Throughout college, I volunteered with at-risk teens in San Diego’s inner-city who needed guidance, tutoring, and companionship. This program exposed me to the heart of the city. Three weeks in a row, I watched an arrest be made at the doorstep of our building. The resilience and optimism displayed by the students despite these dire circumstances forever changed my perspective on the inner-cities. I mentored a teen battling gangs, poverty, and a brain tumor who never failed to dream of a better future for his entire community. Even though I was the mentor, this individual taught me more about discipline and perseverance than I could have ever hoped to teach him. I absolutely loved working with these kids. I was challenged each and every
