Hope gives us the ability to dream and look into our future. As children we were brave and courageous to dream of being rich billionaires to buy the things our parents could not afford. To dream of dreams society would tell us were impossible because of social economic class. A hope of becoming the impossible and the unheard of.

Juan a Mexican prodigy who crossed the border on a tourist visa at the age of 16, dreaming of becoming an audacious conqueror of the impossible. Chasing a dream of possibility’s in North America where everything was possible and far away from any parental supervision. A Mexican child with dreams of owning a business, a home, and having the riches of what was considered to be the American dream.

After a short period of time, the reality’s of touching American soil began to harvest in the soul and heart of Juan. Juan realized he is in a country where Spanish is not the language of dominance, but a language that was imposed on the American people by the European culture. Yet, Juan had hope of becoming a U. S Citizen and fighting for the dream of being someone his mother could be proud of.

Juan did not have family in the U.S. and ended up being homeless. Juan’s heart was set on building a dream and family with his first love Maria whose family came. to the U.S. for a better way of life. Juan found himself depressed and living out of an attached apartment shed where Maria would sneak food to Juan after her mother and stepfather would go to bed. Juan kept telling himself this too shall pass in hopes of one day buying his home.

One cloudy night the shed caught on fire. Maria hurried outside to the shed to wake Juan up from such a deep sleep to rescue Juan from being burnt and dying. Juan was able to crawl out of the shed alive with minor injuries and smoke inhalation.

Juan continued to hope of the American dream and the all American family.

Juan found himself struggling in the U.S. Juan’s mother sent him to the U.S. with all his documents including school records but was not able to get registered into high school due to no parental or legal guardian present. Juan continued with the hope of things will get better, and began to look for employment with no high school education. No-one wanted to take a chance on a Mexican with no social security number who was a liability to an employer.

Juan finally found an employer who took a chance after weeks of trying to find work. On this day Juan had walked for hours going from business to business, being turned down for employment, and kept hoping someone was going to give him a job. It was Juans last chance and day of hope in his heart. Juan was employed as a carpenter repairing furniture.

A few years passed and now Juan was 18 years of age. Juan began to look for immigration services in the community to have a legal status in the U.S. Juan was referred to an agency who was submitting fraudulent asylum applications for immigrants who did not read or write English. Juan had hope of still achieving the American dream.

Juan hired the agency for their services and followed the instructions given to him by the agency to sign blank documents that were in English. In signing those documents Juan was under the impression the documents were for authorization for employment with immigration, and signed everything he was told to sign. About a year or two Juan was informed immigration denied his Asylum application and was put in deportation proceedings for failure to appear. Juan was oblivious to the situation.

After Juan married Maria and had a child. Juan inquired about his immigration status through an attorney, which is when Juan found out about being scammed. The attorney tried to appeal with immigration and immigration denied his appeal even with the evidence provided. Yet Juan kept hope to have a legal status in the U.S.

Throughout the years Juan worked in restaurants, warehouses and through temporary agencies. Juan did what he could to provide for himself and his family. Juan was also able to get a high school diploma in his late 40s but yet hope resonated in Juans heart as he continued to fight for his American life and legal status in the U.S.

Juan to this date is fighting the very same system that allowed him to enter this country. Juan was able to get an immigration approval after 30 years of hope and now has a journey of having to wait five years before applying to become a U.S. citizen.

Juans hope kept him purpose driven.