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Yo Carlos!
I am currently studying at a community college. I
saw you speak recently and I wanted to tell you how you have changed my
life. I came to the United States with my mother and my little sister
to have a leg surgery. I was born with a general malformation that
affected my back, my leg and my foot. Subsequently, I had four
surgeries in three years. I was only thirteen years old when i had the
first one, and I was unable to walk during those three years. At the
age of 16, my parents separated, my mother became a single mother,
working to give us something to eat. She didn’t make enough to send me
to school, so even though I was not supposed to be walking that much, I
got my first job so that I could keep going to school.
Currently, I have two jobs and I’m taking three
classes at a community college. I just found out that I have Scoliosis,
which means I shouldn’t be standing up for long time periods of time.
I have two different requests for advice.
One: I have two jobs but I might get hired for a
third. I really don’t know if I should take it on. I really need the
money, to help my family, but I don't want to risk my grades or my
health. I don't know what to do.
Two: My friends and I are trying to start our own
business, but we don’t know where to start.
Challenged, but still Standing
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Dear Challenged,
The first one is tricky. I understand that you
need the money, but at what expense. You have to worry about your
grades, but more importantly about your health. If both of those things
fail, the money is for nothing. If you flunk out of college and/or
your health gets worse, then what’s the point of the third job? Your
health and your grades are important toward a brighter and better
future. I know it’s tough, but think about working smarter, not
harder. Look for better paying jobs, that will allow you to drop one of
the jobs you have and gets you more money in the process. Additionally,
look for scholarship and grants (www.chci.org
and www.hsf.com are few places to start looking; search online for
others) to help offset the cost. I know it’s tough, but lastly you have
to have faith. Faith that everything happens for a reason and that the
tough times now are meant to make you stronger later. Nothing is ever
put on your shoulders, whose burden you can’t carry.
The second question might help relieve the stress
on the first question. Starting a business is a great way to increase
your independence, release your creative spirit and possibly make some
money. But it is a risky and difficult path. Eighty (80%) percent of
all businesses fail within five years. But, if you seek out the right
help, from the right people, that percentage is completely reversed. In
my former job I was director of a Latino Resource Center. That center
and its parent organization are still helping people start businesses.
Their website is awesome and has ton of online classes, tools, resources
and seminars ALL FOR FREE. (Some are in Spanish too.) Mention my name
when you talk to them. The site is
www.kutztownsbdc.org. There should also be an SBDC (Small
Business Development Center) in your area that can help you on a
one-on-one, face-to-face basis for FREE. You can find out more
information about them and locate one near you at this website:
In closing, regardless of the obstacles, if you
want to succeed, you can do it. Remember you can’t fail if you never
quit! Persistence beats resistance every time.
Sincerely,
Carlos
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