High School Student Refuses to Let Fear Weigh Him Down
The Story of Fernando Cardoza Ochoa
A 17-year-old boy who didn’t live his life like a normal American kid, Fernando Cardoza Ochoa, talks about his life and experience living in El Salvador. Born and raised in Nueva Concepcion, El Salvador, Fernando had an easy, yet difficult life.
He grew up with two brothers and had a dog in his country named Furrko. He even learned how to ride a bike and drive a car there. Growing up, however, it wasn’t that simple for him. Unlike most kids in El Salvador, life was a bit easier for him to handle. He was able to to go to a private school and had a big house to live in.
Nonetheless, the threat in living in such a dangerous country can still take a toll on a person.
“You have to be there every day and have to fear for your life that someone might try to do something to you,” Fernando said. “It is the only feeling that you have to have every day of your life but besides that it was fine. It was good.”
Although he was lucky enough to be able to live more of a blessed life, he can’t deny the fact that there is still a sense of anxiety that a person can feel living there.
On July 6, 2013, a day before his 14th birthday, Fernando was able to come to the United States to begin a new life with his family.
He is now a resident of Orange, N.J., about to be a senior at Orange High School.
With hard work, he now gets to experience a great deal of new opportunities he didn’t have before.
After playing volleyball for two years, he is the captain of the boys volleyball team. He is a part of the National Honor Society as well as the National U.S. History Honors Society.
Fernando is also involved in clubs such as the Diversity Club and the Beta Club, which focuses on community service.
Fernando was also able to grow academically and personally. He engaged himself in hobbies such as writing, learning and discussing history, and cooking. He also realized he is a very friendly, comprehensive person who enjoys talking and giving advice to others.
With the struggles of having fear weigh him down, which everyone knows is one of the heaviest to carry, Fernando Cardoza Ochoa is living the best life he can, trying to maintain a happy and healthy life.
