Starting a new life

Barquisimeto, northwestern Venezuela, early morning.

Once he was woken up by his father, he knew it was time for school. Classes until 1 p.m., lunch at home and tennis until the sun went down. School, lunch, tennis was his daily routine.

Victor’s life in Venezuela revolved around going to the beach with friends and tennis. Victor started playing tennis at the age of four, introduced to the sport by his mother. His average day to day life in Barquisimeto changed forever when Victor found out he had to move out of his home country and come to the United States.

“I moved to Texas because in Venezuela the government had taken control of the food, services and my family and I didn’t want this type of life anymore,” Victor said. “So we took a chance and we came here to Texas for a better life”

Victor and his family had to make the decision for their future safety. Victor accepted the challenge of moving to a new country where he doesn’t know anyone, people speak an entirely different language and people live totally different lives would be a difficult transition. His family would be moving to the United States to escape the harsh realities that living in Venezuela presented and create a better living environment for themselves.

“I wish people knew that [Victor] is one of many Venezuelans that have come to the U.S. finding stability and opportunities that could not be afforded to them in their native country due to the current political and economic crisis,” world geography teacher Miriam Calixto said. “I wish people took the time to learn about his migration journey as well as those of other students new to the United States.”

Victor moved here to create a new life and so far he has been doing so, jumping hurdles as they come to him. Victor has worked to make his life in the United States better than it would have been in Venezuela; he is now seeing the hard work he put in result in better circumstances.

“Victor has reiterated to me that hard work pays off even if the situation you are in creates many obstacles because of language and cultural barriers,” math teacher Tricia Felicien said.

Victor has been living in the United States for 10 months now and is still becoming accustomed to everything in the United States. Coming to the states made Victor have to start his life over from scratch.

“My life changed a lot,” Victor said. “Here in America [I] obviously do not have the people who were my lifelong friends. Here I’m starting to meet people, right now it’s like starting from zero.”