“My parents were not rich, they had no power or influence. But you, with God's grace, dreams and hard work can achieve things you cannot imagine. There is a lot of power when you have big dreams and seize the moments you are meant to seize. The fresh-eyed teenagers brushed the tassel off their faces as they nodded. Being on stage was what you were supposed to do. Being in the audience and two years away from graduation, I nodded too, but I also thought, “Perseverance.” I heard it in my church from former member and then Associate Judge Eva Guzman of the 14th District Court of Appeals. Growing up, in my family she was always called la abogada or the Lawyer and later la jueza or the Judge I really understood the significance of her successes until that November, in my voting booth, on the screen was: Judge Eva Guzman, 14th District Court of Appeals, sitting “There she goes again,” I thought to myself, “perseverance.” My internal monologue began: Do I have it? Of course I have it. Why shouldn't I? I am the first male in my family to go to college. I'm going to college on a scholarship to make something of myself. I learned to play the guitar in the last year, there was no one forcing me to do it. That may be true, but do I have perseverance? I love playing the guitar, it relaxes me, I have fun with others and I can create music that people like. It has added countless hours of joy into my life. I can pass on my knowledge to someone else and they can experience what I feel and what I love. What if I had failed? In the grand scheme of things, would I be considered a failure if I gave up playing the guitar? No, I wouldn't. I simply wish I were one of those... middle of paper... who took root in this country many years ago. Opening checking and savings accounts for a community that has a history of distrust of banks in Latin America was good, but for me it wasn't enough. I knew I could have done 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. Families with perseverance, 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 even imagine what I can accomplish with hard work and big dreams. To be a lawyer you need to be able to cover mountains of reading, endure countless cases, unbearable hours. I know I have ambition. I know I have the ability. This is my moment and I have to seize it. I have perseverance.