About Me . . .
I am currently a student at the University of St. Thomas majoring in International Studies. Along with my major, I have also selected to study various courses that I find interesting such as: business, Spanish, creative writing, and music. I am also a part-time worker, a full-time uncle, and the son of a hard working, dedicated, and inspiring mother.
Go for the Gold . . .
As a young student I suffered from learning disabilities which set me behind my fellow students. I was placed in remedial courses from my mid-elementary school years until my early high school years. As a young student, I did not recognize the educational barriers that had been placed around me. It was not until middle school that I noticed that I was behind in my educational advancement. Because of my learning disabilities I recognized that I was being deprived of many opportunities. It was then when I decided to dedicate myself towards my ultimate goal: being removed from the remedial education system.
I faced much opposition from teachers and fellow students, yet for each antagonist there were always supporters of my cause. As such, my mother was my biggest supporter. She believed that I could overcome any obstacle placed before me. Though she was not physically capable of helping me, her emotional support gave me the ultimate strength I needed to overcome my disability. My teachers, Mrs. Holman, Mrs. Schultz, and Mrs. Barth were all big supporters during my struggle. All in all, I achieved a goal in which all odds were against me. After having been removed from the remedial system, I took my success and applied it to further my education by being placed into advanced courses. Today, I am continuing my journey and I am proud to say that I will eventually be the first college graduate in my family.
Making a difference . . .
I have always enjoyed the notion that one person can make a difference. As such, I make a difference by contributing to my community by volunteering. As a young student, I began my volunteer life with student council, whereI was given the honor of being named president. Then after, I continued to volunteer with student government, in band as a leader, and Interact. In community college I volunteered with X-presate, a club committed to promoting Hispanic and Latin heritage and culture. And currently, I volunteer with UST Campus Ministry and the Rotaract of River Oaks, a club dedicated towards making a difference in our local community and the world community.
My future . . .
Thanks to Rotary, in 2010 I will spend an academic year in a foreign country living and studying. I will dedicate myself towards making a difference in the community that I will become a part of and continue my studies of cultures, history, politics and many other subjects. Upon my return, I hope to obtain a position serving the community so that I may continue my goal towards making a difference in the world.
