Campeche

In our life in America we are surrounded by forever and lasting opportunity. We have the freedom to become whatever we want.

In our life in America we are surrounded by forever and lasting opportunity. We have the freedom to become whatever we want, the reassurance of our life without worrying about food not being provided to us one day, or being privileged enough to be provided education. The endless opportunity we have is so amazing people would die for it, but yet many Americans never realize it. Many people in other  country’s have no opportunity, other than becoming an octopus hunter. For 6 months in the year making 4 dollars a day if they are lucky. Not once in my week long trip to Mexico did hear an ounce of  complaining of how tough their life is. Many of them live in house holds of three to many, without air conditioning or power. The guides of Campeche who make $500 less than the average American guide, are the most energetic and passionate guides I have ever been on a boat with. They seem to care about the happiness in their clients eyes rather than the $25 they earn a day . Kids in the streets of Campeche smile so wide not knowing how tough the life they live actually is, they are just happy to live another day. As I walked on the board walk I would hand out bracelets, the kids seemed to glow with excitement about receiving such a simple gift. To them it meant everything, to us it would mean nothing. This really makes you reflect  while  us Americans sit at home with perfect air conditioning watching TV and complain about almost everything we can. Why waste so much opportunity while we can make the world  a better place.  I guarantee that if you give the opportunity that many of us waste to one of the kids in Campeche they would use it and do amazing things in life. The power that we hold is so strong that we can do amazing things with it. Going to Campeche, cleaning up trash with the local Boy Scouts, and being a part of the culture really made me see things in a different prospective. Thanks to Fish for Change I have seen the potential I have for making the world a better place and I would like to use the opportunity that many would die for to do so.

- Hugh Himan: Asheville, North Carolina, 18 years old