My parents taught me that no dream is too big and that anything can be achieved with the right work ethic. I have always wanted to be a professional football player. Football has always been part of my life and has taught me an unmeasurable amount of values and traits that I will carry for life. I currently keep working hard to make that dream come to life, and now going into college, I'm working harder than ever. However, I have learned several things along the way. Being raised in Mexico, I have been told by other teammates that Mexicans don't reach the league. And other people, when I told them about my goal, started to look at me with wonder if I would really make it or if it was just a dream with no work to back it off. Coming to University in the fall, I intend to walk into the football team and prove it can be made. And show that football doesn't discriminate and anyone with a heart for the game can play. Since then, I have been focused on that one goal. However, as years passed, I realized that achieving something to prove people wrong, people who didn't believe in the first place, was just vague. I learned that I should enjoy the journey and appreciate all the doors football has opened for me, from great friendships to education opportunities. Instead, I have now been grateful for all the relationships the sport has given me. And even though my goal is still clear and the same one that when I was nine. My why changed, and I grew personally. Anyhow, my goal is still my goal, and I can't rest without knowing I did everything in my power to achieve it.

I will not be the first one or the last one to say it, but we’re stuck on our bodies for the rest of our life, so we better take care of it. To be productive, we need to be in the right place mentally, physically, and spiritually. Sports accomplish these goals and develop several traits such as consistency and discipline that would be very hard to learn otherwise. Sports have played a vital role in my life. Starting with soccer when I was young, all the way to start playing football at nine and keep playing it right now that I’m 18. Football has been the motor that keeps me working out and having healthy nutrition. Plus, being able to dedicate myself to training and seeing the results of that training make me feel motivated to chase other goals in other aspects of my life. The game of football taught me about discipline, consistency, and being persistent. These values have been transmitted to all aspects of my life, making me always go after my own goals. Being motivated to wake up every day to chase the dream to become a professional in my sport has been nothing else but rewarding. And the process of enjoying and making great bonds with people along the way has been unimaginable. Therefore, it is very safe for me to say that every sport or fitness activity teaches something good and keeps you in the right place mentally, physically, spiritually, and even socially.

I will not be the first one or the last one to say it, but we’re stuck on our bodies for the rest of our life, so we better take care of it. To be productive, we need to be in the right place mentally, physically, and spiritually. Sports accomplish these goals and develop several traits as consistency and discipline that would be very hard to learn otherwise. Sports have played a vital role in my life. Starting with soccer when I was young, all the way to start playing football at nine and keep playing it right now that I’m 18. Football has been the motor that keeps me working out and having healthy nutrition. Plus, being able to dedicate myself to training and seeing the results of that training make me feel motivated to chase other goals in other aspects of my life. The game of football taught me about discipline, consistency, and being persistent. These values have been transmitted to all aspects of my life, making me always go after my own goals. Being motivated to wake up every day to chase the dream to become a professional in my sport has been nothing else but rewarding. And the process of enjoying and making great bonds with people along the way has been unimaginable. Therefore, it is very safe for me to say that every sport or fitness activity teaches something good and keeps you in the right place mentally, physically, spiritually, and even socially.

The world is a beautiful place just the way it is. It is sad to think that one day our nature, our green grasslands, and wildlife as we currently know it may disappear someday. And as a child, watching the news and listening to several species in danger was hurtful to me. At first, adopting a sustainable lifestyle was difficult for my mom and grandma. My mom and grandma used them to ask for plastic bags everywhere and use disposable plates. As I became conscious about the consequences of using these products, I convinced them to stop with specific facts and arguments that supported adopting a sustainable lifestyle. I thought our family efforts were enough, but I turned on the TV one day and saw the Panda was in danger of being extinct. One of the most iconic animals on the planet, the character of my favorite movie at the time, I couldn’t let this slide. I found out our family efforts weren’t enough, so I decided to create consciousness in all my community. It got to a point where people would call me obsessed when I would call them out because they were throwing the trash to the floor. The recent news now says the Panda is no longer in extinction. So when I look back and see my community behaving sustainably, it makes me proud of all my efforts and makes me feel that I really contribute to the continuous solution of this problem.

