Arizona: Where identities are built, not inherited

When I first moved to Arizona from Iowa in 2012, I found a unique irony in the slogan of the state I was leaving: “Fields of Opportunities.” Here I was, heading west for just that: opportunity.

Over time, my understanding of opportunity has expanded well beyond economics or career advancement. I’ve come to understand opportunity as moments to answer the call—to serve others well, to act responsibly in community, and to contribute meaningfully to the place one calls home. The opportunity to give someone my full self as a husband, to serve earnestly as a father. The opportunity to approach others with dignity in everyday interactions. The opportunity to grow in my work and determine how that can best impact the community I’ve grown into. I believe this to be Arizona’s greatest component of its identity: opportunity.

Arizona’s identity is deeply rooted in the American frontier tradition. Americans migrated west, driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny, in pursuit of prosperity and greater freedoms. Arizona’s identity is the embodiment of this American Frontier—a state in the West where you can still build from the ground up.

Arizona strikes the right mix of freedom and accountability. I’ve done my best to seize this opportunity for the better part of ten years. I’ve asked myself, “Who do I want to be and why does it matter?” In the absence of familial or cultural expectations of the Midwest, I was able to explore this in earnest. Arizona provides the environment to hone the person one wants to become.

I arrived shaped by three primary influences: Mexican heritage, Catholic faith, and Northwest Iowan culture (yes, the region matters).  These ingredients were placed in the Arizona oven and infused with the state’s spirit, and out came someone who I hope contributes positively to this state and encourages others to do the same.

If asked, I don’t shy away from sharing my convictions or opinions. I strive to articulate them in a manner that leads with dignifying others and leaves a space for dialogue. This approach did not arise from a desire simply to be heard, but from having lived in an environment that encouraged thoughtful discourse and mutual respect. I speak to cultivate understanding, to connect, and to participate meaningfully in community.

Any state could have offered space to grow, but it is Arizona that consistently invites people to decide who they will become—and then holds them accountable to that choice. Arizona’s culture does not hand you an identity; it challenges you to build one. For me, that invitation has shaped not only how I live here, but who I want to be moving forward.