Edgardo Umansor '23 Recruiting Profile

When encountering someone new, one may have a conversation involving the attempt of becoming acquainted with the person who was recently unknown. Many ask questions such as, “Where are you from, where do you live, what school do you go to,” or even, “what do your parents work as?” One may relate to having asked these questions before or even receiving these questions, and in that reflection, understanding what surrounds one is very important.

            As I reflect on these questions that I impose on myself and others, I reflect on my background and everything that surrounds me as a person in my daily life. My name is Edgardo Umansor, and I am a nineteen-year-old male from San Francisco, California. I am the firstborn of my family and I am a first-generation American college student who is currently attending the University of the Pacific academically. I was raised in a Christian household and therefore, my values reflect my beliefs. My father and mother have always instituted God into the lives of my siblings and me which formed manners, habits, and values that are according to God. My beliefs influence me in my daily life as before everything, I am a man of God. My mindset, the way I talk, and the way I interact with others are all influenced by my spiritual beliefs in God as in all things, I look to glorify Him. Therefore, I look to exert the most out of myself in everything that I am involved in for the honor and glory of God.

            Although my spiritual beliefs are my highest source of motivation and inspiration, my spiritual beliefs are not my only source of motivation and inspiration. Many develop different role models according to their future dreams or aspirations. During my lifetime, I have admired many people that I aspire to be like such as soccer players, teachers, family members, and even my pastor, but two people that I admire who have impacted me in a great manner are my mother and father. The reason I admire these individuals are because of their personality and relationship with God. The term personality is a very broad term, but to me, personality may be composed of many traits such as love, strength, truthfulness, perseverance, knowledge, and work ethic. My parents exhibit these traits every day as they raise my siblings and me in the Lord. They exhibit their love for us not only when they support us and show us affection, but also, when my parents correct and give advice to my siblings and me. As I have previously stated, three traits that I admire in my mother and father are their strength, work ethic, and perseverance. Their willingness to wake up every day to provide for their family in many aspects such as the labor they perform at their job and in their household is something I admire as I hope to be a similar example to my future children. When thinking of these traits, there is one example that I vividly recall. It was a late weeknight, and I am staring at the bright moon that shines into my parents’ car. In this distinct period, my father worked in three or four jobs: one of them as a cashier with the night shift at the Shell between Harrison and Eighth street. Because my father needed to be picked up once his shift concluded, my mother took my siblings and I to pick my father up. I remember sitting in the car for what seemed hours, waiting, and waiting for my father to finish his shift in order to go home and rest. After what seemed many hours, I had the need to use the restroom. Therefore, I got out of the car and walked into the gas station where I saw my father standing at the cash register. He was wearing a grey polo shirt with the Shell logo on it and when I saw him, I told him that I had the urge to use the restroom in which he responded by giving me the key to the restroom. After I finished using the restroom, I gave my father the key back and I recall looking at my father’s face while exiting the gas station; his eyes had bags and he just looked tired. I entered the car, and my mother had the same expression on her face, she was tired, they both were tired. As a child, I noticed the work ethic and perseverance of my parents in pursuing the welfare of my family. This is the work ethic and perseverance that my parents have instilled in me which affects the way I approach every situation that I may encounter. Whether the matter be academically, athletically, or spiritually, if I commit myself to it, I will devote myself to what I do and perform to the best of my ability as I intend to imitate my parents in the pursuit for the welfare of my family spiritually and physically.

            Another aspect of my life that is influenced by the world around me is athletics. Soccer is my passion and I have been playing soccer for my entire life as the sport of soccer runs in my blood. My father played soccer for much of his life as he even played for the U-15s of the Honduras national team. My uncle also played the sport of soccer making many memories from the beautiful game as he played professionally in Honduras. I intend on perfecting the talent that God has blessed me with, by putting forth the sacrifices that are essential to accomplish as I pursue my dreams and aspirations of one day becoming a professional soccer player.

            When we experience our daily lives, we may not consider the impact of our backgrounds and our environment. The world we come from may shape our future dreams and aspirations as our dreams and aspirations may be shaped by where we live, who we are around, and what we love to do. In conclusion, our backgrounds are important in shaping what we pursue, but we should never lose sight of our values and beliefs in pursuit of our goals. This thought stays in my heart and mind as many lose who they are in pursuit of their dreams and what they think they love, but I want to be different. I want God to guide me and let His will be done, not my own, for it is all for His honor and glory and not my own.