Senior Stories: Jesus, A Tribute to His Grandfather
Jesus Clemente, a SRLA runner for the past two years, has recently graduated from Bell High School. This year, Jesus was awarded the SRLA Scholarship, which will help fund his academic journey at the University of California, San Diego. He plans to major in Political Science with a focus on Public Law, aiming to pursue a career in politics and eventually attend law school. You can learn more about Jesus’s SRLA journey in his own words here.
Jesus celebrating his high school graduation.
“Felicidades mijo estoy muy orgulloso de ti, no te rindas tu puedes”
“Congratualitions son, I'm very proud of you, don't give up”
My Grandfather has always been an admirer of mine. He's my hero that pushes me to run those long miles. SRLA enabled me to relive moments with my grandfather, storing them for a lifetime. Ever since I lost my grandfather, everything has changed. My passion for running was gone. I have found myself feeling a lack of motivation and worth; from the feeling of anguish and loss of my grandfather. “I truly miss you” I repeat, trying to capture his essence to feel his warmth again as I ran the LA Marathon.
Seeing people along the races, cheering and celebrating, reminded me of my grandfather. They fueled my eagerness to continue running and fighting the pain of his loss and taking it all in at the races. SRLA allowed me to remember my grandfather in the races, cheering me on one more time. I was able to gain my passion for running again.
“Running SRLA has been an experience that will never trade for whatsoever. ”
Jesus after the completion of 2023 LA Marathon.
As I let my Papa Chuy find himself in Heaven, I will continue to do so with running and SRLA. For now, I am still grieving over his death, but with SRLA I will be able to capture his memory because pain is temporary, but success is forever.
I had officially become part of the 0.1% percent of the population and I did it thanks to SRLA.
As I run along my friends, talking and laughing, and enduring the pain of running those long miles.
Getting to the finish line and seeing people with posters and cheering me on on my first SRLA Marathon was a memory I will never forget.
With the help of my coaches, Gabriel Sachez and Diana Gastelum, I was able to take care of my body properly to get where I am today. They have helped me so much these past three years and I'm grateful to have them, and without joining SRLA I wouldn't have them in my life. They have helped me with my injury and trained me and others for the marathon. I was able to meet amazing coaches, like Coach Vonsteal from Huntington Park High School, who cared for me and also supported me along races as well.
I cannot describe the happiness of running with SRLA, it has taught me that pain is temporary but success is forever. SRLA has become an important part of me. It has become a family, a place of growth, a place where I was able to find my passions, and a way to help me with my mental health. This will not be the end, I will always and forever be a Student of SRLA because they gave me a home and a family and I wish to do so by giving a home to other student-runners
“SRLA has taught me so much into becoming the person I am today, and I wish to inspire others
to make a change in their communities.”
Jesus takes a selfie with his SRLA team before the start of the 2023 LA Marathon