Lucas Gough

My childhood has been a story of transition, obstacles, and perseverance. I was born in Hayward, California, in 2007, but my family was constantly relocating because my parents were chasing an soaring education and better prospects. Our first great relocation saw us move to Texas, where my parents obtained their university degrees from Lamar University. We eventually moved to Mississippi, where we experienced some of our most difficult times. Poverty and high taxes made us homeless for a period of time. Even with all these difficulties, my family held tight together, drawing strength from every member and never giving up hope for something better to come. Then we moved to Minnesota, where work stabilized my parents once again. Two years after that, we knew California was our home. It was never easy to go back to my hometown, but at least I got to stay with my grandparents, finally with my mom's parents, and occasionally with my dad's parents. My two grandparents alternately took me in to allow my parents to work and study. I did not recognize their sacrifices at that time, but I recognize how much I learned from these experiences with regard to family and support. Then, when my dad was hired to teach at CSUN, we made our move to Southern California. Unfortunately, the blistering warmth triggered my chronic headaches, and after a year, we moved once again to the Bay Area, where we lived for nine years. Gradually, we acclimated to that SoCal not being all terrible after all, and nearly a year ago, we moved once more. This time, it did feel like a great place to be living and thrive. Now, I’m a student at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR), and a concurrent student at Moreno Valley College. Taking English and Physics college coursework while in high school has set me ahead to begin laying the groundwork for my future aspiration: becoming a sports medicine doctor. It began with years of experiencing my own sports injuries and teaching myself ways to properly rehab them. Athletics has played a significant role in my life. I am a student-athlete, and I have grown in leadership and discipline. I was part of helping lead CSDR to their third-straight CIFSS 8-Man Football Championship, something that I learned from teamwork, perseverance, and dedication. I am also a varsity basketball team member, wherein I learned to lead in adversity and adapt to situations, both inside and outside of the court.
My leadership is bigger than sports. I was Class Representative of Class of 2026 in Freshman year, and I am currently Class President since Junior year (I was elected again in senior year due to how well I did). I used to contribute to the Secretary of Raza de Sordx, Secretary of the Foothill Athletic Association, Event Director, and now I’m currently contributing as Youth Director of ASBG, and Líder Colectivo for La Rosa de Alma. My experiences in these positions have taught me to communicate, get things done, and lead from the heart. And how leadership is service—helping other people and making a difference for good. Each step, every obstacle, and every triumph have made me the person I am today. From being homeless to learning to adapt to different surroundings, I learned to be resilient and thankful. I learned that missteps are chances to learn and that effort can bring imagination to reality. Down the road, I hope to carry this drive to college. What I've learned from these experiences is focus, drive, and positivity. Going on to be a sports medicine doctor is going to be challenging, but my experiences to this point have set me up to embrace that challenge with confidence and to persevere to build a future that I've earned.