It may not seem this way at first, but the story I’m about to share is one of triumph—and the power of inner strength.

My friend Marcos entered the Texas foster care system just days after his 11th birthday. Over the past seven years, he’s lived in six different facilities and foster homes. Today, he’s a high school senior near Corsicana and recently celebrated his 18th birthday.

Marcos’ early childhood was shaped by the kinds of challenges that often lead a child into foster care—cycles of parental neglect, illegal activities, and ultimately the incarceration of his mother. But Marcos has never let those circumstances define him.

He is ambitious, resilient, and determined to build a better future. Despite the instability around him, he has thrived academically and socially. In high school, he’s earned strong grades, been elected vice president and then president of the Spanish Club, and participated actively in community theater and his high school's drama club.

Because of his time in foster care, Marcos qualifies for free tuition at any state-run college or university in Texas. Fortunately, his academic record and ACT scores make him a strong candidate for even the most selective schools. In fact he's already receiving acceptance letters.

While Marcos is entitled to a free education plus room and board, the other basic expenses of life will not be covered. This means from gas money to clothes (and all the other extras), he will be on his own.

His plan is to major in Spanish and minor in Theater, with aspirations to pursue graduate school and eventually teach high school here in Texas.

Marcos has a small circle of people who care deeply for him and do what they can to support his success. But as he steps into adulthood, there are practical needs that remain unmet. Right now, he’s unable to maintain part-time work because he doesn’t have transportation. That need will only grow as he enters college.

He’s asked me to help him find a way to get a car—so he can work, save money, and prepare for life after his current group home.

Below, Marcos has shared his college essay. I think once you read it, you’ll see what I see: a remarkable young man who has already overcome more than most of us ever will. With your help, he can enter the next chapter of life with the resources and dignity he deserves.

Here's his essay:

Throughout life everyone experiences hardships such as death, injuries, and many more.

I personally experienced a unique obstacle different from all of my peers. However, this isn't your typical sympathy story; this is my story about how l overcame my obstacle. This is the story about how I took the lemons life gave me and how I turned them into lemonade.

March 25th, 2018, it was 9 days after my 11th birthday. I woke up that morning not knowing that my life would never be the same. I can't fully recall the events of that day but, what I can recall is the events of the night hours before my brother and I were removed from my mother's custody.

My brother and I had been living with my grandmother at the time under the condition from CPS that we weren't around my mother due to her substance abuse and neglect that she put us through. This particular night my grandmother had left my brother and I home alone because she had to go to work. I get a text from my mom saying she's bringing us pizza just randomly out of the blue. She tells me that she's here and starts frantically texting me telling me not to open the door at all, and me being the 11 year old that I was, I decided to open the door. Little did I know that from that moment on everything would change.

When I opened the door a CPS investigator greeted me and identified herself and a few minutes later my mother came into the apartment. The CPS investigator then proceeded to tell my mother that she had to take a drug test right then and now, and that if she failed we would be removed from our grandmothers placement and put into the foster care system.

The worker took out a long and white cotton swab and swiftly swabbed the inside of my mother's mouth. My mother failed. When I heard the news I dropped to my knees and a stream of tears began flowing down my cheeks. It was as if the world had gone silent like in the movies whenever there was a severe car accident.

I replay the events that took place that night almost everyday. Here I am, 7 years later currently applying for college. My mom is in prison until 2028. Throughout my time in foster care I was in many placements, and some didn't work out long term and others just weren't for me. Now, I am currently in a boys home and I’ve been here for 5 years. I've been able to build an amazing support system and have gotten very involved in my community. I have found a passion and admiration for the arts and have a ton of school spirits. I have met some of my best friends and amazing people that I want in my life forever.

Lastly, one of my greatest accomplishments is that I am on track to be a first generation college student. I've gone through a lot in my life and have dealt with it in a way that not many teens my age could. There have been days where I felt as if the universe was bending to see how long it would be before I snap. I realized that it isn't up to the universe to decide when I snap; it's up to me. I am in control of who I am and who I am going to be and I've been able to take an obstacle and turn it into something great.

If I had a time machine to change anything that has happened in my life, I wouldn't.

Everything I have been through has made me into the young man I am today and I have met some of the best people and I will forever be grateful for that.