Jesus Rios '19 Recruiting Profile

As college application due dates are fast approaching, everyone around me is talking about what schools they want to go to and how they are doing everything possible to overcome being a shadow of their sibling’s success. I can relate,  but at least they do not have to overcome the shadow of someone who is dead.

Throughout these past 4 years, I often wish that I had more control on events that have happened in my life. I’ve been taught that things happen for a reason so I attempt to find a moral to every event that has happened in my life. On September 28, 2015, I received the most horrific news as I arrived  home from my first high school soccer game. My older brother had passed away earlier that afternoon. I felt like everything had suddenly stopped around me, even the beating of my heart. I knew my role as the youngest son was about to change and I had to be there for my mother because a part of her died that day. This event challenged me to leave my comfort zone as I comforted my mom from a pain I was not sure would ever go away.

His death was an event that has changed my life forever, forcing me to question God. This was something I had never done before because I knew God made everything happen and it was all for a reason, but this was simply something I could not comprehend. Through many sleepless nights, I pondered on how life, my life, would be different, maybe better if my brother was still around to give me advice about girls, school, colleges, and soccer.   His absence shaped me into a person I sometimes didn’t recognize. I distanced myself from people I felt would not have understand. In fact, I kept everything to myself and used my misfortunes to motivate myself because I must do everything in my power to overcome adversities so I can prove to my mom that I can and will make her proud; I must find ways to bring her some sort of happiness and joy. But as I overcome all of life’s punches and blows, I still feel like I am living in the shadow of my dead brother.   

One of my biggest qualities I’ve learned through the past 4 years is selflessness.  Being the man of the family and taking over my older brother’s past role, I find myself struggling to find myself.  I have placed my passions and aspirations on the side as I try and be the good son. I sacrificed so much for my family, but recently I have taken on a role as a tutor and big brother to academically struggling students at my school.  I find pride and accomplishment because this job gives me a sense of identity. I have maintained good academic standing and use this to pave the path to my future. This has motivated me to become a person who is constantly trying to become a better, both academically and personally.   I want to be the next person in my family to go to college; however, I hope that I can be the first to graduate from a four-year university. I need to do me and in the midst of this process, I want to attend a college that will provide me with a new family that will motivate and support me as I find myself in this big world.  I want to do great things to make my mother proud; I want to make an impact at my future college, like I have done at Cathedral and take all my hard work and knowledge to make the difference. I am not sure of what my future career will be but I know I want a life filled with saving lives, maybe I can one day save someone’s brother.