Autobiography
The vast majority of us have the ability to look back, reflect and evaluate what has happened in our lives. Those moments of introspection are essential to be able to make the necessary adjustments and turn them into obedience, to continue fighting and achieve our goals.
This is a simple reflection about my life. My purpose is to show that life does not have to be perfect to be beautiful and achieve our goals.
Place of birth
My name is Abraham Vinicio Benitez. I was born on September 17, 1964, in the general hospital of Anaco, in Anzoátegui state, Venezuela.
Anaquense and Venezuelan at heart
The town of Anaco, which I remember from when I was young, and especially my neighborhood, was a welcoming place, with simple and friendly people. It was a place where sincere friendships were easy to find; a small town rich in cultural diversity, due to the immigration of people of different ethnic and religious origins and of diverse sexual orientation. No one had to give up their beliefs or lifestyle to live in Anaco.
That mix of friendship, community, beliefs and mutual respect became expressions and experiences that were widely shared among us. We lived in harmony, and the vast majority of people respected social norms. However, like any family or society, we also create our own problems and small conflicts, but love, peace, respect and coexistence were the law in my small town.
Over time, those simple traditions made me feel appreciated and taught me to value and love not only my people, but also my country. I learned that Venezuela is nothing without its people.
Looking back, I realized that everything has to go through a maturation process so that one can learn to value the little things in life. These things, probably, we did not value them at that time due to our conformity and immaturity, and now we give importance to them only because they are absent.
I am sure of one thing: those times of stability and calm, that civic behavior, were an unavoidable necessity for peace and coexistence in my little town.
Two special people in my life
My grandmother Vicenta and my uncle Rómulo were my guardians from an early age. They were the ones who made me feel appreciated and taught me to love not only my family and friends, but also strangers and my country in general.
My grandmother and uncle were kind, sincere people; they were citizens of congruent behavior, full of energy and happiness. There was no hypocrisy in their words and actions, and what they achieved in their lives they achieved with righteousness and hard work.
Although judging others is a constant temptation to which we are all exposed, and sometimes we fell into it, my grandmother and my uncle were happy and self-confident, and that is why they did not have the need to judge or discredit to the rest of the people. Racism, rejection, superiority complexes, ridicule, hatred and hidden envy were never part of my uncle's and grandmother's lives.
They always treated other people with dignity, affection and respect. Today, more than ever, I miss his examples. But I also think that their legacies were not in vain. They left many positive and lasting footprints in my life, which I will continue to cultivate for the rest of my days.
Today, more than ever, I recognize that every person deserves to be listened to with attention, respect and dignity. Although I do not share your point of view, it is my obligation to show respect for the feelings and opinions of others. For me, respect is not only defined by good manners, a gesture of courtesy and kindness, or a few correct words. Respect is part of my person, my character, my feelings, and it boils down to something very simple: I treat people the way I like to be treated and the way my grandmother and uncle taught me.
When a tree branch breaks and falls to the ground, it always falls close to the tree from which it was born and grew. I am a twig of my grandmother and my uncle, and I thank God for that. Without a doubt, I can say that the continuous good example of my grandmother and my uncle served as a guideline for me in life.
My old lady, these words are for you, because I know you are listening to me; no matter where life takes me, your company will always be with me. I promise that when God gives me the opportunity to help the sick, the poor, the fallen and the needy, I will do it with the same love, empathy and attention that you gave me during all those years. Thank you for everything you did for me. God bless your soul, mom Vicenta, rest in peace.
transition stage
But nothing is for ever; time passes, one grows and things change. It is a change that is inevitable in everyone's life; a change that comes into your life without warning, a change that happens whether you are prepared for it or not. When that change comes, and you don't have the support of your parents to overcome your vicissitudes, it can become a bad experience, and sometimes, in the total collapse of all your goals and your life project.
The time of my youth was a difficult and crucial time in my life. It was there that I began to search for my own identity. They were times of mixed emotions: difficult, pleasant, sad and funny. I had many questions and few people to help me get answers.
It was a time of scarce economic resources, but I did everything possible to be happy and continue dreaming because I knew that this was the only opportunity that God had given me to be young, to enjoy with my friends, to experience my freedom and independence, to make mistakes and learn from them. In short, it was a time when I never tried to justify my mistakes, but I did continue to enjoy the present and improve, in my own way, in the areas of my life in which I had to do it.
On the other hand, I found myself caught between a harsh reality and the life of a young dreamer. That was when I realized that I was alone. I had no one to help me find the right path in life. Without a guide or support system, I had to build my own path and continue in search of my identity and purpose in life.
I began to experience things a little more complex. At first, perhaps because of my immaturity, I was reluctant to accept reality, but I knew I couldn't stagnate, and little by little, my priorities began to change. I realized that I had to make an effort to get ahead and overcome my adversities; and without realizing it, I undertook the slow, long and complicated journey of my emotional maturity.
my first job
We all have to take the first step towards where we want to go in life; At the age of 18, I started working in the oil industry, at the Baker Hughes company, in the Guaya Fina area (wireline). It was a job where I learned new skills and gave me some financial stability. I have fond memories of that experience.
