The weight of the world is finally off my shoulders.
Just Call Him Super Mario
From the time he was very young, Mario felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. A brother to three siblings whose parents battled constant drug addiction, Mario felt responsible for keeping the family intact. As a teenager, he looked out for his brother, who suffers from cerebral palsy and made sure they were always placed at the same foster home. Mario emancipated himself at 17, so he could be in better control of his life and his brother's.
Despite all these barriers, Mario prevailed and earned a college degree using a Pivotal scholarship. In his Pivotal scholarship application, he wrote, "I'm working at KFC and saving all my money so I can stay at San Jose State University, get my degree in Psychology, and help other foster youth as well as my family."
Today, Mario is a Santa Clara County Probation Officer who is drawn to helping young adults overcome challenges and believe in themselves. He is happily married to a 2nd grade teacher. A talented cartoonist, Mario often volunteers his time in her classroom, bringing the characters from her students' stories to life.