“I was a C student at best” is how Robert Cedeño describes himself as a teenager at South El Monte High School.  This would surprise most people since he is now a successful real estate agent.  He has been so successful that he owns and runs his own company: Cedeño Realty Team.  When asked if he ever envisioned himself in this position he resoundingly said “no!”.  Cedeño goes on to state that as a teen he struggled to “find his way” and that all he wanted to do was “have a good time” and that school was not necessarily his priority.

 

Like most teens, Cedeño was a like rudderless ship trying to find a destination: a journey worth starting.  What helped him find his purpose was sports.  As a senior, he was the football captain, was a member of the track and field team, and ended up being the team MVP for wrestling.  One of the most influential obstacles was his family structure.  Robert grew up without a father so football became his family.  His “boys” as he calls his teammates became his brothers.

 

Making connections with the right people makes all the difference[/pullquote]Motivation comes in several forms, but for Robert, his constant fear of failure is what inspired him to try his best as a young man.  “I was afraid to prove people right”. For a teen, Robert was wise enough to understand that young men his age and who grew up in South El Monte did not have a high probability of being successful.  So, he strived to surpass the low expectations that society had for not just himself but his peers.

 

 

At different times throughout his young life, Robert struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.  “I was a lost soul…I was nothing special…but God found me and saved me”.  Religion played a vital role in getting on the right track and helping him be the successful entrepreneur that he is now.  When asked if he had some advice for the 17-year-old version of himself he said he would tell his younger self “You are loved and you are enough”.

 

 

Looking at Robert’s successful career and beautiful family, you would never guessed that he has had to overcome so many challenges.  “Overcommit, figure out the rest later”.  These are the words that he lives by and advises that “working hard takes you to the right place”.   Congratulations to our first featured alumni.  Robert is a prime example of how hard work and perseverance can pay off in the long run.