Personal Statement

When I was 15, I faced my own Mount Everest when I was granted a visitor’s visa to play basketball at the National Basketball Youth Tournament in Chicago. I thought about the pros and cons many times, and I made the decision to embark on a new journey to a whole new country. Despite all the challenges that I faced, I never gave up and kept going. I am that person. Once I say I will do something, it will happen.

Back in 2001, I wrote an article in my junior year in high school and won 2nd place in the contest by the PAL, Police Athletic League, named Stories my Grandparents told me.

I was also featured in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and the National Dean’s List in college.

Now, I put that perseverance to work as a History Teacher in the poorest school district in New York State, South Bronx and have just published a book called Immigrant Life that details life prior to the United States and the years here.