There is something about an underdog story that resonates within us all. But all too often we see underdogs in terms of movies or sports and overlook the everyday underdogs that are all around us. Those are the stories that need to be told.

Ricky Mercado was raised in Omaha, Nebraska. The son of Mexican immigrants, he is a first generation American, and in 2016 will become the first of his immediate family to graduate from college. He is a business student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a special interest in finance.

He has received several academic honors, has had lunch with Warren Buffett, and is currently the Junior Portfolio Manager for the Maverick Investment Program. In his role he monitors market movements, manages over half a million dollars, and leads presentations to over 30 Investment Program members. Ricky has also been the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship.

He strives to promote a positive image of Mexican immigrants and to challenge others to accept themselves for who they are as he explores the meaning of what it means to be an American.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx