“My parents were not rich, they had no power or influence. But you, with God's grace, your dreams and your hard work, can accomplish things you can't imagine. There is a lot of power when you dream big and seize the moments you were meant to seize. The fresh-eyed teens moved the pom pom from their faces while nodding their heads. Being on stage is what you were meant to do. Being in the audience and two years away from graduation, I also nodded, but I also thought, “Perseverance.” I heard this at my church from Eva Guzman, a former member and then associate judge of the 14th District Court of Appeal. Growing up, in my house, she was always called la abogada or the lawyer and later la jueza or the judge. I truly understood the importance of his achievements until the end of November, in my voting booth; on the screen, there it was: Judge Eva Guzman, outgoing 14th District judge. “There it is again,” I said to myself, “perseverance.” "My inner monologue began: Do I have it? Of course I have it. Why not? I'm the first man in my family to go to college. I'm going to college because of a scholarship to do something on my own I taught myself to play guitar last year, no one made me do anything That may be true, but have-. I have perseverance? I love playing guitar I have fun with others and I can create music that people enjoy. It has added countless hours of joy to my life. to someone else and they can experience what I feel and what I like What if I had failed In the grand scheme of things, would I be considered a failure if I gave up the guitar? No, I wouldn't. I would just be one of those... middle of paper ...... who established their roots in this country many years ago Open checking accounts and. savings accounts for a community that has always been suspicious of Latin American banks was a good thing, but it wasn't enough for me. I knew I could do more. I want to take many steps beyond this and help those who want to be part of the American dream come to this country legally. Persevering families, just like the perseverance I know I have. The words I heard from Judge Eva Guzman penetrated my heart and helped shape my path. I can't begin to imagine knowing what I can accomplish with hard work and big dreams. To be a lawyer, you must be able to accomplish mountains of reading, to endure countless cases, unbearable hours. I know I have ambition. I know I have the capabilities. This is my moment and I must seize it. I have perseverance.