Carlos Rodriguez Monologue

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Carlos Rodriguez. I’m sure each of you in this room is aware of the kind of person he was. Carlos touched the hearts of so many people, so I was surprised when his dear wife, Elena, contacted me, asking me to speak this morning. As most of you would know, life didn’t come easy for Carlos. We met working as the janitors at a Californian private school, me fresh from India, and Carlos from Colombia. The two of us spent many long nights together, cleaning the messes left by the wealthy teenagers during the day. Having just left my birth country, I came to the United States as a nave boy, excited to experience the American dream I was promised on my plane ticket. You may think I was afraid, of leaving my family and all I had ever known, but I was …show more content…

He had been in America for a few months, but his awe at this “perfect” nation hadn’t worn off yet. Carlos’ optimistic outlook gave me hope each day, even when I felt trapped by the system, unable to move in life. One thing I have learned in my many years here is that success is not earned or worked for, as we are taught as children. Success comes from luck. For two years, I drove rich people around during the day, before joining Carlos at night. I could barely keep my eyes open. Carlos never complained though, he remained a positive light in this world, no matter how hard times were. The life of an immigrant in the United States is not easy, as Carlos and I discovered. Every time I thought I was moving forward, the universe forced me two steps back. About six months after moving, I received an offer to work as a receptionist at a local hotel. That same day, I was wrongfully accused of thievery at the school. Even when I was at such lows, Carlos picked me up, often working extra when I was too exhausted or depressed. That man worked relentlessly. I often call him “the White Tiger,” an animal known in India for its hard work and good

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