Occupation: Student

Country of Birth:Venezuela

Current: Chicago, IL

“I want to help the immigrants with money and things like that. I want to be kind to immigrants. I want to help them.”

Christopher was born in a coastal city in Venezuela and lived with his grandmother and sister. In the summer, they would go to the beach to play in the sand. He also liked to play soccer and volleyball with his family. 

One day, his mother called and said she wanted him and his sister to leave Venezuela due to the economy and lack of security. They left everything to come to the US—family, cousins, uncles, friends, his soccer team, and his pets. 

Christopher traveled through seven countries to get to the US: Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. They had no food, clothes, or shoes, and traveling across these countries was difficult and unsafe. He tried to sell his phone, but it was stolen, leaving them without much. After many miles of walking, days of staying in refugee centers, and hours of taking the bus, they were able to make it to the US. 

The first day in the US was very hard for them, since people spoke in languages they could not understand, and they had no food or money. They stayed in an immigrant shelter in Texas and studied in Miami before eventually moving to Chicago to be with family. Christopher’s first week in Chicago was difficult, but he says his life is perfect now. Before, his family was not able to get the help they needed, but now he is able to be with them and study hard in school. 

In the future, Christopher wants to study computer engineering and be able to help immigrants. The hardships he has been through with immigration have inspired him to use his talents to be a kind and helpful resource for immigrants.