Dear Editor,
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, I want to share my own story of pursuing happiness.
My journey began in 1983 when I left one of the poorest and most violent communities in Guyana and migrated to the United States. I was 18 years old with only a fifth-grade education. I had no hope, no clear future, no purpose, no marketable skills, no dreams, and no goals.
One day, an electrician came to my home in New Jersey to repair our electrical service. At the time, I was unemployed and struggling to find steady work. He encouraged me to join the U.S. Army. I took his advice, and 26 years later I retired after a rewarding military career.
Later, I met an American woman who encouraged me to earn my high school diploma. I accepted that challenge, and 16 years later I had earned a master’s degree.
During my military service, I completed three combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, where I was wounded in war. After retiring from the military, I returned to Guyana in 2010, where I have lived ever since.
When I first arrived in America, I never imagined how my life would unfold. I not only achieved the American Dream—I exceeded my own expectations in my pursuit of happiness.
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Pantlitz
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