As the youngest of five to immigrant parents, my success was never guaranteed. I was not born on third base but at-bat, a strike away from being out.

Growing up, my community was my rock. The teachers who fostered my curiosity, the coaches who pushed me to run a bit faster, and the neighbors who welcomed my first-generation family with open arms. These people are the reason I am the man I am today. With my village, I became an All-American football player at Florida State University, a Rhodes Scholar granted the opportunity to learn at one of the most prestigious universities in the World, a professional player in the National Football League, a neurosurgeon, and most importantly, a husband and father of 4 amazing children. 

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While my education and football career created temporary stops in many places, my family and I call Orlando and Florida home. I first fell in love with the city during my time at FSU working with foster children with the Department of Children and Families and local Orlando-based Community Care organizations. Like so many cities and states, Orlando and Florida have their challenges. I see the rising cost of healthcare still preventing too many folks from going to the doctor, residents’ fears of letting their kids play in the neighborhood streets, and families struggling to decide whether they are going to buy groceries, pay the utility bill, or insurance premiums with paychecks that aren’t keeping up with everyday expenses.