{"id":34455,"date":"2025-01-30T21:18:31","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T21:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phideltatheta.org\/?p=34455"},"modified":"2025-01-21T20:44:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T20:44:23","slug":"letter-to-my-younger-self-mateo-portelli-unlv-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phideltatheta.org\/news-stories\/letter-to-my-younger-self-mateo-portelli-unlv-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter to My Younger Self: Mateo Portelli, UNLV ’25"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Dear Younger Mateo,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you sit in class, sketching out dreams of becoming a trial attorney, I can see the fire in your heart and the determination in your eyes. You\u2019ve always had big dreams, Mateo, but let me tell you something\u2014you\u2019re going to go far beyond anything you\u2019ve imagined. There\u2019s so much ahead of you, more than you can now fathom, and I want to share some hard-earned lessons that I wish I\u2019d known back then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s start with the most important thing: stay close to Christ Jesus. I know faith has been a struggle for you. It feels distant, sometimes irrelevant to the here and now, but trust me\u2014your faith will become your anchor. Prioritize God above everything else. Don\u2019t negotiate church time, and don\u2019t compromise your prayer life. As hard as it is, prayer gets easier with practice, and it will transform your heart. Hold on tight to Him, because your journey will get tough, and He will carry you through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, you probably see volunteering and helping others as something you\u2019ll do when<\/em> you have time. But make the time, Mateo. There\u2019s no better way to grow than by serving others. And start running every day\u2014not just to stay in shape but to prepare for the Army. Yes, that\u2019s right: the Army is in your future. It will demand a lot from you, and this habit will pay off in ways you can\u2019t imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll go to college and join Phi Delta Theta, a Greek fraternity (and the oldest at UNLV at that), and that decision will change your life forever. You\u2019ll find a brotherhood of high-achieving men who challenge and inspire you. Through The Bond <\/em>(you’ll know what this means later), the values, and the history of citizen-servants who came before, you\u2019ll grow into a service-driven professional. Your brothers will push you to be better\u2014academically, socially, and spiritually\u2014and you\u2019ll rise to meet that challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But before all that, you need to get your priorities straight: God first, then school, then family, then work, and finally extracurriculars. I know that\u2019s the opposite of how you think things work right now, but trust me. When you align your life this way, you\u2019ll not only become a better friend but also the warrior you\u2019re meant to be. Oh, and one more thing: do your homework, and take the time to learn how to actually study. Don\u2019t let your iron-clad pride get in the way of your success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hard work is exactly what it sounds like\u2014hard. I know you\u2019ve always been quick to speak and slow to listen, but practice the reverse. Speak less, listen more, and make reading a daily habit. This will serve you well, not just in the Army but in every aspect of life. And when it comes to leadership, remember this: it\u2019s not about being the best\u2014it\u2019s about helping others succeed alongside you. You\u2019ll become the fourth Iron Phi in your chapter\u2019s history, continuing a legacy of perseverance and dedication. Help your brothers beat you to the finish line. That\u2019s where real leadership lies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your parents and mentors will be your greatest allies\u2014don\u2019t forget that. Lean on them, but don\u2019t hesitate to chase internships, scholarships, or opportunities that scare you a little. Overcommitting will burn you out, but undercommitting will leave you wondering what might have been. Find the balance, and don\u2019t shy away from the hard stuff. That\u2019s where growth happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you could see the man you\u2019re becoming, I pray that you\u2019d be proud. I hope you\u2019d marvel at the career you\u2019ve built in the military, and you\u2019d probably laugh at how much future-you wishes he\u2019d studied Python earlier. But it\u2019s okay; every step has its purpose. Through all of this, the most important lesson is simple: pray daily. Life gets hard, and it doesn\u2019t slow down, but when you center your day on prayer, everything else falls into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And one last thing: be proud to be a UNLV Rebel. The journey you\u2019re on is incredible, and every challenge you face will mold you into the man God has called you to be. Trust the process, and trust yourself. You\u2019ve got this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yours in the Bond, You, from the Future<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Younger Mateo, As you sit in class, sketching out dreams of becoming a trial attorney, I can see the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":34462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-letter-to-my-younger-self"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Letter to My Younger Self: Mateo Portelli, UNLV '25 - Phi Delta Theta<\/title>\n
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