About Me

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About:

Denver, Colorado is where I was born and raised. I have grown up hiking, skiing and exploring the Rocky Mountains. The tranquil experiences I have in the mountains never fall short of majestic. When I meet someone at UT, I almost immediately get a shocked response, as if only Texans are allowed to attend UT. My answer is simple. My father similarly grew up in Denver, and he attended UT. He sparked my interest in the Longhorn life when he took me to a UT football game at the age of 13. I immediately fell in love with Austin during this visit and had my eyes set on going here since middle school. The best part about living here is that I am getting a top-notch education in the McCombs School of Business while enjoying the endless fun that Austin has to offer.

My father always tells me that finding out who you are is just as much about finding out who you are not. There are many things that I know I am not, but for the most part I have a pretty good grasp on who I am. I am a son. I am a brother. I am a grandson (the baby grandson for that matter). I am a friend. To me, there is an endless limit of experiences that will guide me to what else I may become. I will never know unless I continue exploring.

As someone who listens to music every chance I get, it seems fitting to end with one of my favorite lyrics: “what I want is what I’ve not got, and what I need is all around me” (Dave Matthews). It is easy to get caught caring about the wrong things in life, and I always try to remind myself that a loving family and incredible friends are all I need. Knowing people that have lost these things proves to me that I am the luckiest man in the world. Being in my fortunate position, I am compelled to do all that I can to help others, and help the fight against cancer.

Why I Ride

I ride for my grandmother. I ride for the pure joy when someone hears, like I did, the words “cancer free”. I remember walking to class and getting a phone call from my mother telling me the amazing news about my grandmother. It was not until that moment that I truly understood the expression “smiling from ear to ear”. I gave a huge fist pump in the middle of a crowd of students in between classes, and felt the weight of anxiety taken off my shoulders. More importantly, I ride for anyone that has not been able to hear those words, yet continues to fight and carry hope for a cure.

There is always a creeping fear that lingers after hearing those joyous words. Cancer is an unforgiving, relentless, silent enemy that can always sneak back in. This became a reality for my family very recently. My Grandmother's cancer is back, but she will continue to be strong and fight like a champion. My continued efforts to spread hope, knowledge, and charity are microscopic compared to what she and many others are going through.

I ride for a world where more grandsons and granddaughters can sit on the couch eating coffee candies from Trader Joes with their grandparents and hear endless stories about their family memories and childhood. Where sheer emotional strength can be backed by a true cure for cancer. I ride for you Grandma. The text messages that you always send to me bring such warmth to my day and make me feel so loved by you. I ride to receive more text messages from you.

I ride for my family. You are why I am here today, and you guide me to where I will be tomorrow. Thank you for teaching me how to live with compassion and for never leaving my side. I will never leave yours.