A True Champion: In Loving Memory

{Alex with his grandma and mother}

I talk a lot about how the kids at Cesar Chavez High School have changed me.

They are who all my time and efforts go to, to raise scholarship $ for.

They go through trials that no person, let alone kid, should have to face,

and overcome them.

I've said it before, they are my heros.

Four days ago, on Thursday night, one of my students

and an amazing student athlete at Chavez,

was hit from behind while stopped at a red light by the school.

His car was propelled forward into the intersection,

and was t-boned from both directions.

Alex was rushed to the hospital and put on life support.

Hundreds of students crowded into the hospital to see their friend for the last time.

On Friday morning, Alex left this world and entered the presence of God.

The school and community are rocked.

When I found out he was in bad condition on Thursday night I just cried.

Then I prayed, and cried some more.

When I found out about his death in the morning, I sobbed.

My heart hurt so, so bad.

I rushed down to the school to give love and support to the students

who were absolutely broken.

I walked into a cafeteria full of students that were in tears.

They offered words of hope and support to each other.

And again, I cried.

I hugged people I'd never seen before,

and couldn't believe that a kid with such a bright future was taken so quickly.

Alex grew up never knowing his father.

He had excellent grades, and would have been the first person

in his family to go to college.

After our trip to SDSU this summer, he was set on going there.

And I know that he would have.

He wanted to make a difference, and change his family's life.

I know God has a plan for each of us, and is in complete control.

Sometimes, part of His plan involves heartache, devastation, and despair.

We need to be there for each other. For strangers who we don't even know.

Everyone is fighting a hard battle.

Alex was one of the students that applied for The Shine Project Scholarship Fund.

Today, I want to encourage you to donate to the fund in Alex's memory.

There's a donate button over on the left sidebar,

and if you can't figure it out, please email me.

Every, single dollar counts.

R.I.P Alex Rodriguez

You're a true Champion.