Have you ever seen a boy that, even when he was a baby, loved dogs? Since before he could walk, he couldn’t see a dog and not play with it. Does that feel familiar? Maybe it does. So, that’s me and my story, join me!

I was born in Brazil and since I was a little kid, I have grown up surrounded by lots and lots of dogs. My house has never been without at least one dog. It didn't matter the breed or the color, we just wanted to have dogs. We had brown dogs, caramel dogs, big dogs, tiny dogs…

One time when I was about 12 years old, I went to a party at my aunt’s house and her dog had lots of little babies and she was trying to give them away. I started to beg my mom if we could have a little baby dog. I almost made my mom lose her mind, and finally she relented, and let me get the puppy. I was very joyful when we got home, we decided to call her Lola because she was female. Growing up, I found that dogs were my passion. I used to treat my dogs like babies and this is where I first learned about how to take care of another living being.

Time passed like it was flying. Things were changing. I was 13 years old and my mom got divorced from my dad and we had to move, but it wasn’t just any city to city change. We wanted to try something new, a new experience and a new life. That is when I migrated from Brazil to the United States. I came to the US with my mom, but Lola stayed in Brazil. It really hurt for me to leave everybody behind: my friends, much of my family, and my dog. I knew at least my dogs had my father and sister taking care of her and that my family and friends still had each other.

When I got here to the United States I made the best friends I could ever have in my entire life and they helped me a lot with missing my family, friends...everything in my country. They helped me heal the pain of leaving my dogs given the fact that I’m a person who always used to have dogs. Losing my dogs and letting go showed me that even if I’m kind of sad or not feeling mentally good, I can still focus on things I have to do. Being new in a country gave me the opportunity to learn new things, particularly how to socialize more easily with people. I know how it feels to be new, have no friends, and not know the language. Being new in a country woke up the feeling of helping inside of me, so now helping people is a very strong point for me. After my mother got divorced I felt I became more mature a little bit early because although I always used to help my mom, when we got here it was only me and her.  I realize now that I first learned about the importance of helping others when I learned how to take care of dogs as a kid.

In coming here, I feel I grew up. Now I don’t take care of dogs anymore. I don’t get to lay down and roll with them on the floor of our house. Now I have to take care of my mom. Now I have a girlfriend who I want to build a family with. I always have an eye out for my friends otherwise they are getting in trouble, and I now have to take care of myself. Maybe when I get older and get my own house or apartment, I can adopt a new dog in my new home.

© Evando. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.