I am so proud of you. You have worked hard throughout your high school career, and now you are about to embark on, quite possibly, one of the most formative adventures of your life. I hope you understand just how special OU is. I still remember the day my parents dropped me off at Walker Tower and ushered me into a new season of life.
My family history is an important part of my educational journey. My parents raised me, loved me, and pushed me to fight for the future I wanted, just as they had. They always valued education and the promise it carried—the promise of infinite possibilities that, sadly, they were never afforded. In retrospect, it truly is no surprise that I chose to become a teacher.
From a very young age, I knew I had to do well in school. Not just for myself, but to honor my immigrant parents and the many sacrifices they had made for me. One of the greatest longings of my heart has always been to prove to my mom and dad that I was worth it. Even though they have told me I was, am, and always will be, I cannot help but want to keep proving to them that I am as resilient and driven as they are. More than anything, I want to show my parents how proud I am to be their son—their American dream.
As a first-generation college graduate, I have been able to contribute something so special to my students that my parents instilled in me: a deep sense of pride and respect for education. By sharing my journey with others, I have been able to highlight the beauty of learning and the towering walls it can tear down.
Do you want to know something incredible?
Your legacy starts now.
My parents gifted me a legacy of hope and opportunity. I get to carry that legacy forward and add to it as I continue to grow. During your time at the University of Oklahoma, you will be challenged, encouraged, and presented with countless opportunities. Try all the things. Make new friends. Laugh and cry as much as you can, because it will all be over in the blink of an eye.
My memories at OU are some of my most coveted. From joining my fraternity to participating in CAC Homecoming, Sooner Scandals, and so much more, I learned lessons that extended far beyond the classroom. I learned to see the value in people who did not look, speak, or think quite like me. My college experience helped develop my sense of purpose, allowed me to grow deeper in my faith, and shaped the person I would ultimately become. For all of that, I am eternally grateful.
As you begin to prepare for your journey at OU, I want you to ponder one question:
What will my legacy be?
As for me, a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate and educator, I will use my story to reach the students who look like me, who talk like me, and who have grown up just like me. I will lend my voice to the kids who are navigating multiple languages and cultures alongside their childhood. I will empower the students who are sitting at the kitchen table with their mamás and papás, translating government documents, setting up appointments, studying for naturalization exams, and helping their families cultivate a new home in a foreign country—just as I did all those years ago.
My parents have been my greatest teachers. They placed me on their shoulders and allowed me to touch the sky. Now, I will continue to lift my students so that they, too, can reach the stars.
And one day, I hope you will do the same.
May your journey at the University of Oklahoma be filled with great breakthroughs, lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and a legacy that extends far beyond yourself.
Live on, University!
Boomer Sooner!
