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My name is Eric Cruz and I am a 17 year old high school student at Yes Prep Eisenhower. I currently participate in athletics at my school such as baseball which is something I have loved doing since I was younger. I am proud to be part of a Mexican household despite growing up and being born in the U.S, I find ways to express and share my culture with others near me. My favorite pastimes include traveling, video games, sports, and going out with friends.

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The Leadership skill is defined as making thoughtful and wise choices for the better of others and allocating resources to achieve goals. This is a growth area for me because I am the type of person who takes risks without including others. I tend to act on my own because often times leaders don't get enough credit and I believe I'll get more credit for my actions as an individual. I am attempting to develop this skill by pursuing public speaking rather than keeping my ideas to myself (flyer shown). I don't always talk to other people at school which is why I became friends with some guys in my grade level that I've known since the 6th grade (picture below). I also began to take 4 wheeling lessons which will help me develop responsibility, safety. and looking out for others which is something that all leaders do (picture below). Developing my leadership skills helps me be college ready because I will need to make the difficult decisions for my future and speak up for what I believe in.

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The skill of Navigating The System is defined as having first-hand experience with racism and learning from it, to empower you to be better than what a majority views you as. This is a strength of mine because I want to connect with other minorities who surround me and I wish to express my success through my achievements and through awards I've obtained by joining elite clubs outside of school. I have completed a Science Studies program at Baylor College Of Medicine (certificate shown). I have teamed up with a fellow African American classmate to travel to Minnesota, study & learn Japanese and German (Picture below). I have traveled across Texas with my baseball team to compete against interracial schools and received a certificate(baseball award provided below). I have obtained an honor roll award for my excellence in school. Doing these things shows I'm college ready because I've been recognized for above average grades I am able to participate in sports and extracurricular activities in which the white community typically doesn't recognize students of color to excel in that position or break through barriers.