Name: Ricardo Soto

Age: 31

Occupation: Internal auditor at Amarillo National Bank

Where did you receive your education?

High School: Gruver High School; Amarillo College; and West Texas A&M University.

How has your education played a role in your life today?

It gave me a solid foundation on which to build on and provided me with skills that I use in the workplace on a daily basis.

What was your greatest educational challenge and how did you overcome it?

The passing of my father. My grades suffered for a while, but eventually I came to realize that my mom and dad raised us to do the best we could at anything that we do. I was able to get back on track and focus on school more than ever. I feel if you can get through losing a loved one, then you can get through anything.

What is the value of your education?

My education is invaluable. I feel that getting an education is the main building block that you need to get you started. Like anything else, you have to continue to build on it to get to where you want to be.

What would you say to someone who's undecided about continuing their education?

I would say that education is extremely important and provides you with opportunities. It can open doors for you and allow you to become or do something you didn't think was possible. With the scholarships and grants available today, most everybody can get an education. If you have the will and determination, nobody can stop you but yourself.

When did you make education a priority?

Failing out of football my sophomore year of high school. My teacher gave me and a fellow student a deal that if we made a 100 on the six-weeks test, he would pass us. We made a 99 and a 98 and he still didn't pass us, but it kind of made me stand back and think that if I just applied myself I could do pretty well.

What made you realize the importance of education in your life?

My dad told me before going to college that he didn't want to see me have to work as hard as he did to make a life for us. He realized how important an education was and the point got across to me.

Did you ever think about quitting? What made you keep going?

I can't say that I ever really thought about quitting, but that's not to say that I didn't make plenty of mistakes along the way. I guess that's another part of learning, being able to learn from your mistakes.