Preface to A Young Man’s Journey
This is a factual story about a young man and his father coming to the United States in search of a better life. He describes the journey as an experience and opportunity he never thought possible, noting that it has changed him as a person. We realize that currently, immigration is a sensitive subject throughout our country, but when this young man wanted to share his story we didn’t hesitate to say that we would publish it. After all, journalism “is the gathering, assembling, and presentation of news…a team of journalists’ work is tied together by the fact that they all (should) focus on factual nonfiction information related in some way to current events.” We believe it would be enlightening and educational to all who take the time to thoroughly read about this young man’s journey. The original text is in Spanish, but with the help of teachers and students here at PHS, his original text has been translated into English and both versions are presented here within The Powell Post. Due to the length of his story, it will be published in four series. If you would like to leave a comment concerning this article please send all comments to: kenneth.davis@knoxschools.org
“From one day to the next, in the blink of an eye, life can change your destiny. The truth is, few realize that not everything is as it seems and that sometimes everything is not okay. However, at the end of the day, we also know that despite everything, there is always something good - so we continue forward. This journey is a challenge that many face, and with the help of God and luck, some manage to overcome and achieve their dreams.
Today, I am an immigrant who arrived in the United States with goals, and dreams, and with great gratitude to God and the people who helped me get here. My story, and many others, is almost the same as any immigrant, regardless of who they are or where they come from; we all had to live a discouraging journey. For others who couldn't make it, maybe they are no longer here, or with luck, they returned disappointed to their origins. It is not only discouraging for the immigrant but also for all their family members. Immigrating from your country to a place where you don't know what the future holds is very difficult, and although sometimes it may not seem like it, sadly, it is the reality that is lived by many.
On the other hand, all those who manage to arrive with ambitions and dreams are reaching for the opportunity to live a much better life. Once here their purpose is to fulfill those dreams, create new opportunities for their children, financially help the family they left behind, and move forward valuing and appreciating what they have achieved. They push themselves so that future generations do not have to live through what they did; however, knowing that until then, everything will be different.” Noé Tobias