From the June 22
www.times-journal.com article on Prez Obama's recent immigration declaration.
I have known Phil since he was five. Many of his brothers and sisters have been on mission trips with Collinsville Baptist youth, two sisters to Disneyworld in late 90's, and one to Charleston around 2001.
His oldest brother was one of the first Hispanics to graduate from CHS, and the brother with a Hispanic team pitched against a Braves Farm Team about ten years ago. Ga Tech was looking at Phil a few years ago as a field goal and 3 point kicker. Samford hopefully will take a close look at his standout Brother in football and soccer.
His sister Juliana is one of the best students to come through Collinsville in the last ten years, a nurse now in Rome, Georgia.
I have posted this quote on the Collinsville PTO facebook page and will try to bring it to the attention of Gov Bentley whose longtime friend from FBC Tuscaloosa and now in Montgomery, Mary Sue Bennett, answers the phone for the office of Rick Lance at the State Board of Missions.
Phil Hernandez
Phil Hernandez was brought to the U.S. when he was 5 and says the United States is the only home he’s ever known.
“I was born in Mexico, but the United States is home,” Hernandez said. “If I had to go to Mexico, I wouldn’t be familiar with the country. I don’t know anything about it.”
Now 22, Hernandez is working to gain status as a legal U.S. citizen.
He graduated from Collinsville High School, where he excelled at basketball, football and soccer.
He has one semester left at Northeast Alabama Community College, where he is majoring in Spanish education.
He said he plans to finish school, but has previously been concerned, as many of his friends have, about being able to find work once he graduates.
“A lot of my friends have stopped or haven’t gone because they know when they graduate, they wouldn’t be able to find a job,” Hernandez said. “There are a lot of Hispanics I know who finished top of their class, but they know they wouldn’t be able to further their education because of their status. To them, it’s a waste of time.”
He said his hope for a better future was restored on June 15, 2012.
“I’m very happy about this,” Hernandez said. “I thank God this was passed. It gives hope for all the Latinos. It will give us some opportunity. It gives hope to young people, who want to work, go to school and better their lives.”
Hernandez said he hopes others, who don’t agree with Obama’s decision, will give it a chance.
“If we could get the government to see that we are not bad people, and we are here to better ourselves and live the American dream, if we could get the opportunity to prove it, they won’t regret it,” Hernandez said. “’Si Se Puede!’ That means ‘Yes, we can do it!’”
