a plumber. You get home and everything is fine, and then you hear water running and you realize it is only your cousin showering. Next, you hear water droplets and then your mom in the living room says "Honey can you turn off the kitchen sink, I think I left it on!" Finally, you notice a plumbing problem, but cannot quite remember what information that billboard had on it. Where do you go? Your phone! The problem with the billboard was not the fact that it didnt have the right information, it was the fact that you couldnt remember it when you needed it, or relevancy. My small business is finding small business owners, like plumbers or electricians, and running high quality online ads for them. Problem: How to get to the top of the ad list? Solution: SEO (Search Engine Optimization) By using keywords such as "plumber near me," or "plumers in {location} (wherever you may be)," you can spend less and find more customers. Keywords knowledge: If someone searches for a plumber, there are several tasks and companies to hire, so by using long-tailed keywords, the ads can produce higher quality customers. If you were a dentist looking for Invisalign clients, I would set up your key word list inculding specific values like the city, the product, and several other key factors that make high quality customers walk in to your door. The business side: As a business man, I have to charge for services, so I would only take small percentage of what you earn through profits while you, the dentist, only pay for the set up fee and the ad management. Where this can take me and my clients: This idea can provide quality customers for my clients, and me with income so I can live my life almost from anywhere in the world as long as I have internet access. I have already closed one deal and am currently working on several other to grow my business. Where it started: In the beginning of the covid pandemic, I saw two of my martial arts coaches go through financial struggles, so I realized I didnt want neither them, nor any small business owner to go through struggles like those. I searched for mentors, and am glad I found the individuals I did. I learn more every single day and cannot wait to see what the future has in stock for this field of work.

My career in marketing just began this July of 2020. I am now a part of a team by the name of Modern Lead Solutions. Our job is to find business owners and generate the top one percent of customers who are willing to buy their product. Within my first month of "practice," I was able to close three solar panel clients. In the month of September of 2020, I began my journey with a new trade by the name of Amazon Central seller. My coach lives in California and is helping me help people get what they want/need. I honestly prefer the idea of the lead generation service over the Amazon business because I help businesses who do not have the skills required to grow their business. My goal is to have so much income that I can provide others with second chances. I love to talk with people and motivate them to live the best of their lives. I was once called the "dad" of a group of friends I had simply due to the fact that I was always making mature comments about their actions, such as, "would your parents be proud of that," or "is that going to help you achieve your goal?" And I realized that because of my passion to impact my friends’ lives in a positive way, I had to do my best to impact others' lives and change lives for the better. Ten years ago, I began my journey in MMA, along the road, I gained values like respect, responsibility, courtesy, honesty, and perseverance. It was through that life-changing choice, I had practiced becoming a more mature and inspiring young man (this was told to me by my instructors). When I practiced teaching to students, I was approached by family members, parents, siblings, and cousins of the students asking me about my career as a martial artist. Due to their curiosity, and my courage, I was able to break the characteristic of me being shy. I had to change, and so I did. I talked, inspired, and made a sale every so often for the karate school. The more I made conversations, the better I became at communicating professionally with parents, instructors, and even some business leaders. I am proud to say that I will continue down this journey of digital marketing to help small businesses grow to be their best, and soon, I hope to begin zoom seminars that will teach the business owners and employees how to further improve their customer service.

Previously, in my Electrical Engineering Introductory class, I was programming my arduino redboard to communicate with my computer. It was unsuccessful the first severl tries. After 2 nights of attempting to solve the issue on my own, I decide to reach out to a TA, or teaching assistant, and request some advice on how I might be able to successfully complete my lab. They instructed me to use a port name with parentheses. In the end, I realized, all I was missing were the parentheses. Sometimes the smallest of things, like a semi-colon at the end of a line of code, or a parentheses for your port name is so small, however, so important. This small project should demonstrate my dedication as engineer on a rather small scale. If my project were much bigger, more complicated, and required more time, then I would dedicate all the time necessary to get the job done, and do it right. I have worked so hard at everything to be where I am now, I love issues becuase then it proiveds me with knowledge, or strengthens my knowledge in the past. When a problem approaches me and keeps me from achieving my goal, I focus on it, and do everything in my power to solve it and accomplish my goal. My ability as an engineer, dedication and quality work, is what will make me the best engineer I can possible be, and with the help of this scholarship my potential will only grown. With my determination, I will reach that potential, and with that potential, I will change the world for the better.