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Ryan Joshua Catala

Biography

Ryan Catala found himself forced into premature independence. Family difficulties put Ryan into foster homes for the first years of his life. School friends became his sole emotional support, but gangs drew Ryan away from educational goals. "Change became vital and I began taking steps toward becoming a productive member of society. I did not want to renounce education, so, while working as a lifeguard and swim instructor at a local YMCA, I obtained my GED." With these credentials, Ryan obtained employment as an assistant teacher, received recognition from the City of Yonkers for his service to the community's young people, and excelled in honors courses.

Attending community college, Ryan lived at the YMCA and commuted for two hours to campus. In addition to his employment and studies, he pursued independent reading and discovered a passion for literature. "I became lost in worlds where justice prevails and the 'good guy' wins." Faculty and personal recommendations speak enthusiastically of Ryan's academic accomplishments and commitment to ethics. Ryan receives praise for writing papers that could easily pass as the work of graduate students, and demonstrating a near-miraculous drive to transcend adversity and achieve excellence.

A childhood fascination with politics intensified over the years. As a troubled teen, Ryan felt gratitude for the help afforded him by the legal system. "My heart is in the judicial branch. By using the tools of the legal system, I hope to help others find their vehicles for change."

Ryan garnered wisdom and compassion from his life experience, and aspires to scholarly and professional achievement. "The relationship between education and success has become evident to me in recent years. I am determined to be counted among the successful."

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