Six years ago, I immigrated to the United States to start my life over. It hasn’t always gone the way I hoped, and lately it feels more like surviving than living.

For a long time, I’ve dreamed of walking the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. This September is my birthday, and I can’t imagine a more meaningful way to celebrate it. I hope this journey will give me the chance to step away from everyday life, look at everything from a different perspective, reflect on the path I’ve taken, regain my strength, and continue moving toward the goals I’m still working so hard to achieve.

Right now, though, this remains a dream. Every dollar I earn goes toward the basic cost of living, and there simply isn’t room in my budget for a journey like this.

If, somehow, this dream becomes possible, it would mean more to me than I can put into words. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.