Embraacing Challenges

An Interview

By Dulce Lopez Gonzalez

My dad became the person he is today by teaching himself everything, as he had no father to guide him into adulthood. He works a 9-5 job at a car wash, putting in maximum effort to provide us with the things we desire. Every day when my dad comes home from work, we greet him at the door. He gives us the last of his energy. Then, he lies on his bed because he struggles with foot pain. It pains me to see him struggle, but he still goes to work every day. Although he doesn't talk about his difficulties now, he would tell me his difficulties growing up. 

One difficulty my dad faced stood out and made me feel sad. When he was 3 years old, his father died. He had to grow up without him. Although my dad didn't die, my dad had left my mother when she was pregnant with me. The dad that I interviewed is my stepdad. Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a stepdad. Although he didn't have a father figure, my dad has been there for me every day since I was 3 months old. 

I have always admired my dad. I never knew who inspired him or what kept him going daily. Growing up without a dad, my dad struggled economically and morally. He didn't have a dad to go to for advice or help. He did have his loving mother and his siblings, people who helped shape the person my dad is today. My dad is a man who grew up with nothing and works hard to give us what we want. He will make sure we have food on the table every day. He tries to take care of his mother, even though we live thousands of miles apart. He is the hardest-working person I know, and I appreciate him so much for everything he does for my family and me. 

Who was your inspiration growing up? 

Someone who was my inspiration growing up was Jesus Christ.

Who did you look up to when you were younger? 

I admired the sky and the stars. I admired Jehovah, God of Hosts, and how he created man and all the animals, birds, fruit, and medicinal plants. I also admire the physical laws that God created. God told the sea that it did not have to leave its limits, and he told the earth that it did not have to leave its orbit. Even today, the creatures that do not have souls or spirits are more aware than us. We humans are creations with the opportunity to do good and evil. However, we humans are more disobedient than the sun, the sea, the moon, and the stars. 

What was your childhood like? What hardships did you face? 

I grew up in good health. The difficulty I had was when I was 3 years old and when my father died. I had to grow up without him. 

How did you feel on your wedding day? 

I was very happy. It was an unforgettable moment. 

Do you have any regrets? 

Repentance for my sins. 

What are some of the difficulties you faced when you didn't have a dad to help you? 

Economically, I didn’t have a dad to go places with, and morally, I didn’t have his advice or help. 

Who helped shape who you are today? 

My mother and Jesus Christ. 

Did you have any family traditions in your family that you would like to pass on to future generations? 

On Christmas Day, we would take the day off of work, and we’d exchange gifts and burn fireworks and visit tourist places.

What are some tips you would give to future generations? 

Do not forget to respect each other. Remember that the earth is for all humans, that we all breathe the same air, and that we must take care of this planet. We should reconsider how we collect garbage, try not to emit bad waste, plant many trees to have better air quality, and eat more organic food. We need to take care of our water sources because we need water to drink. We need to take care of the animals, from the smallest to the largest, because they are important for the ecosystem. We need to take care of the Earth because it is our only home in the world.

I would also like to tell future generations to study, to take advantage of the opportunity they have to educate themselves. They should pursue a profession for the benefit of the community, of the nation, and of the entire world. Let us never forget that we are all human and that there is no social difference, race, or economic status. Remember that we are living beings; we are all born, grow, reproduce, and die. Life is not eternal. We should be more aware of loving each other. 

What would you wish you could say to the youngest generations if you had the chance? 

They should not use their energy on things that are not good for their physical, mental, and social health. I would like them to take advantage of their time – to do good things for themselves, for the community, for the nation, and for the entire world. I want them to be inspired to create a better world without violence or atrocities; a world where we can live without causing pain to our parents, our neighbors, our nation, and our planet.