When he first walked through the doors of Goodwill, Angel felt unsure and quiet. He was still carrying the weight of the life he had left behind. In Cuba, he had been a doctor—a man who gave his time and energy to help others. But by the time he came to the United States, he was tired and emotionally drained. He had given so much, but he felt invisible and unappreciated.
Coming to America was supposed to be a fresh start, but it wasn’t easy. One of the hardest parts was learning to speak English well. Even though he had studied it before, he often struggled to find the right words. Sometimes, people didn’t understand him, and that made him feel lonely.
He moved from job to job, never staying long enough to feel settled. He later wished he had stayed in one place long enough to make friends and feel part of a community. Stability seemed out of reach.
Everything started to change when Angel found Goodwill. What began as just another job soon became something much more. It gave him not only steady work but also a sense of purpose again. At Goodwill, he met kind people, found support, and started to heal from years of exhaustion and disappointment.
At first, he still thought of himself as homeless, renting a small room and living with strangers. But after a year, those strangers had become his friends—his new family. The place that once felt temporary now felt like home.
In the beginning, he kept to himself and didn’t talk much. But over time, through small acts of kindness, he began to open up. He laughed more, made friends, and started to feel like himself again. He realized he could still help others—not as a doctor, but as a caring person who gave his time and kindness.
Even though his new job was very different from medicine, his desire to care for others never went away. But this time, he also learned something new: the importance of taking care of himself.
Since joining Goodwill, Angel has made steady progress. He got his finances in order, is working toward getting his driver’s license, and his dream of owning a car is now insight. Goodwill and our community partner, STUG, gave him a laptop. With it, he taught himself computer skills and began planning for his future—saving money and setting goals.
The Good Partner Coach program also helped him a lot. It taught him how to break big dreams into small, doable steps and gave him someone to talk to—someone who believed in him.
When he looks back, Angel says the hardest part was loneliness. Moving from Cuba and starting over in silence was tough. But now, he’s not alone. He’s surrounded by people who care about him and remind him that he belongs.
Angel smiles more these days. The heavy burden he once carried has lifted. Piece by piece, he’s rebuilt his life and turned struggle into strength.
He says that having a job gives people the power to change their lives—to build something meaningful through hard work and hope. And that’s exactly what he’s done.
From helping others in his past life to healing himself now, his story is a powerful reminder of resilience, renewal, and the courage it takes to start again.
