San Jacinto 2016

It all started on the day before the first day of school. I was prepping for the big day, when they called me from the office. They told me that I had to teach another course, 7^th Grade regular math in addition to 2 remedial math courses and 2 Spanish 3 Pre AP classes. This new addition was going to be at the expense of one Spanish 3 class unless I recruited 50 students to take the exam and pass. They almost made it impossible, I failed to get required number and was left with only one Spanish 3 course instead of 2, a 7^th grade math class, 2 Math 180 courses, an ISS period, 8^th grade athletics, and 7^th grade athletics. I talked to the Foreign Language director at MISD, but there was nothing she could do for me. I had no choice but to accept for the good of the kids. After all, everything that I’ve done for the past decade was for the San Jacinto kids. Everything! They told me that I couldn’t coach cross country this year since I was already a football coach in the fall. The high school coach did not let that happened. I was able to coach and fit practice in my daily schedule early in the morning before football. Our meets were every Saturday, a weekend day that we sacrificed, but we competed. We were hands down the best in the city, and we showed it during the meets. Placing number 2 or 3 every time for both boys and girls divisions. Football season was a struggle but we were able to win a few on Monday nights for 8^th grade and on Tuesday nights for 7^th grade. Basketball season kicked off and I had the honor to coach the 8^th grade basketball A Team. The struggle came from dealing with 2 injured players and one player forced to move because his transfer was revoked. The team competed anyway every Monday or Thursday night. In track season, we were City Champions. We coached one of the greatest track teams out there. My long distance runners were, no doubt in my mind, the hardest workers. Soccer began and they told me that I couldn’t coach it even though the boys were going to have 2 teams since I have already done 4 sports. I told them that I would coach this 5^th sport for free. I did! We had to play the number 1 seed in the tournament since we finish last in the regular season, but took them to overtime and fell short on penalty kicks. It was a great way to end the season despite our shortcomings, we put up a fight and gave the other team a good scare.

Overall, I know my students did great on the STAAR, and we continue to learn and grow. I wouldn’t want to teach or coach anyone else or anywhere else. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Even the knuckle heads. Everything I did this year: the sacrifices; growth spiritually; and pilgrimages was for them. To bring something back, to share the graces with them. I wanted to give them something more than just knowledge and treats, and field trips. I wanted to give them more important things. I wanted to give them everything I had even if I didn’t have much. I wanted to be there for them. I just wanted them to be happy, and learn obedience, be hard workers, and good Christians. I wanted to model that for them. I wanted to share the good news to them. That love was our mission. To never quit trying, never quit getting better. To clean up their attitude because that just led to self-destruction. To want to be the best. Having the pride and desire to be number one in the district even though the odds were against them. Having that underdog attitude to endure and conquer. I wanted them to have it all, even if it meant them hating me. Even if I had to step down and not take credit for anything, or appreciated, or loved. As long as they were the benefactors, as long as it was for their good, and as long as they were happy. With God in their life, they could end up on top of the world. They will be able to overcome all the struggles in the world. They will one day handle relationships better than me, be smarter, more athletic, and receive more graces from God. It was not about me this year. Even if I had to be the bad guy, it was not about me. It was about their well-being. It was about our Lord and Savior. Of course their young minds do not understand that right now, but one day they will. When that day comes, I don’t want them to remember me or thank me, I want them to thank God for loving them, for having mercy, and for granting them all the blessings in the world. That’s my ultimate wish for these kids. That God fulfill the desires of their hearts and that they receive not just some blessings, but ALL the blessings in the world.  There are some things money can’t buy, for everything else there is sacrificing everything. Everything that I’ve done for the past decade was for the San Jacinto kids. Everything! I would teach as many courses as possible. I will coach every sport possible and work as many hours possible, even if it seems impossible. Even if I fail. I will leave no stone unturned. I would do it over and over again for them! I love every single one of them. Yes, I said every single one of them. #SJ4Life

#ThankYouKobe

20 years have gone by. I’ve learned so many things from this living legend named Kobe Bean Bryant a.k.a. the Black Mamba. His work ethic is unreal and unmatched by any person. How can a person perfect his craft with that kind of intensity every single day? You have to have an obsessive trait about you and that never giving up attitude to become better. Kobe called it Mamba Mentality back in 2013 when he suffered his first of three season ending injuries that would eventually lead to his retirement. His workaholic attribute was his gift and his curse because it broke down his body to the point where he could no longer dominate the game with that same killer instinct every night. However, still managed to play with the elites and show them why he’s been the best without being a 100%. His heart and mind were in it, but his body was saying no. Hence, he played his last game on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. What a dramatic finish. I knew he was going to aim for 50 points, but he finished with 60. It was a season high for any current NBA basketball player, a record for the oldest to ever score that many, and a record for the most ever scored by a single player on their last game. He gave you that extra mile. I’ve never been disappointed by this athlete because he always gave it all he had. That’s what he will be remembered by, especially in his final game, that he left everything out on that basketball court. In a world full of imposters, deceivers, and indolent people, Kobe always brought his best and that’s what I admired the most. I hope I can do the same, bring my best and offer it. We have to be that person. A living breathing reminder to believe in better things. We have to have that superhero mindset, at the expense of being perceived as the villain. As long as God is in the center of our actions, He will allow us be a part of his will to bring joy to others. We have to be that hope. We have to be that example.

