This whole journey started back in 2012 when my parents asked me, “So what are you doing with your life?” It’s kind of a million-dollar question to ask someone, and normally you do not realize what you are doing until questioned about it.
At the time I was working full time at Whataburger putting in about 50 hours a week, playing soccer and going out with friends without a care in the world. I started school at Del Mar in Corpus Christi.
While there I struggled through school and put work and social life ahead of it. I was a C average student that really went through the motions of school, and even contemplated on dropping out.
While working another overnight shift after the bar rush at Whataburger, an older coworker and I were talking and he said, “You remind me of me when I was your age.” This gave me a reality check that if I keep going the way I am, I’ll end up here just as this guy has. I did not want this to be my life, because I knew I was better than that.
I quit my Whataburger job and went somewhere I could pull back on my hours and work on my future and self. I then graduated from Del Mar in the fall of 2015 with an Associate’s degree in Kinesiology.
I almost attended Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMUCC), but because it was overfilled in the field I wanted and I did not want to take a break from school I came out to TAMUK for orientation.
After orientation I just had that feeling. I knew I was meant to be here.
I will never regret coming out here for the two-and-half years I attended, traveling from Corpus to Kingsville and waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day.
Therefore, as I go on into this new chapter in my life I owe some people my success.
I want to thank TAMUK’s athletic department, with Joe Biedron giving me the opportunity to work with others and learning from David Brock, Dennis Hawkins.
I also want to thank my Sport Business Professors Dr. Daniel J. Burt and Dr. Brian Menaker, and all TAMUK staff and faculty.
Most of all I want to thank my parents. Thank you for your continued support and never giving up on me.
I would never want to change a thing that has happened to me, because it has made me into the man I am.
