Ironically, it was my Cuban grandfather, Abuelo Lazo, who instilled in me a staunch American patriotism at a young age. His visits were filled by history books about Thomas Jefferson and stories from Cuba. He inspired me to strive to be a public servant and contribute to his America. I volunteered for political campaigns and loved American history at a young age. His idea of what America should be was further propagated through the traditions and values taught at my Cuban-American, Catholic, all-boys, prep high school. I did well in school, and joined the Model U.N. team where I was exposed for the first time to international relations and political discussion. There were certain social expectations: to marry a white, Cuban, Catholic girl,