I remember studying for the test and I was really PO’d because I thought, man, these questions are impossible. I’m sorry, if you give this to 10 Americans, they’re gonna have a hard time. It was hard. A lot of information.

"We’re on the East Coast at this tournament and I’m studying for this test to get my citizenship and I’m petrified. So I fly back to Houston. It was downtown."

"I go upstairs and you have an assigned counselor to do your case. I walk into his office, and he’s asking me how I’m doing. He’s very calm and relaxed and I’m trying to keep it together because I’m nervous about taking this test. He’s asking where I’m at and what I’ve been doing and I tell him I’m at Creighton and I’m a junior now and I want to be a pro and I want to get my degree.

"He gave me a piece of paper and a pen and he said write down ‘I live in Dickinson, Texas,' which is where I went to high school. … Then he said write down, ‘I attend Creighton University.’ … He asks me how many stars were on the flag. I said 50. He said, what are those stars? I said, they signify the states. He says, OK, sign here, sign here. He says, you’ll be getting your certification of citizenship in the mail in the next four to six weeks."

"I said, OK. I’m thinking to myself, wait, what’s he doing? He said, you’re done. I said, what? He said, 'Clearly you’re an upstanding citizen. You’re going to college and you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. You don’t need to take this test.' "

"Part of me was upset because I studied so hard, but part of me was just 100 percent relieved. I hugged the guy and I grabbed the paper that I signed and ran out the door. My adopted mother, Marcela, was waiting for me downstairs and I’m just like, 'You won’t believe what just happened. I’m done!' "