Congressman Joaquin Castro's biography reads like a novel focused on the rise of an American hero. But, it's role-model real.

• Second-generation Mexican American.
• Product of the public school system in San Antonio.
• Leaves high school a year early to study at Stanford University where he graduates with honors.
• Attends Harvard Law School and goes home to practice law.
• In 2003, elected as a Democrat to the Texas Legislature and serves five terms.
• In 2012, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas Congressional District 20, covering a large swath of San Antonio and Bexar County.

When you look up famous Joaquin Castro quotes, you find this one, "I learned that Congress is a place with more heart than courage; there are more good souls in Washington than brave ones. I learned that the whole is not always the sum of its parts: that what you put in doesn't always match what you get out."

You also find this one: "I just believe that if I work hard and do well, who knows what the future holds?"

His deep-seated devotion to service and hard work comes from his parents. He shares it with his twin brother, Julián Castro, a three-term mayor of San Antonio who served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama.

Congressman Castro's biography explains that his respect for public service was deeply influenced by his parents’ involvement in political movements and civic causes. His father, a retired teacher, and his mother, a renowned community activist, instilled in him a deep appreciation for the democratic process and the importance of serving one’s community.

He is also an advocate for education and literacy, having "created the Trailblazers College Tour, personally raising money to send underprivileged students on college visits, giving them exposure to some of the nation’s best institutions of higher education. He also founded SA READS, San Antonio’s largest literacy campaign and book drive. Over 200,000 books have been distributed to more than 150 schools and shelters across the city."

Congressman Castro created the annual Families Helping Families dinner and awards and has taught as a visiting professor of law at St. Mary’s University and as an adjunct professor at Trinity University.

He is active on several boards of education-related, non-profit organizations, including the National College Advising Corps, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ Taskforce on Education.

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