Robyn McCarthy on Byron Highway, a two-way highway connecting his hometown of Brentwood, California, to Highway 205, on his way back to Fresno after visiting friends.
After deviating from the road to avoid hitting an approaching animal and car, McCarthy crashed into a road sign, which pierced the windshield and his vehicle totaled.
McCarthy said she was in shock. The Fresno State freshman was lucky enough to come out with some cuts due to damaged glass.
With lifeguards already on the way, I needed to call others to come and help her.
On his contact list, he chose to call Karla Villasenor.
“Karla is my mother at the moment, ” said McCarthy. ” When I panicked, she was the one I knew was going to make the most of it and I’d be there in the blink of an eye. I knew she’d be there to take care of me mentally. “and physically.
And she was. McCarthy recovered from the turn of fate thanks to the comfort of villaseñor’s family circle house, the home of the other people who helped her when she needed housing.
“They take care of their own, ” said McCarthy.
Prior to his first year in college, McCarthy’s biological circle of relatives moved to Utah. McCarthy, a talented Liberty High School football player in Brentwood, was preparing to start his school career at Fresno State.
Instead of their circle of relatives just two and a half hours’ drive away, they were now two or three states away. Although McCarthy remains very close to her circle of relatives, she relied on the help of her friends for living conditions. however, there was no guaranteed position for her.
It was at this time that Karla and her husband, Jorge Villasenor, intervened, who with their children, Jorge Jr. , 15 and Eliana, 10, opened their doors for McCarthy to stay with them when he needed it.
The circle of relatives said it was a simple resolution.
“I needed the stability of a house,” Karla Villasenor said. “This is your house. If you needed to spend the weekend or take a leave, it was more than welcome. I’m glad that one came up to us. “
McCarthy said she was relieved to know she had a position to stay.
“It was hard, because I didn’t need to go back to Brentwood often. . . it didn’t need to be a burden,” McCarthy said. It’s a big relief when they said I could stay with them.
McCarthy’s parents, Tim and Regina, are grateful that Villaseñor shares the same love for his daughter.
“It makes you feel smart as a father to know that they love and care about your daughter as much as I do,” Regina McCarthy said. “I know you’re in good hands.
Tim McCarthy said they had built a relationship between the two families.
“It’s a wonderful family, ” said Tim McCarthy. Es someone with whom you can accept as true and has been fair to us. “
The relationship between the Villaseñor and the McCarthys was based on years of friendship at Ajax East Bay, a competitive football club in Brentwood. The bond between the two was strengthened when McCarthy helped Jorge Villasenor coach his son’s team.
The transition to McCarthy’s new home accompanied by a cultural clash. The inhabitants of the village are of Mexican origin and are proud of its culture, which McCarthy enjoyed experimenting with.
“It’s a lot of fun, I love your culture, ” said McCarthy. ” I love that they brought me to their culture and taught me much more. “
One of McCarthy’s strengths is food. He said some of his favorite dishes come with pozole and ceviche, as well as toast and bean and rice burritos.
But there is one facet of Mexican culture in which Karla and Jorge Villasenor agree that McCarthy has adapted perfectly: the family.
Jorge and Karla Villasenor said that when McCarthy moved in, their two sons had an older brother they could admire, either in the box or on a non-public level, they said McCarthy played a key role in the growth of their children.
“He’s a trusted user,” Jorge Villasenor said. “She was in a position to help. It teaches our young people a lot about the fact that life is complicated and that we still have to move on.
Jorge Jr. didn’t take football seriously, but having McCarthy and his winning culture around him was a game changer.
McCarthy was largely recruited to high school and helped his alma mater, Liberty, win two Division I championships in the North Coast Section. His reports on what school recruiters look for in the players have helped Jorge Jr. not only as a player, but also his profile.
Jorge Jr. also said McCarthy is personally helping him by motivating him and giving life recommendations to a larger person.
“Not only am I a family, but I appreciate it very much,” Jorge Jr. said.
Having McCarthy in the family circle was described as a blessing through Karla Villasenor, as he said he went through a complicated phase of depression more than a year ago, suffering to get out of bed and live his life. But knowing that McCarthy was coming, kept his brain because of the positivity he brings with him.
“She is a satisfied user with a big heart, ” said Karla Villasenor. “She’s never angry or upset. He’s just a cheerful human being who discovers intelligence in everything. “
McCarthy said her relationship with Villasenor’s family circle had given her good memories and life classes that she would hold on to forever, but that there will be one she discovers more valuable.
“The family doesn’t have to be blood-related,” McCarthy said.
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