Land of Opportunity

One thing I enjoy about my job is meeting new people.  Over the years I have meet thousands of people from different backgrounds, races, income levels, personalities, etc.  This story involves a Spanish girl from Mexico who came to America to better her and her families’ lives.

We’ll call this Spanish girl Maria, she was born in Mexico and lived in California until her family moved to Miami.  (Side Note)  One TV show that I sometimes watch is Border Wars, it’s a show about border patrol and the things the encounter on a daily basis.  This includes gun smuggling, people trafficking, drug smuggling, and preventing immigrants from entering the country illegally.  Listening to Maria’s story just made me wonder why the people on TV don’t take the same “legal” route she did.

Maria applied for her residency and it was granted, she has lived in the U.S for ten years now and able to apply for her citizenship.  She has an EMT (emergency medical technician) certification and was looking for a position in a fire department.  There wasn’t availability in Miami so she applied in the city I reside and got a call back.  She was in town to take the fire departments test and hopefully get the job.  I admired her determination and drive to do things the right way and better her career.  When she got here, she figured out our bus system to get exactly where she needed to be.  Hopefully she will pass the test with flying colors so she may advance her career. 

The U.S is the land of opportunity, people have to utilize the systems in place and make the best of them as Maria did.  If you want something bad enough, sometimes you have to go after it and don’t stop until you reach your goal.  Stay tuned on Monday for the “Recipe of the Week: Washington Apple”

            These stories are real accounts, so if you plan to drink and have a good time do so responsibly. Remember to call a cab or a friend because the cost of a DWI is way more than a $20 cab ride home. Also, if you plan or happen to take someone home use protection. For two reasons, one there are many STD’s floating out there and it only takes one to ruin your life or that of others. The second reason is because a $3 condom is less expensive then 18 years of raising a child.