Service has always been a significant part of my family. I have had three generations of my family serve in the armed forces and numerous members involved with community service projects through their respective churches. From my grandparents being missionaries in the poorest parts of the Dominican Republic, to my cousins serving in the Army and Air Force, I intended to follow the legacy of philanthropy and military service since high school.
My family and I moved from Puerto Rico when I was a little boy to seek a better life in the mainland United States. The island was seeing the beginning of a recession, a rise in corruption, and crime. My parents left everything behind for my brother and I. They believed I would have a much better life here and I thank them every day for making that decision 16 years ago. I recall many nights as a little boy, my dad coming home from working all day paving roads. He would have some of the worst sun burns. He always reminded me, even today, to work hard to make it far in life so I did not have to struggle like he had to in that moment.
High school was a turning point for me when I began to mature. I started volunteering in my local youth court as a juror, eventually becoming a youth attorney. I decided to run for class president and won 3 consecutive years after my freshman year, but I didn’t truly get involved with community service until I became part of my high school’s chapter of National Honor Society. Through the organization I worked to help a plethora of organizations in the community. From nursing homes to relay for life, we assisted in any way they needed. The entire time, we were reminded of how much of a help the students of National Honor Society were, and it pushed me to help even more. I wanted to be as much of a help as I could in helping those in need in my local community. There was a moment that made me want to do this even more and that was my sophomore year of high school.
I look back to a day I walked into my English class on the day of the memorial of the President John F. Kennedy assassination. My teacher at the time spoke about what occurred that day in 1963. I heard the story many times, but today she was going to show us the full speech that made it to one of the greatest presidential speeches of all time, his inauguration speech. She began the video, and in the beginning the other students were not excited to see it, but the more we heard the more we focused. The powerful way John F. Kennedy communicated that speech was mesmerizing. Then at the end, he said it. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” - JFK. The students all stared astonishment when he finished his speech. The energy could be felt inside the room. We have all heard it many times before, but hearing the full speech we could now understand the full meaning of his words.
When I entered Florida State University, I joined the United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. I was determined to serve my country upon graduation. I did not want to live life thinking of what I could have done if I joined the military, or how different life would have been if I would’ve taken that route. One of my goals is to become an intelligence officer, but even if I do not get selected to become one, I would still be proud because I would still be serving my country. I would also still be continuing the tradition of military service in my family.
One day I hope to become a public servant. President John F. Kennedy’s words are one of my core values that I would carry on my path to public office. Even today, I carry a book of many of the greatest texts in American history. In that book is the inauguration speech of the 35th president. I hold it as a reminder of the values I try to embody. I genuinely believe that taking action and serving the public in an elected office is one of the best ways of giving back to the nation. It is a fundamental part of American life that I would be honored to become a part of.
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural text has been one of the strongest influences in my life. To me it is a way of life. It is a text that embodies the mindset of a patriot. To me it does not only mean military service. It could mean community service, or being involved in local, state, or federal office. In my life, his words serve as a reminder that you should look out for your fellow brother or sister. The great text reflects my love for the country and its people.
