I hear you complaining again, as if things aren’t going well in your life. But what do you mean by that? You’re here in this country as an illegal immigrant, yes, but let’s be honest—you didn’t enter illegally, you just overstayed your visa. In fact you made that choice. So, why are you frowning and lamenting over your situation? What gives you the right to feel so sorry for yourself? You want your rights to be respected, but before you speak of your rights, let’s talk about your responsibilities. The respect you’re hoping for depends on the respect you show toward your duties. You’ll never earn that respect if you don’t take responsibility for your own choices. In this case you chose to stay, and to bring the case before the court.

You’ve chosen to live, so you must live bravely. Your burden may feel heavy, but you must show that you are worthy of carrying it.

Self-imposed prisons, huh? What could be better than choosing your own suffering? You chose your suffering, so bear it bravely.

How do I want you to behave in this country? Avoid anything that would make you unnecessarily noticeable. You’re here on a mission—on a mission to learn, to learn about life, to learn what it’s made of. You’re on a mission to learn about yourself.

When does this self-imposed sentence end? When you are complete. When you’ve won the battle within yourself. When you’ve learned everything there is to know about life.

Can’t you learn from the comfort of home? Of course, but you won’t. You’d be enjoying the warmth of your parents’ home, and you wouldn’t be making the most of the potential you have inside you. You need to see what the world outside has to offer, so you can understand what you need to bring back with you. That’s why you need to learn as quickly as you can. You’re not going to be young forever. You can’t waste your youth.

Your presence here is already a burden, don’t make it heavier. You are illegal, at least be just and ethical. Don’t take more than you give. Work as hard as you can, to not be too much of a burden in this country.

Tough moments will come, and when they do, you need to be worthy of them. Don’t let self-pity show on your face, not even for a second. You don’t have to endure everything, but when something threatens your honor or dignity, you must say no. It’ll be hard, but that’s the only thing you have that will never leave you.

Is it honorable you ask? Doesn’t this situation make you a thief, and a coward? Well, many in the host country will look at you like a coward, but your family and community already look at you like a hero, but overall, remember, that as long as you don’t hurt anyone, as long as you behave yourself justly, ethically despite the context of the situation you are not a scoundrel. In fact do not worry too much about this for now, only time will tell whether or not you are scoundrel and a coward.

It’s just another one of those moments. Do you remember T, the boy who wanted to go to school so badly that, when he realized he didn’t have the resources, he hid under the bench to avoid being sent home by the disciplinarian? His friend helped him hide, so he could stay in school. The teacher eventually found out that T didn’t have books—only a soccer ball and food in his bag, hidden there by his friend. That was the deal, you keep the food and the ball, and we hide you. He stayed at the back of the class, unnoticed. You are that child. This is another one of those situations, and now you must seize every opportunity to learn. You did it once before, so why wouldn’t you do it now?

Do you need a reason to continue? Well, think about that friend of yours who passed away at twenty-five, fighting an illness until the very last moment. He fought until he couldn’t anymore. And here you are, healthy, full of life, and you feel sorry for yourself. “I may not be physically sick,” you say, “but my spirit is.” I understand. But that’s even more reason to endure what life brings. I don’t want you to live just for yourself; I want you to live for that friend who died in his hospital bed. Not just for him, but for all those who didn’t have the chance to live long, who got lost in drugs, alcohol, accidents, and worse. Some of your friends and others you know are struggling just to stay alive. You’re not fighting just for yourself, you’re fighting for them too. You need to transcend yourself. You need to be an example to them. You must improve every single day. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for those who don’t have the fortune you do, to be healthy. It is your obligation to better yourself, because you have the opportunity. If you can’t believe in yourself, remember that others believe in you—people back home.

You’ve been weak before. So many times, you’ve shown weaknesses. But now, I see you bravely leaving that victimhood mentality behind.

Life is hard, you say? No, life is not hard. Life is giving you a chance to build a great character.

Have you looked at the man on the cross? What does he tell you? How does he speak to you? What does he appeal to within you?

You do not want to give in to your vices. You don’t want to walk down those paths of misery. Those who lie are never truly free.

I want you to be able to be sent to any country, with nothing in your hands, and still live without any problems. This is robustness.

Farewell.