Soccer has been one of the most influential hobbies in my life, not just for the sport itself but for the lessons and skills it taught me that have translated directly into running my own tree service business. Growing up, I played soccer competitively and had the privilege to continue at Southern Methodist University where I graduated and gained certification as an arborist. The discipline, teamwork, and strategic planning required in soccer taught me how to navigate challenges under pressure, traits that have proven essential in tree work. In both soccer and tree services, you're managing constant variables whether that's the changing dynamics on the field or adjusting to client needs, tree health conditions, and weather. The ability to make quick, precise decisions to protect safety and achieve results has been invaluable in managing our projects at Ponce Tree Services. Through this journey, I learned how important it is to prioritize customer needs while maintaining a strong team dynamic. Soccer showed me that success relies on every player fulfilling their role, and similarly, running a tree service means every member of my team must be equipped, trained, and aligned on the same goal. This experience taught me resilience, attention to detail, and the value of persistence. These qualities not only shaped my work ethic but helped me build a trusted and reliable business over the past 20 years.