The first time I heard (as a child) the story of Benito Juarez, surprised me to find many similarities between his life and my Dad's, mainly because they both were poor children whose love for learning and their devotion to their studies helped them overcome the many adversities of their life. Juarez was an orphan who had to work as a shepherd to help his foster family until one day, a kind priest recognized his talent and took him under his care to guide and educated him. In the case of my Dad, he was not an orphan but was quite neglected and it was thanks to his teachers who, recognizing his uncommon intelligence and his determination to learn, encouraged him to discover his own potential and cultivate his many gifts.
Another obvious similarity is that both men studied Law and became lawyers; however, they followed a very different route: Benito Juarez became President of the Republic of Mexico; Juan del Rey married a beautiful heiress and founded a large, studious family consisting of three attorneys, one physician, three teachers, one chemist, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and a journalist.
If Benito Juarez fought against the French invading armies, Juan del Rey fought against the ignorance and injustice pervading specially among the poor. He helped many people, defend many in Court, even if they could not pay him, and taught many others with his example. He repeated often his favorite axiom: "Querer es poder", which can be translated as "if there's a will, there's a way" or possible something like "You can do it, if you really want to", words that synthetize his belief that through will power, faith, work and determination one CAN overcome adversity, prejudice, poverty; one can become a worthy, productive and useful individual. For me, my Dad and Benito Juarez are heroes in their own way: both of them honored their parents their teachers, their family and their Country; both of them defended their ideals for justice, liberty, democracy and truth and set an example for their children and future generations to follow.
Another obvious similarity is that both men studied Law and became lawyers; however, they followed a very different route: Benito Juarez became President of the Republic of Mexico; Juan del Rey married a beautiful heiress and founded a large, studious family consisting of three attorneys, one physician, three teachers, one chemist, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and a journalist.
If Benito Juarez fought against the French invading armies, Juan del Rey fought against the ignorance and injustice pervading specially among the poor. He helped many people, defend many in Court, even if they could not pay him, and taught many others with his example. He repeated often his favorite axiom: "Querer es poder", which can be translated as "if there's a will, there's a way" or possible something like "You can do it, if you really want to", words that synthetize his belief that through will power, faith, work and determination one CAN overcome adversity, prejudice, poverty; one can become a worthy, productive and useful individual. For me, my Dad and Benito Juarez are heroes in their own way: both of them honored their parents their teachers, their family and their Country; both of them defended their ideals for justice, liberty, democracy and truth and set an example for their children and future generations to follow.
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