From middle school to sophomore year in high school, Gilbert Osornio was not very well liked.

It’s hard to imagine this now. When you meet him, Osornio is happy-go-lucky, full of life and excitement. He has a smile for everyone. His bright, friendly, outgoing personality makes him the ideal prom king.

But getting here was not easy.

Osornio had to come a long way and overcome a number of obstacles.

The biggest was the judgement of others. In middle school he often found himself bullied and body shamed. This led to depression deep enough that he didn’t feel like going to school from time-to-time. He felt like he had nobody, and he just kept to himself.

At home, things were a lot better. He lives with his grandmother, who he describes as kind and his greatest supporter. This goes for his entire family, too, who Osornio says “don’t judge me for who I am. They are genuine people there to support me.”

With his family’s support, and renewed confidence, during his junior year Osornio gave himself permission to start anew. His grades improved. He changed his friends. And now he’s in Link Crew, has kept his grades up, and is more social and happier than ever.

This has given him the courage to run for prom king. He’s the first person in his family to do it. Now that he has a supportive environment of friends and family around him, Osornio only surrounds himself with positive energy.

After the prom and high school are over, he is ready for the next chapter. He has already been accepted to San Bernardino Valley College, where he is both nervous and ready to start anew again on a career as an assistant nurse.

He has definitely come a long way.