Just to give you a little bit of history about me. I was born in Caracas, Venezuela in October of 1997. In 1999, my dad got a job opportunity to come to the states and work. That same year a man by the name of Hugo Chavez came to power in the beautiful country of Venezuela.

Since that time many things have happened to the country. In 2001, Chavez decided it was time to create a new act that would create 49 laws that would redistribute wealth and land. Nearly a year later the Petroleros de Venezuela fought against the government due to the appointment of a new board. Opposition against the government would remain crippling for years to come.

Now to avoid boring you to death with thousands of history facts we are going to fast forward to 2011. Chavez is now suffering from cancer and is receiving treatment in Cuba. Inflation has risen to 27%. In March of 2013 Chavez dies at the age of 58; knowing that death had been approaching for a while in 2012 he had named Nicolas Maduro as his successor. Before Maduro had even been in office for one-year inflation was already standing at 50%. In 2014 opposition arises again, 28 people were reported dead due to the protest. As if things weren't bad enough in 2015 things got tricky with the United States; Venezuela ordered a significant cut on the staff of the US embassy. The US responded by declaring a "national emergency" against Venezuela.

At this point, if you are still reading I would like to thank you for letting me inform you on what seems to be just sad and boring information on this random country in South America. You are probably wondering where Venezuela stands today. Well, inflation currently sits at an impressive 180.90%, and no that is not a typo it is one hundred eighty point ninety percent, and to put it in an even better perspective inflation in the United States currently stand around .80%.

You might still be thinking okay that is awful but how can I use this information in my life. Well, we can start with the simple stuff, the next time you want to complain that the coffee you got does not have enough sugar think of the people of Venezuela who wait in line for hours at a chance to buy milk at an incredibly overpriced amount. The people of Venezuela have no food and not because they have always been a third world country that has struggled all throughout history to maintain itself. It is due to the corruption of government in the country that has to lead a country that thirty years ago was on track to be one of the most successful in the world to fall to ruins. Children are dying because you can not go to the pharmacy and get the simplest of antibiotics. People are being robbed left and right because that is the only way people feel that they can survive. People feel unsafe because the armed forces won't even stand with them. People are scared. Their voices are unheard.

What can you do? You can spread the word. You can look into Venezuela and its many struggles. There are people in great need. What would my life be like today if I had not moved 16 years ago? Well if I were still in the country, I would most likely not be attending school because it is too dangerous. I would be at home trying to help my mom out and figuring out a game plan for the next excursion to the grocery store. I would be praying to God that I stay safe and that my family does not get sick. If I was really brave I would be out on the streets protesting peacefully alongside thousands of other college students trying to make a change, risking my life for my homeland and possibly never coming home.

What am I doing? I am informing. I am being brave. I am fighting from far away. I am Venezuelan. I am proud. I have hope.