PLUCKING HEART STRINGS BYRON CARRANZA OVERCOMES ADVERSITY THROUGH FAITH WORDS Ablry Kilgore I I PHOTOS Kazu Fujisaiva Byron Carranza, a freshman Walton Scholar from Costa Rica, grew up listening to his mother tell him that he could do anything by the grace of God. "The most important thing I have learned is that dreams can be done," Carranza said. "God says, 'With me you can do anything.' There is nothing we cannot do v.,i.th God. It does not matter what you are or what you have." Carranza had a better reason than most not to believe this statement. He was born without a right hand, but he never let this stop him. Despite this, Carranza played the guitar, drums, basketball and volleyball. When he saw something done that required two hands, it motivated him to try it, because he knew that it would test him. Carranza attended a science school in Costa Rica which prepared him for the rigorous curriculum at Harding. He successfully helped a teacher create a prosthetic hand, which was sold on the open market. "I always try to do everything in the [best! way I can," Carranza said. "I think everyone should try to be the best version of who they are." Carranza embraced this statement, making it a part of his life. Over 1,600 people applied to be a \Valton Scholar in his home country of Costa Rica in 2016. Carranza said he knew there were other deserving students, but that this was God's purpose for him. Carranza majored in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, saying he was fascinated with science and mathematics from a young age. His dream was to work at ASA, and at Harding he was closer to his dream than he had ever been before. Carranza's humble personality was a character trait that stood out to icky Boyd, director the Walton Scholar program. "[Carranza] has a calm self-confidence that I really like," Boyd said. "He does not try to tell you how smart he is. He shows you." For years, Carranza defied the odds and showed people how it was possible to overcome limitations. Freshman Denis Marroquin, a friend of Carranza's, noted that he and his friends offered to help Carranza with everything. They would offer to hold his plates in the cafeteria and try to help him when they played sports. Then, Marroquin said he watched Carranza play volleyball and could not believe his eyes. He never doubted his abilities again. "I do not think he has any limitations," Marroquin said. "He can do everything." Carranza knew he could do anything he put his mind to because of his mother's influence. "lMy mother] said do not tell yourself you cannot do it," Carranza said. "She said, 'You can do anything. You are perfect the way you are.' I have always seen myself as being just like everyone else." I Freshman Byron Carranza strums the guitar on the Front Lawn on Sept. 14, 201 7. In fall 2017, Carranza came to Harding as a mechanical and electrical engineering major and decided to show his friends that obstacles can always be overcome. II Photo by Kazu Fujisawa ,, :::0 rn U) I s rn z ::::::: ..... en c.>
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