WEBVTT 00:00.040 --> 00:03.630 I'm Lance corporal 00:03.640 --> 00:05.840 Oscar abarca And I am from santa Maria 00:05.840 --> 00:08.390 California . I was born in a small 00:08.390 --> 00:11.930 little town um , in southern Mexico 00:12.030 --> 00:15.350 instead of Guerrero . So I was adopted 00:15.700 --> 00:17.867 and I was brought to the states when I 00:17.867 --> 00:20.620 was 15 years old . And right now I'm 00:20.620 --> 00:22.680 pursuing a bachelor's degree in 00:22.680 --> 00:26.360 business . So I actually joined about 00:26.740 --> 00:30.210 2 1/2 years ago . Um , I was 00:30.220 --> 00:33.020 born , born with my routine . So like I 00:33.020 --> 00:36.420 said , it's issues driving to work , 00:36.430 --> 00:39.500 going home to the gym is just like that , 00:39.510 --> 00:41.660 that triangle . I wanted something 00:41.660 --> 00:44.380 different . So um , I want to be able 00:44.380 --> 00:46.960 to give back to my community and uh , 00:47.340 --> 00:49.507 Even though it was , I think it was 27 00:49.507 --> 00:52.110 at that at that age , my wife asked me 00:52.120 --> 00:54.176 so well , I mean you're so old , you 00:54.176 --> 00:57.320 know , leave that to kids that are 00:57.320 --> 00:59.431 coming out of high school . I want to 00:59.431 --> 01:01.487 make sure that I display my American 01:01.487 --> 01:04.590 flag with pride . Uh , so I , I decided 01:04.590 --> 01:08.120 to contact my recruiter . Um , and um , 01:08.120 --> 01:10.342 I joined the marine corps . Um , uh , I 01:10.342 --> 01:12.460 think two weeks after I , I contacted 01:12.470 --> 01:15.940 uh , the local recruiter . Um , as I 01:15.940 --> 01:18.780 said before as an immigrant myself , I 01:18.790 --> 01:20.940 just thought it was an amazing idea 01:20.940 --> 01:23.051 what we were doing here with allies , 01:23.051 --> 01:25.460 welcome . Um , I wanted to make sure 01:25.460 --> 01:28.390 that I , I'm able to set that example 01:28.390 --> 01:31.450 for those future citizens . Um , all my 01:31.450 --> 01:34.520 friends , uh , they said go out there 01:34.530 --> 01:37.130 and show what a , what a true american 01:37.130 --> 01:39.460 is , show them that you can be 01:39.460 --> 01:42.680 successful in this country . Um , so as 01:42.680 --> 01:44.847 I said , I have an immigrant immigrant 01:44.847 --> 01:47.450 background , but with a lot of hard 01:47.450 --> 01:50.750 work and of course a good family family 01:50.750 --> 01:52.750 support , I'm able to create a good 01:52.750 --> 01:55.130 future for my family . Um , so life is 01:55.130 --> 01:58.130 going really good and and I want to be 01:58.130 --> 02:00.600 able to share my experiences as an 02:00.600 --> 02:04.270 immigrant to those future citizens . I 02:04.280 --> 02:06.280 think that's that's that's that's a 02:06.280 --> 02:07.860 good thing that I can do for them .