Regular violence, mental abuse, poverty, and being raised by an addict made most days a struggle for survival. But by putting himself in places of extreme discomfort, Perez learned that failure is a mandatory stepping stone to self-growth and success. One of the first and last soldiers of an Army Brigade that no longer exists, he went on to reach academic achievements he didn't think possible. He was invited in 2018 by The Seattle Times to share a story of being saved from becoming a high school dropout by his agriculture teacher, which spurred him to share the story of how he ended up in the historic military unit, the 5th Brigade 2nd Infantry Division . In Born To Fail, he shares his journey that shows how anyone can achieve their goals with hard work, preparedness, and determination.