As the school year begins and high school and college students across the nation ponder their professional futures, its a good time to share this story of early inspiration, failure, destiny and reassessing lifes priorities.
Meet San Franciscos Dr. Arnaldo Moreno, a Cuban-American who traded in his tie for a stethoscope after deciding making money for IBM shareholders just wasn't enough.
While accompanying his parents, Arnaldo Sr. and Trinidad Moreno, as they cleaned doctors offices, little Arnaldo Jr. noticed how much they revered the physicians. His parents, newly arrived Cuban immigrants, clearly held the medical profession in high regard. Young Arnaldo developed a fascination, too.
As the tiniest member of the cleaning crew, the 4-year-old was fascinated with the books, the tools and the machines he stumbled upon.
But then his life changed. His parents divorced when Arnaldo was 5. Trini was left alone with two older sisters, a single mom working multiple jobs and trying to assimilate to life in the United States.
My mom realized the value of an education and was therefore super strict with academics, Arnaldo said. She wouldnt settle for anything less than straight A's. She had very high expectations.
And her son delivered.
I looked at my dad dying at the age of 57 from some poor life choices and saw he felt disappointment with his life. I started evaluating my own life, my purpose.
- Dr. Arnaldo Moreno
His best friend in high school, Steve Hamamoto, the son of Japanese immigrants, encouraged Arnaldo to explore colleges and accompanied him on campus visits. But Arnaldo was hearing mixed messages from his father, now living in Miami.
He said I should join the Army, he recalls. He told me that college would be a waste of time and money. He doubted I could finish. His motives werent to be cruel. He felt we belonged to a social class that could not attend college. He didnt want me to be disappointed if it didnt work out. Instead, he advised me that the military was the way to become a man.
But his friend's desire to attend college rubbed off on Arnaldo. He aimed high and applied to some of the most selective universities in the country -- and was accepted to each college he applied.
He ended up at the University of California at Berkeley, where he began a pre-med program, hoping to become a doctor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFw-dOYri5Y
To current college students and graduates, Moreno says:
Congratulations for having gotten to where you are today. You have likely chosen the right field for yourself. But you should never feel trapped if your passion evolves into something different in the future. A failure or setback should never dissuade you from achieving what you were meant to do. Instead, allow it to motivate you toward what awaits.
To nominate someone for the Our American Dream series e-mail us at editorial@foxnewslatino.com.
Follow us ontwitter.com/foxnewslatino
Like us atfacebook.com/foxnewslatino