The Latin American culture is one of the most instigating and beautiful cultures in the world. That’s the main reason people from all around the world go and visit our home countries. Our heroes are amazing, our revolutions were crucial in human history and our developments can be seen adapted in the world. As my athletic and academic career has been a journey, I would like to encourage all Latinos to follow their dreams. Coming from Mexico and having the opportunity to travel around various places makes me feel I’m a complete individual. And I would like to join and share my experiences with the Association of Latino Professionals for America in college. I also plan to create a foundation to empower all of the Latino community, especially when going to college. Starting the school year, I was very confused about the college application process and overwhelmed. My foundation will mentor Latinos in the fields they are most passionate about and good in. By empowering their entrepreneurism I can help my community not only get educated but flourish their talent and show it to the rest of the world. Giving back is always in the back of my mind because of all the support I’ve been given. I’m motivated to show we are more than good. If I would advise something to my fellow Hispanic community, it is to wear it with pride and know that Latino can rise to be anything they want to be. I firmly believe that we as a community should never be overlooked. As a strong-minded individual, I look to empower the whole community to be themselves, don’t fit in, don’t try to be someone you are not, be unique, our background, and experiences, and culture make us different, they make us special.

We should always strive for growth regardless of our current situation. Overcoming adversity early in life gives us the strength to deal with life's challenges with a whole different mindset. Early in my life, overcoming adversity was necessary and a matter of life or death. One day at school, the place I was terrified of, the daily bullying dose started, I was in a classroom on the third floor of the school, and the building had tall fences that would "keep" kids from peaking down to the soccer field. I had a weird but sudden reaction, a suicidal attack, I would say, and I just ran to the fence and ripped off a bar for me to fit in between the other bars and jump off the third floor. I still remember feeling the wind in my pants when I was about to jump. The next thing I knew, I got tackled by a girl. My next reaction was to run for the scissors to make a cut in my veins, which she kept me from doing. After that, I was sent home. A day later, it was my first football practice ever. I was set to play O-line. I was running people off, coaches were clapping at me, and my running back was scoring during the whole practice. I have never felt more alive and full of joy than that day. I felt worthy. That feeling suddenly transferred to my personal life too. Coaches, family members, and that one girl who saved me became my mentors. They guided me throughout the process of feeling better and seeing life as an opportunity as I do now. I protected myself from my feelings playing football, and it's safe to say the sport helped me overcome the biggest challenge in my life.

We should always strive for growth regardless of our current situation. Overcoming adversity early in life is excellent for personal development because it gives us the strength to deal with life's challenges with a whole different mindset. Early in my life, overcoming adversity was necessary and a matter of life or death. During my first in elementary school, I was pretty overweight, and because my mom was a figure skating coach, that made me feel very insecure. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. I used to suffer bullying in school, my classmates were aggressive to every extent of the word, I used to get beaten and told things because I was overweight. That situation made me develop depression. I still remember trying to look "okay" so I don't look weak and not get laughed at more. I was holding my ground, but every time I was in that classroom, I was afraid and trying not to cry because I didn't feel good enough to be alive. That later developed into suicidal thoughts, which dug the whole way further. At that point, I didn't care about school, my school, or anything. I was just living through the motions. One day at school, the place I was terrified of, the place that just by being there made me feel judged and looked at, the daily bullying dose started, I was in a classroom on the third floor of the school, and the building had tall fences that would "keep" kids from peaking down to the soccer field. I had a weird but sudden reaction, a suicidal attack, I would say, and I just ran to the fence and ripped off a bar for me to fit in between the other bars and jump off the third floor. I still remember feeling the wind in my pants when I was about to jump. The next thing I knew, I got tackled by a girl. My other reaction was to run for the scissors to make a cut in my veins, which she kept me off doing. After that, the school called my mom, and I was sent home. A day later, it was my first football practice ever. I was set to play O-line. I was running people off, coaches were clapping at me, and my running back was scoring during the whole practice. I have never felt more alive and full of joy than that day. I felt worthy. That feeling suddenly transferred to my personal life too. Coaches, family members, and that one girl who saved me became my mentors. They guided me throughout the process of feeling better and seeing life as an opportunity as I do now. I protected myself from my feelings playing football, and it's safe to say the sport helped me overcome the biggest challenge in my life. It's unimaginable the love I have for the game. Football sheltered me and made me feel right. The number of emotions the sport makes me feel made me love life as a whole. The support of my family and friends helped me feel valuable. And now, I don't let anything or anyone tell me otherwise. Life is valuable and meant to be enjoyed. I feel fortunate and confident that every challenge life throws at me I will and must overcome. And finally, I also learned that I could be that same support to someone, the same support that once saved my life.