Hilario Hichez

 
Hilario As a Simple Human Being

That's right, a simple human being. I'm Dominican (Latino).

I came here to the USA about 7 years ago with my two daughters.

. This Latino Dude with almost no English knowledge answering "yes" to almost everything (very typical with foreigners). I did not know how to drive either. I was determined to make it here no matter what. I've been driving my second vehicle now for little over three years. Before I continue want to ask you something: What's your excuse for not pursuing the life style you want?
Look, I'm not saying it's easy to breakthrough in life and go graving that dream you have, all I'm saying is you need to do your best and a little bit more cause NOBODY is going to get it for you, nobody. I learned English by myself in a country  where Spanish is the only language. I got better here but the foundation was build in Dom. Rep. I did it by myself cause I couldn't afford to go to an English school but some of my friends did could to school and I started checking on how they did their homework. They helped me out by letting me studying and practicing with them. I was in high school back then. I got it. After some months of so doing I was the first one in English class. I even got jobs in different hotels only thanks to the English language.
My point here is not bragging about some English knowledge I got by determination in a place full of obstacles but that you understand that if you have a dream, work on it and do the right things and you'll sure make it come through. As Will Smith said to his son in The Pursue of the Happiness: "Don't let anybody to tell you you cannot do something, not even yourself. I you want something in life just go and get it, period".
What's your excuse?
I started telling you about not knowing how to drive when I first came here, well, that was just part of my Genesis here.
I started my first job almost three months after I made it here. I started catching the bus going like 15 miles away (one way) to work over night. My wife gave a ride once in a while but with only one car and she working two jobs that wasn't some kind of help I could count on.
From home I had to walk about  ½  mile to catch the bus besides leaving the house at 7pm to start my shift at 10pm. Last bus ran at 8pm. I had to take two buses. Sometimes the last one (many times) did not come by so I had then to walk one mile to the job place no matter the weather conditions (and you know what I mean: snow, rain, etc.) This happened for months then one morning, just to make my situation worse, I felt down some stairs at my work place and almost broke my right ankle. By the time I hit the floor my ankle was the size of my knee. Did not break though.
Walking for miles sometimes in one foot
Ok, my situation was still the same just a little bit worse. My ankle remained hurting for over two month while I had to walk the same distances this time jumping with one foot (most of the time) since it hurt like hell. Many times I even had to walk another extra mile picking up my two daughters from the latch key before going to work or on my days off. What did you tell me is your excuse again for not going after your dream?
Learning to drive and my first car
Finally I got the opportunity to learn how to drive (another funny situation though I did not have cars to practice with). I started studying for the writing test which I got at the first shot different scenario with the practice test, I felt my first trying. Even the second one passing it thanks to a friend of mine. But like everything else in life I got it. I felt like it was a big deal. I had a driver license but a car since couldn't count on my wife's as she worked two jobs.
Anyways, I got my first car for $500. I'll take some things back. I got the car before I got the license though. I did not have anybody to help me with driving lessons as here everybody is super busy. BUT once again, I got it. Since I didn't find any help with the teaching, I did it myself. That's right! I started moving the car out of the garage and once out back and forth to get familiar with the clutch and the vehicle itself. After some days doing this I moved it to the street and from there back to the garage.
I know it looked weird but I didn’t care, it was nobody's business but mine, I knew what I was pursuing. After some days doing all this I was driving back and forth in front of the house and after that around the block. I was ready!. I then headed for the license and in some days I was driving in the United States!
What is your excuse?
I can keep going on and on and on here, in fact, I have enough stories to tell I can write a book. I won't stop in "Pursuing my Happiness" and my happiness is to be financially independent not only for the money but because of the freedom. See, my vision of wealth is not to have a lot of money, it's to have enough to enjoy life and have better quality time to spend with my family. I'm convinced that my children will be children only one time and I do not want to miss the joy to see them grow and enjoy this innocence chapter in their lives.
The same way I've been persistent about many things I've got in life (not a big deal for ones but subject of inspiration for others) I'm determined to be financially independent.
Many of my heroes had a very hard time in the pursue of their dream and nothing stopped them. They even had fewer resources than many of us today. Some of them couldn’t even afford school, food and even though they made it. Some failed many, many times before reaching their dream (Thomas Alva Edison, thousands of tries then there was electrical light). See, we have not excuse to quit something after several attempts.
I want to leave you with this saying from Thomas Edison as well: “I never quit until I get what I’m after. Negative results are just what I’m after”.