New BRHS a gem for optimism in our community

Fernando Mendoza has become one of my all-time favorite people. I watched an interview recently where he said that his family “has never-ending optimism,” and now that is my life goal. It wasn’t just the phrase that stuck but the fact that the adversity his family has faced never stopped them from being optimistic. 

You might assume optimism would come easy for the 2025 Heisman winner and projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick, but looks can be deceiving. Mendoza’s mom, whom he openly describes as his best friend, is a former University of Miami tennis player who is now wheelchair-bound with multiple sclerosis. Imagine not being able to stand and cheer for your child. Mendoza himself was a two-star out of high school who was rejected as a walk-on by the University of Miami, and according to reports, Miami was only one of more than a hundred rejections.