With Kobe’s retirement, he begins a new chapter in his life, but personally my chapter continues, my season approaches its finale and I move into the off season to perfect my craft, to grow, but most importantly to serve others. I will continue to follow Kobe Bryant in all of his future endeavors, buy and wear his shoes and other products. I will still look for him for continued motivation. He has always been like a brother to me. My love for Kobe will never change because of what he has done for me personally. Like he closed in his retirement letter, “My love for this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey.”

Dear Kobe, #ThankYouKobe for 20 great years, growing up with you as a teenager, a high school basketball player, an undergraduate student, a junior high teacher and coach, a graduate student, and an athlete I learned so much from you. You have been the greatest of all time. Not because:

You have won 5 championships

2 Finals MVP awards

2 scoring titles

2 gold medals

18 time NBA All Star

4 All Star MVPs

Led all players in All Star votes

Regular season MVP

3^rd in the all-time scoring list

20 years loyal to the same team

Sold more merchandise and tickets

Had more fans on the road chanting your name and “MVP”

Slam dunk champion

Multiple game winning baskets

Scored 81 points in a single game

Scored at least 40 against every team in every arena, etc. etc. etc…

Beyond what you have accomplished on the court I will never forget what you have done outside the basketball court. What I valued most was that unlike others, not only have you been a champion, but you have saved your marriage and loved your family; as a person of faith, you have acknowledge and credited all to God and to your Catholic faith; without a college education you have studied multiple languages, acquired knowledge in business from university level work, and build a passion for story writing. That’s what makes you the best that you were able to perform anywhere and excel especially when and where it mattered most. That’s why I know you will do a great job in this next chapter in your life. God has a special plan for you because He knows the impact you have on people. God bless you Kobe! “Mamba OUT” but I know that a different animal but the same beast is “IN”.

 

Easter 2016

Happy Easter! Today is the day that we celebrate the reason for our Christianity. It was a great lent season. Somewhat exhausting, but beautiful because of what God put in front of us. Track season, Pope Pilgrimage, Spring Break, retreats, workouts for summer ready, fellowship during fish-fry Fridays, more time for family, beautiful storms followed by amazing weather, new movie releases this time of year including Christian movies, etc. What a beautiful time to grow, evangelize, be alive, and celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Lent provides challenges, but through those you can grow and get closer to God, and that’s what it is all about. I know I’ve made mistakes and struggled, but we all do, but what a great reminder and opportunity to seek our Savior. Things that I collected online:

“We don’t have to agree on anything to be kind to one another. We are all citizens of heaven on a trip abroad. Christ is your passport home. Don’t lose Him. A meaningful life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect…it is about being real, being humble, being strong and being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others.”

I don't know why I’ve been thinking a lot about my mother lately…She just keeps appearing in my thoughts and dreams. I just miss her because she was the first, and only woman at this point, to ever truly love me. She showed me what love was about, so I experienced it firsthand every single day for a couple of years, and that was enough…Jesus showed us what love was about when He died on the cross and that love story continues 2,000 years later. God sent us a mother to nurture us and to intimately experience unconditional love just to get a taste of how much God loves us. Nothing compares to God’s love, and at the same time, nothing compares to a mother’s love, and a son’s love for his mother. That’s God sent. In the movie Batman vs Superman, the two superheroes battled, but what united them was the love they both had for their own mothers. A son’s love for their mother is very powerful. I believe it because I lived it. I thank God every day for giving me a mother like her. She was tough as nails, she was very versatile, the jack of all traits, and was very loving to all people. To think about the many lessons she left behind. I figured out why I love to work out and be strong, why I love challenges, why I received multiple degrees, why I’m close to God, and love others. It’s because through all my actions, it reminds me of her. I’m a small reflection of her. It’s because of her, that I love God. He constantly sends me reminders of her, He even allows her to visit me in my sleep. Just like our Blessed Mother Mary points us to her son, my mother has done a good job pointing me to God. I sit here today, forever grateful. As I open myself up to God’s will, not mine, I pray that he grants me mercy and peace because only He can give us the love that nobody else can give. That’s why I try to be joyful, be positive, and have gratitude even as a single man. When you have God in your heart, you have everything you need. May God fulfill us all with everything we need and may His love reign forever. Amen.