Fernando Garcia left Honduras on foot at just 11 years old with his older cousin. Now, 13 years later he’s opening up about his journey and how it changed the trajectory of his life.
He arrived to the border of the U.S. escorted by “coyote people” that his mother paid for so he could join her. She had left her beloved country, Honduras, when he was five years old so she could provide for him from afar seeing no other opportunities for growth in her homeland. Unfortunately, she has never been able to return to her country. But, she knew bringing her young brilliant son to America would be life changing for him. Fernando was a bright young student and his teachers saw potential in his schoolwork, natural curiosity, and persistence to learn.
He speaks openly about arriving and entering school not knowing English and not having access to ESL in his school. Like many students, he quietly observed his classmates and students learning about language and culture from their every move. He later taught himself English because once entering middle school he felt the teachers were going too slow for his learning pace. He found his natural athletic ability in soccer would open doors socially with his peers as well as position him to be recognized by high school coaches.
Fernando shares how a guidance counselor experience was pivotal to his academic journey and helped to foster a pathway for his success.
Now, years later, he’s a proud graduate of a prestigious university where he also played club soccer for their D1 team. Looking forward, he has completed the LSAT’s, the challenging entrance exam to law school, where he intends to become an immigration attorney to help a population he can authentically relate to. His quiet demeanor portrays a compassionate heart rich with love and faith, while at the core his inner strength and resilience are reminders of his life-changing journey to a new land to join his beloved mother.