02/23/2020
I would like to introduce you to the Marine Corps newest Second Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Zamorarafael. I would also like to take a moment to tell you about his journey. He was born in a town in Mexico called Puebla, a rural town outside of Mexico City known for its agriculture. As a child he would often help his family in the fields before and after school. At the age of eight, he moved to the United States with his family, knowing no English. He struggled during his middle school and early high school years due to the language barrier but he pressed on. At the age of 15, he moved to Mississippi to work in the restaurant business while continuing to attend high school. During the weekdays he would often work until midnight and weekends were an all-day affair. Once he was accepted into Cal State Long Beach, he continued working various rigorous jobs while maintaining a high GPA. When he came to see me, he was about 30 pounds over his maximum allowable weight. That did not deter him. He lost the weight, got destroyed at PT, worked full time, went to school full time and did all of this, while having to live in a house with 20+ family members. No excuses, just results! I am extremely proud of you and your accomplishments!
You see, often in life we think we are passionate about a certain goal until adversity shows us otherwise. The term “adversity” often has a negative connotation but I assure you it is not. It is a wonderful thing that will tell us “You truly do not want what you say you want so stop wasting your time”.
As a five-year Officer Selection Officer, I cannot tell you how many times I have come across young men and women that swear up and down that they want to be Marines. So why, after some PT they quit? Why, after I explain that they have to show up and suffer at PT, they quit? Why is it that after I tell them they have to lose weight, they get discouraged and quit? Can’t pass the ASVAB? ACT/SAT? Medical process taking too long? I have experienced this too often- most QUIT! Adversity has proven most often than not, that it is stronger than the desire for most of you to earn the title of Marine. A question I often ask myself which I continue to seek an answer for is: How and why are people cut from different cloths? Most are easy to quit when life becomes challenging. What makes the 1% push pass pain and suffering in pursuit of greatness? Perhaps that is a question I will never know the answer to.
Second Lieutenant Zamorarafael experienced all those challenges I described above and having successfully pushed pass all those, can stand proud and claim the title of Marine. When you get pass all the pain and adversity there is a wonderful thing on the other side called Glory. This summer, is my final OCS class of my career. If you’re interested in learning more of what it will take to get you there, contact me. I can’t promise it will be easy but I promise it will be worth it!
- Captain Dubon
