When I started my freshman year, Leo Rodriguez was by my side. We were introduced by a mutual friend and our newfound friendship was sealed. Over the course of the next several years, Leo was part of many of my high school memories. During our senior year, Leo and I had what seemed like every class together which naturally brought us closer. In AP Statistics we were the dynamic duo, making jokes and learning stats with humor. Yet as we laughed and joked and drove our teacher crazy, Leo was fighting for the right to be an American citizen. I on the other hand, had my future planned out and my biggest concern was selecting the best college to attend. Without his green card, Leo wasn’t allowed to attend the school he’d always dreamed of attending. Instead he had to make a decision, let his adversity win or find a way to face that adversity and beat it.

Leo told me he wanted something that was going to make him a better person and that’s why he chose the Navy. Even though he may be one of the best people I know before he chose to become a Navy sailor. He always went the extra mile just to be sure everyone and everything was in place. Leo is the kind of person anyone would be blessed to be friends with.

Leo is not the type of guy who gets discouraged easily. He knew what it was like getting knocked down 500 times but he always got back up 501 times. When I asked him how he managed to make it through those 60 days of hell he told me it was all about staying mentally tough. He was constantly reminding himself “make it through these 60 days, and everything else will be a piece of cake.”

One of Leo’s battles during boot camp was staying mentally tough through the leader’s ruthless degrading words. I read many letters he had written to my family about how he just wants to give up, throw the towel in and kiss becoming an American goodbye. However, Leo, being the kind of person he is, always found that glimmer of hope. He listened intently and followed all the little details and managed to make it through those 60 days.

I'm sure everyone knows someone who knows everyone, that's Leo. His biggest battle through the process was not being connected to the social world. It really caught me by surprise that guys and girls were not allowed to have any communication with each other. He always had friends over and always had music playing. Leo loved his friends and music. I don’t think there was anything more important to him than his friends and music and not being able to communicate with us or listen to music was life changing. After living a life full of color and sound, it was a difficult adjustment for him. In all honesty, I don’t think I would’ve made it. My friends are my rock and music is my escape from reality.

The saying goes “Friends are like stars, they may not always be there but you know they are always there.” Seeing him every day at school and most days during the summer leaving for Iowa was hard because I had to say goodbye to a great friend. The night before he left for boot camp, he surprised me with a FaceTime call. I answered with tears in my eyes but we picked up things like I never went to school. It was great seeing him even through a screen. It made my day a little brighter. It was great being able to say this isn’t goodbye but I’ll see you soon. The week I came back from school, Leo’s mom asked me if I wanted to attend his boot camp graduation.

I started counting down the days until I got to see the graduate. I was so excited to be reunited with one of my best friends because I hadn’t talked to or seen him since spring break. I was so excited to be with carefree goofy Leo that I’ve known for so many years. When I saw him, though, he wasn’t the same Leo. He was no longer the carefree goofy Leo, he had matured. He got so used to being told what to do I don’t think he could be carefree anymore, but I love him all the same.