From hungry and homeless to hope. Good mentors change lives.

Jacob Pacheco climbing the ancient stairs of Machu Picchu with his hands on each step, showing determination and focus.

Good mentors change lives. I went from hungry, homeless with no money, to hope from their helping hand.  My breaking point It’s Mid-August in the Central Valley of California. The hottest day of summer, it’s a dry smothering heat that will cook an egg on a sidewalk. I’m sitting in my parked car boiling, because…

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It’s hard to ask for help

Jacob holding dumbbells underwater in a swimming pool, pulling two people attached to his shoulders, engaged in an exercise session with a tiled floor and lane dividers.

Despite nearly a lifetime of believing that asking for help is a sign of weakness, I asked for help. This is a story of how asking for help elevated me as a person and athlete. Growing up, I believed that asking for help meant I was labelled as stupid or lazy. These labels weren’t something…

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One question to improve myself right now

Jacob Pacheco smiling broadly, wearing a casual outfit, with a caption that reads 'SMILING' and 'STOKED - 2 words I live by. It is not possible for me to be as stoked and happy as I am without the help of others.

The morning after I had a big setback, my best friend asked me one question to improve myself. I mentioned in my last blog post that attitude is one key to overcoming our adversity, another key is surrounding ourselves with people who push us to become better.  Here is that morning conversation with my best…

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How to Overcome Adversity: Transforming Setbacks to Stoke

Jacob Pacheco competing in Wales in 2019, showcasing his skills as an elite adaptive athlete on a surfboard.

I have spent a lifetime learning how to overcome my adversity. This shirt tells my story in seconds. A dark blue T-shirt displays seven tally marks next to ‘fell down’ below that it says ‘got up’ with eight tally marks next to it. This shirt honors the grit, pain, and patience it took for me…

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Being patient through the pain

"Before and after photo showing Jacob Pacheco as a toddler with canes and, as an adult, a shirtless surfer model on the beach in a black and white photo.

My name is Jacob Pacheco. I wrote a small poem, “Being patient through the pain”. I was born with a physical disability, as a child I was bullied, beaten, and broken. I had to rebuild my mind, body and soul as a result of those experiences. I’m proud to be here today. These are words…

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