My Name Is Brandon

VI.

When high school wasn't challenging me with my sexuality, being gay was not a negative experience. You have to take the good with the bad. It's life. What is important is that you grow from it.

I took some Advanced Placement classes, took honors English for 3 years, received good grades, and I even went to Nationals for DECA Business and Marketing. I went to ICDC - a well known nation-wide competition for DECA. This took place in Orlando, Florida and I did a project on my school's student-based store ran and operated by the students. It was an amazing experience. I was recognized at my high school and my community for it. I was also made a student manager for my crew and appointed one of the two co-presidents for my high school's DECA program my senior year.

I am obsessed with culture and I love diversity. I love the different colors out there that represent the people of this world.

This led to me becoming a member of my high school's Latino club. I was a member for all four years I attended high school. In my sophomore, junior and senior year, I became one of the four club officers. With my position in my sophomore year, me and the club officers did something amazing at my school that has never been done before. As the students, we created and hosted the first ever Latino-based dance at my school with Spanish music. Since my high school had such a big Hispanic population, we made this event happen where the Hispanic minority was represented and felt like they belonged. I believe that it is so important for people to feel included and wanted. We raised a lot of money for our club and gained district attention. Soon after, some of the other high schools in the Everett Public School District were inspired and started creating their own school's Latino dances. After this in my junior year, I was appointed and voted for Vice President of the club. The Latino club's dance was very successful and was continued every year.

With my passion for cultures comes my passion of music and dancing. I am so appreciative and interested in the world's music, cultures, and dances they have to offer me. I know many different Latino music genres and dances as well. I also share a greater interest in learning about other cultures besides the Latino culture.

I also did running start my junior and senior year, taking college level courses at community college.

With me having received many awards from my school's student body, creating a never seen before event that any school in the district has not done before, and being recognized in and out of school for my personality, I soon realized my leadership potential. My teachers have told me that students at my school look up to me. Adults outside of school have told me throughout my life that I am a role model. A lot of people want to be like me and follow me in my footsteps. I grew up with my family and family friends to be a leader. I soon became a Link Leader for my school's freshman class when I was a junior and a senior. I also was a part of my school's class cabinet for a couple of years. In addition, I was recognized and appointed as a class representative for my high school's Food Drive. Cascade High School's Food Drive was widely known throughout the city and the district as the best. I absolutely loved being a part of that. I love helping others out in my community. I was always one of the first to sign up to collect donations outside of various stores. It was extremely important for me that people were being fed during the holidays.