He taught me that my life had value other than just being a statistic. I was a troubled student during my younger teen years due to hardships I was facing privately. He was my 7th-grade civics teacher and I thought he was weird at first because why would a soon-to-be lawyer be teaching at our problematic middle school? I remember enjoying the way he taught because he was realistic and he cuss and automatically shush himself and we'd laugh and he'd be like "Oh shit". I think I cried to him about my being an illegal student and he started giving advice on how to make a difference in a country where I felt like I meant nothing. He was my 2nd dad, the person I could come to when I was having issues and he became my life's biggest inspiration. A man who worked hard for everything and loved Ms. Burke more than anything and someone who loved his students just as much. Anyone who met him was lucky and even luckier to experience his wit in real life. He promised to come to my graduation this year because I was the student that stuck around from the 7th grade till 5 years later to my senior year and he even offered to adopt/sponsor me in case I couldn't become legal. He was proud of me for every milestone I hit from participating in my first debate, leaving a toxic relationship that he warned me about, being accepted for my DACA, and finally getting my license. He was an amazing person who will have forever impacted my life more than anyone, I wish he would've had the chance to live to be 100 because he deserved that and more. I'm distraught that I'm barely finding out after trying to contact him over and over but I know he is at peace and that he will forever be with me in spirit. Forever grateful for your selflessness. I'll forever miss you. Thank you Rene & Jerry for giving life to an incredible soul.