Photograph of Faisuris writing down the dream in her personal agenda. Notice the ruggedness of her hands, a sign of hard physical work. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill
Who is Faisuris? Faisuris is the name of a 23-year-old young woman from Sincelejo, the capital of the Department of Sucre in Colombia. After graduating as a Criminalist Technician, she sent out thousands of résumés in an effort to obtain a job to sustain herself and her mother. No joy. Pressed by economic restraints, she had to accept a job as a clerk in a bingo company in her home town. Her monthly salary of approximately $200 barely covered their basic needs. Things were getting rough, and there wasn’t better job in sight.
After enduring many hardships, she decided to travel to Panama attracted by the American dollar and the stories of riches and good fortune in a land of milk and honey. Some of her friends had made the journey and were doing well. On January of 2010 she came to Panama City and started looking for a job. Her tourist card prohibits her to work, but you know how it is, a woman’s got to do what a woman’s got to do.
A guardian angel hired her to sell sandwiches and homemade beverages from a small pickup. The pickup would follow the flow of customers around the city during strategic hours of the day.
Photograph of Faisuris sitting on the back of the pickup which accommodates the mobile business of sandwiches and "chichas". Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Things are getting better. She’s now sending $200 per month to her mother back home and saving to legalize her stay in Panama. She starts her day at 5:00 a.m. and knocks it off at 2:00 p.m. That’s the time when customer buy her sandwiches and “chichas” (home-made beverages). Back home she starts preparing the sandwiches and “chichas” for the next business day, and her cycles starts all over again.
She dreams of becoming an owner of a similar business. As we talked, I could feel the burning desire inside her to fulfill her dream. It’s that fire in the belly which make dreams come true. Nelson Mandela comes to my mind.
Before leaving the scene, I asked her if I could take her picture. She nodded in acceptance. Then I asked if she would like to send a message to the world, since I planned to write about her on the Internet. She smiled and explained her message the best way she could. She had problems getting the words out. This is more or less what she said:
“It doesn’t matter what you do to make your dreams come true, as long as it’s honest. Don’t feel embarrassed if you have to sell sandwiches and “chichas” on the street, as long as it’s legal and morally right. Hard work doesn’t denigrate people, in fact it gives people a certain air of dignity.”
Her words reminded me of Napoleon Hill, the author of the famous book “Think and Grow Rich”. My day was made and I returned home. I’m sure Faisuris will make it big. Good Day.
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