Terrance Gilbert/Reporter

U.S. Army Capt. Angel Garcia delivered the keynote address Nov. 16 for the second of four Leadership eXperience Summits for TR students.

Garcia graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in higher education. Garcia, who was born and raised in Miami, described his educational journey to the students.

“I came into this world and was expected to play baseball as a Cuban-American man,” he said. “I had a very harsh realization my freshman year at the University of Miami when my right knee was taken out, and no longer was I destined to be a major league player.

“I knew I wanted to be successful. I had to do some deep soul searching and began my journey to self-discovery.”

Garcia said if people don’t have purpose in their own lives, they cannot successfully be authentic leaders nor contribute their full potential to society.

“You have to find what makes you happy, and notice I place a heavy emphasis on the word you,” he said.