Sebastian Pagan '20 Recruiting Profile

In a day September a natural phenomenon changed in a blink of an eye millions of life in a very small place. The way of living of people in this island turned drastically in one no one thought of it possible. I still remember how hard was living without electricity, running water,  or accessible good quality foods. Due to these abrupt consequences many people I knew left quickly to the US including one of my best friends.  Even though life was not impossible just different. "This didn't mean I didn't wanted to keep on,  this was a signal telling everyone to keep moving.  Time to get out of the comfort zone now it was it time to keep forward. " said to myself everyday. 

I started seeing all the positive things of this disaster first distracting gadgets no more for months equals more socializing with my peers and family.  Even was more focused in studying since I needed to manage time more efficiently since my goal was to finish homework before 6 p.m.  Our family became more united I felt a very special bonding which will never forget.  Everything changed even school had no electricity, but taking no classes wasn't an excuse. When electricity and wifi came back everything that specials moments haven't come back. 

Still electricity didn't fix everything a plague of rats were in my house, and took so long to extinguish it. The streets weren't still safe to drive, because the traffic lights didn't worked well.  So going to swimming everyday was a challenge to keep on, but didn't quit. That wasn't all since in January I got sick from influenza type A.  Due to this illness I was absent for the first two weeks of class. Still I study in home those two weeks to keep on track with my class.  It also affected me in my athletic performance, and there was only one path to keep going forward. 

After a bad year of swimming due to these changes I started crossfit to improve, and be better at swimming.  Doing crossfit gave me confidence, and motivated me to improve. I felt secure which results revealed in my performance felt tired, strong, unstoppable, and all positive feelings.  Then another unexpected tragedy happened. For the first time real physical pain crossed in my life.  An exposed broken bone in my left arm. That was the worst night ever. 

Deep down I felt crushed inside thought my future was over. Getting to the point I lost the purpose to live. What is the point of all these? Just by one stupid mistake how terrible everything fainted in ashes. For moments I was so angry with myself, and seeing no solution.  Waiting for a broken arm to heal felt all was lost.

There was a new path developing my inner self. Wasting all my energy in anger and grief is not helpful. Finding new hobbies like reading not only for knowledge, but for entertainment. Setting up new goals for my future, and a year flew so quickly still can't believe it. That accident with my arm felt like yesterday.  Even realized I have a passion for business especially in the selling aspect.  

In conclusion, all these tragedies are not actually tragedies just tests. Prove you are worth to these challenges, and find another answer. I feel worthy to be a candidate for any swimming team, because I know hot to step out of challenges. Even in my toughest moments didn't left out my academic score. Still I swam this year with a broken arm even competed.  Just like my sensei Felipe Ruiz told: If you get thrown to the ground 100 times stand up 101 times.