My place of origin is the Philippines. My family immigrated to the United States from Pampanga Luzon Philippines on March 25, 1997, I was 9 years old at the time. We did not know any English or the American culture. We developed several ways on how to survive, thrive and create opportunities for ourselves through sports, academics, and civic duties. I was the high school class vice president, three sport captain (football, basketball, and track and field), peer leader, started a mentoring program for underclassmen, peer mediator, saxophone player for concert and jazz band, played roles in school plays, and enrolled in self studies in PE teaching and technology help desk as a senior in high school.