SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Major
Television, Film, and Media
Acceptances
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Los Angeles
St. Mary’s College
San Jose State University
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Riverside
Alma mater
The Preuss School, UCSD
Highlights
Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative: Student Leader Award
San Diego Foundation: Joseph C. Larson Entrepreneurial Scholarship
Raytheon HOLA Scholarship
BLCI Family Tree: Edward's brother, Jose, is also a BLCI alum!
Eddie's Story
I still have vivid memories of being seven years old and running to the one wooden closet we had at the end of the trailer.
There, my brother held us as the loud shouts of frustration coming from my parents triggered my cries.
I was fortunate in having a mother who was strict, and the example of an older brother who was a drug-free athlete and devoted academic.
But being raised in a trailer with an older sibling and a baby sister made it very hard for me to get the attention required by a young child. The constant lack of money brought about arguments between my parents, which in many cases were followed by violent outbursts.
The frustration in my parents eyes as they lashed out proved to me that they didn’t mean what they said, but it still had a toll on me.
Hard Times
In my neighborhood I had people putting me down, saying I was going to be a failure and harassing me routinely.
I was physically beaten at school, and back home I was “jumped” by a local gang.
Unfortunately, I internalized most of this, which led to depression. This depression took a toll on my grades and my motivation, following me to the end of my sophomore year.
Choosing My Path
Then, I came to a distinct threshold. One of my close childhood friends died, and my brother Jose was accepted to Yale.
Everything came so quickly that I was somewhat cornered into reflecting on my life. When I looked down the path my brother had taken, I saw life and future success. When I looked back at the path of my childhood friends, I saw many graves and many jail cells.
I suddenly felt alive, because I still had the opportunity to change things.
BLCI impacted my life in a tremendous way. I saw the opportunity to go to college, and took advantage of the program by attending daily tutoring in math and workshops on writing and English.
It was through BLCI that I applied to the Preuss School at UCSD, where I was learning in a healthier environment, where I felt challenged and academically intrigued.
By the end of my junior year, I had raised my GPA significantly.
Artistic Endeavors
Ever since my parents bought me crayons on my fourth birthday, I have had a passion for drawing and painting.
As I grew older, I became more passionate and disciplined about my art. I used art to deal with my problems, and to beautify the negative aspects of my life.
I even had the unique opportunity to contribute to the painting of many murals alongside artist Mario Torero in Chicano Park.
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Someday, I would like to start a non-profit group on a university campus, encouraging undergraduate and graduate students interested in art to devote time of their week to give back to the community by mentoring aspiring young artists.
Through such a program, I believe that I can contribute to the beautification of the campus while helping bring about drug and gang prevention for future generations.