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I am a 36-year old husband and father of two children. I met my wife 17 years ago when I was in the Marine Corps, and we've been married ever since. I'm a history nerd, and when I am finished with college I hope to teach social studies at the secondary level. After leaving the Marine Corps, I've worked as a Correctional Officer, personal trainer, professional fighter, and football coach. This is my last semester at Montco before moving on to West Chester University in the fall.

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The elements that create my cultural background come from my southern roots. I was born in Arkansas and raised in Texas. I come from San Angelo, TX, about 2 hours north of Acuna, Mexico. This part of Texas is mostly ranch country, where I grew up on rodeo and football. Where I was raised, Texas culture and Mexican culture were one in the same, giving us a unique view of the rest of the country. We were raised to believe that a man was only as good as his work ethic, and your contributions were to your community, not just to yourself.

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It wasn't until recently that I learned that most of my mother's side of the family came from Scotland. They came to this country in the 1700's, and they took residence in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware until moving south in the 1800's. From what we have found, my 7th great-grandfather, William Ramsey, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, after years of research, we still do not have any solid evidence of the origins of the name "Heflin."

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The traditions and holidays we celebrate are typically Christian, as well as Halloween, birthdays, etc.  Since meeting my wife, who is German, our family celebrates Belsnickel on the night of December 5th.  The legend of Belsnickel is common in Southern Germany, where her family originates. Belsnickel is a crotchety old man who carries a switch. He uses the switch to punish the bad children, but he also gives treats and sweets to the good children.

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I am a man of many hats. There is a time and place for discretion, and there is a time and place to be vocal. I am opinionated, and I am not afraid to engage in conversation with anyone about anything no matter how controversial. I enjoy learning about the perspectives of others because my perspectives are always changing. I am a very active person. I enjoy helping others, challenging myself, and trying new things. I am open to trying pretty much anything. I spent much of my adult life as a professional MMA fighter and coach where I have met some of the most interesting people from very diverse backgrounds.

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My upbringing in Texas as well as my time in the Marine Corps have made me value loyalty above all else. With loyalty comes honor, courage, honesty, and respect. I believe the value of a person is not based only on their actions but also on their intentions. I believe that reason, fact, and logic should influence our choices, but that we should not dismiss the beliefs of others just because they differ from our own. Treating people with respect is the foundation to all of this.

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I do not prescribe to the notion that my ethnicity is special or that I am special because of my ethnicity. What makes me special is the way I treat others, independent of my ethnicity, religion, gender, etc. My hope is that the relationships I form with people make us better than we were before knowing each other.

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Use everything in moderation, even moderation.