
No Handouts, Just Hard Work
Whatever advantages you have when you begin your journey can make a big difference too. A head start is a usually (but not always) a good start. I never got a handout in life and things were never easy. The only “privilege” I got was a mother that shoved me out of my comfort zone and pushed me out of the only country I knew. Because of that, I knew I had no choice. I had to take my life and my education seriously, and I was prepared to put in the effort.
Everything turned out much harder than I expected. I struggled badly playing Division I soccer at San Diego State, being a student who barely spoke any English, and working to pay for school. My dream quickly became a nightmare. I felt isolated. I didn’t even know how to do the simplest things like my laundry. I felt like a failure. I eventually had to quit soccer to focus on school.

Does that make me special? I don’t think so, not at all. I just saw many opportunities, tried them out, quit and kept going. If I can do it, I believe anyone can. The only thing is, you have to ask yourself how badly you want something. Do you have the hunger? Do you have the patience to fail?
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