To conquer other goals
Life presents us with circumstances and challenges that force us to reevaluate certain things and give up others. In my case, after working in several companies related to the oil industry in my country, Venezuela, in the eighties, I sailed to the United States in search of other achievements. It was not an easy decision.
The first few years were difficult, but I never gave in to the constant challenge. Deep down I knew that the United States was the land of opportunity, and if I kept doing things with perseverance and discipline, I could conquer my achievements. My goal was clear: I wanted to continue my studies, make up for lost years, and broaden my knowledge and skills.
my life in the united states
I wasted no time. By the end of the 1980s, I had already started studying and preparing myself. Those first steps opened another window of opportunity for me, and a few years later I entered Portland Community College, a public vocational school, first on the Sylvania Campus, and then on the Rock Creek Campus. He attended classes during the day and works long hours at night. He didn't have much time to rest. Many times I would shave and eat breakfast in the car on the way to college. He slept an average of five hours and was ready to repeat the day. I studied there for seven years and obtained the necessary training and credentials to deepen my knowledge in areas of interest to me, such as organizational leadership, sustainable business, public administration, and economics.
After my long career in these two houses of study and gathering the necessary academic credentials, I decided to enter George Fox University, where I acquired a bachelor's degree in Management Sciences, in the branch of Administration and Organizational Leadership.
my first business
In the 1990s, a friend and I took on the challenge of starting a business that required a lot of capital. A few months later, I took the acquisition and full control of the business. That gave me the opportunity to restructure it in my own way and continue trading. I spent more than a decade there, and I had to return to another type of studies, this time in the area of engineering and manufacturing, with the idea of improving my knowledge, increasing productivity and improving competitiveness in my business.
On a professional level, my business was another studio house. There I acquired knowledge and expertise in the administrative and business area, such as planning, organizing, directing and controlling, production line processes, and many other things. I also learned from my mistakes and successes.
My experience as an instructor
One of my first manufacturing instructors, when I arrived in the United States, recommended me for an assistant instructor position in the Manufacturing and Technology department at Clackamas Community College, where he worked. Without a doubt, it was a fun and excellent experience in my life. There I had the opportunity to help many young people to improve their knowledge in the area of manufacturing.
A few years later, when I felt the time was right to take my studies to another level, I entered Marylhurst University, where I received an MBA in Sustainable Business, specializing in Public Policy and Administration.
After completing my master's degree, I knew that my efforts were gradually bearing fruit, but my disagreement forced me to continue studying and improving. I am a firm believer that no one can say that someone is done with their education. Education is a lifelong discipline. Every day we learn something, and that learning does not necessarily have to take place in a classroom. So I started preparing my papers to continue my studies and undertake another long adventure: my doctorate (PHD) in Public Policy and International Relations.
However, after discussing my plans with my family, teachers, and people who had had a positive influence on my life, I decided it was time to spend quality time with my family and slowly begin my transition back to my country. Venezuela, and do what I have always wanted to do: venture into the politics of my country and help my people. As simple as that.
Final message
My wife's grandfather, a World War II veteran of German descent, once said to me while helping him repair his barn, "Live a hundred years and learn a hundred years." It is a piece of advice that is still valid in my life today. The important thing is not the years that one lives, but what one learns in them.
Goals show us where we want to go. I set myself many goals, and little by little I successfully achieved them. But the college degrees you get, the companies you work for and other successes, for me, are small achievements; I call them bonuses or bonuses that life gives you. There is nothing that can replace a home, a family. For that reason, my two greatest achievements and learnings have been forming my family and being a member of my Church. Without my family and the unconditional support of the members of my Church, I would not be writing these words today. I would be selfish if I said otherwise.
On the other hand, Venezuela and the world are full of people like me. The only thing they need is a little light, a small opportunity in life, so that they can achieve their goals. Talent is easy to come by, but opportunities are not. Therefore, when talent gets an opportunity, talent produces. And that is exactly my purpose in this life: to make sure that everyone who lives in our country, Venezuela, can achieve economic independence, regardless of their political ideology, religion, social status or place of birth. Everyone has the right to live in dignity in a prosperous, stable, safe country, with peace and many opportunities.
I am going to do everything in my power to claim the fundamental rights of Venezuelans, to replace their tears, suffering and poverty with joy, smiles and many successes. That is a promise that I make from my heart and I am convinced that I will achieve it. My family, God, the Venezuelans in good faith who know me, my brothers and sisters in my Church and my friends around the world know it, and that is the only thing I need in this life to continue with my plans.
I would have liked to write more, but time intervenes and does not allow me. I hope that this brief journey through my life has motivated you to never stop dreaming and not to lose faith and hope. Everything is feasible in life, as long as they discover their passion and keep the light of hope lit in their hearts.
My personal life
My wife and I have been married for over 33 years, raising three beautiful daughters together. Two are already professionals and the youngest is only a year away from graduating from the same university where her older sisters received their education.
My most sincere and profound thanks to all my readers.
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