This past October, former National FFA Western Region Vice President and Texas FFA member Trey Elizondo hung up his blue jacket for the last time at the 2017 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"I want to show my fellow members that obstacles do not equal finality, but instead provide an opportunity for growth,” Elizondo said.

The idea that you can overcome whatever is thrown your way was one of the major ideas that resonated throughout his retiring address. Elizondo’s address focused on the importance of love—whether it be loving yourself, your situation, or those around you.

“Love is whatever you make it,” Elizondo said. “Love is a short word that has the power to change the world.”

Elizondo is a former member of the Yoakum FFA Chapter and served as the 2014-2015 Area X Texas FFA Vice President. He was elected to the 2016-2017 National FFA Officer Team as Western Region Vice President at the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo.

During his retiring address, Elizondo used pictures from his life to illustrate to the audience the importance of making memories and loving what you do. He encouraged members to search for love in the “white space” that lies between the pictures in an album; a place that may not encapsulate as much unconditional love as the memories in the photos.

“Among all the brokenness there is always one constant that never fails to bring hope and spread peace in this broken world of ours,” Elizondo said. “And that constant, is love.”

Throughout his address, Elizondo told stories that shaped him into the person he is today. From struggling with his confidence in front of others during a poetry and prose recital to an emotional encounter with a homeless man in a church in Indiana, Trey highlights how he learned to love himself and others in spite of circumstance and negativity.

“During my walk in this life and during in my time wearing this jacket there are two very important lessons I’ve learned about love,” Elizondo said. “First, loving yourself for who you are creates true happiness. And second, love is created whenever we serve those around us.”

Elizondo’s retiring address served as an uplifting message for members nationwide. Elizondo reiterated to members the importance of showing those around you that they are wanted, important, and more than anything, loved.

“Today, each and every one of us have a choice,” Elizondo said. “We have the choice to love ourselves and love those around us and mend those ties that have made this world so extremely broken. So what will you choose?”