Personal Statement

I was born in Querétaro, Mexico into a Catholic lower-class family who was blessed with hard working parents. My dad, who played major league football in Mexico, would put football games on TV and put my sister and I in youth teams. During this time, cartel and corruption began rising in the country and soon, my dad was offered an opportunity in a small town in Southwestern Kansas. My parents’ choices were to leave Mexico and the comfort of our country or stay and hope we won't experience any of the horrible things that have happened to other families due to crime. In the blink of an eye, I left the house I'd been in and moved into a small apartment with the rest of my family in the United States of America. The plan I had for my future disappeared. I couldn't take the bus and end up at my grandmas house in 10 minutes anymore. I had to learn a new language and adapt to a culture very, very different from mine at the age of 8 years old. Years passed and looking for more opportunities my family and I decided I would apply to boarding schools for bigger opportunities. Teachers and administrators at the public high school I attended with a student body of only a 150 said I wouldn't make it. Distant family members said it would be impossible, those types of schools don't accept anyone, and even less if you don't have money. I made it to Christ School, an all boys private boarding school in Asheville, North Carolina, with a scholarship covering 98% of tuition and have a 4.51 GPA in just my first year at this level of academics & I’m part of my team’s leadership committee in just my second year. So why do I play football? I’m a slim 6’ foot immigrant from a 3rd world country who's dominate sports are baseball, soccer, and martial arts. At this point in my life, I should be working construction or in a ranch or a mechanic shop. I play football to prove to the people who doubted my work ethic you can achieve anything with enough perseverance. Most importantly though, I play to represent God’s grace and glory in my life. 

Thank you.