Imagine starting out life by being thrown away. That’s what happened to Samuel Jimenez Coreas, who as an infant in El Salvador was discarded in a trash dump.
From such tragic and humble beginnings, Sam has made a happy and successful life for himself. His story is one of courage, resilience and striving to realize dreams in the face of frightening obstacles. It’s an inspiration for any of us looking to overcome the obstacles life can throw in our way, an example of going from extreme adversity to triumph.
Sam was born with a skin infection, and his parents could not afford medical care. “They tried to sell me, and no one wanted me,” Sam says. “So they threw me in the trash.”
A local baker spotted Sam at the trash dump, pulled him out, and took care of him. His troubles were far from over, however.
“About four years later, the baker and I were delivering bread in the community,” Sam says. “A group of gang members shot both of us. The baker drove us to the hospital, where he died. The bullet that hit me only grazed the back of my skull.”
After that, authorities placed Sam in a government operated orphanage in San Salvador, from which he fled. “I decided to live on the streets for about two years,” he says. “I found a group of kids, and we became like brothers.”
Living on the streets of El Salvador as a young child was not easy, “but I believe God had a plan,” Sam says. “That is why I am here, sharing my story.” Just surviving was a challenge. He and his friends had to steal resources such as food, clothes, and medicine to stay alive.
Eventually, authorities caught up with Sam and sent him back to the orphanage. Unfortunately, this facility failed to provide much in the way of caring, support, resources and opportunities for residents.
In November 1999, the orphanage sent a group of 10 kids, including Sam, to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), an orphanage in El Salvador. “And that is when my life changed forever,” he says. “NPH gave me unconditional love, education, home, family, healthcare and lots of opportunities to learn so many things. After growing up at NPH, the kids, including me, are ready to contribute to society.”
At first, Sam couldn’t believe how much his environment had improved.
“In my mind, I was saying ‘this is too good to be true,’” he says. “There were around 40 children in the home but unlike the orphanage I had come from, they all looked happy and safe.”
As time passed, Sam became more comfortable and started enjoying his new home, friends, and all the opportunities that NPH offered. “By the time I entered high school, the home had over 450 children,” he says. “The NPH family was growing so fast that we needed a bigger house, but we never had issues. NPH gave me everything to become a better citizen. But most important, they gave me brothers and sisters for life.”
Several years after he entered the orphanage, NPH asked Sam to accompany another boy to Chicago to help him while he received medical treatment. “I studied English and had the opportunity to go to college,” he says. “The El Salvador consulate had a position, and I worked there as an administrative representative while I finished college.”
When he first arrived in Chicago, Sam thought it would be for a short visit. “Instead, I was given a golden opportunity to study English, attend college and learn a different environment,” he says. “But just like living on the streets in El Salvador, there were different challenges.”
For example, he had to adapt to a much colder weather than the hot and tropical climate he was accustomed to in El Salvador. Then there was the language barrier. “Trying to order coffee from Starbucks was a challenge. And I love coffee,” he says. “To me, they spoke too fast and I could not understand a thing. Of course, there was always a long line behind waiting for me to put in my order.”
Sam attended Northeastern Illinois University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work in May 2020. Now 34, he lives outside of Chicago with his spouse. He works for Posen-Robbins School District as a computer technician. In his spare time, he enjoys watching and playing soccer, and he coaches boys and girls middle school soccer teams.
Sam’s story is chronicled in a book by author Marlene Byrne called Do Not Discard. It describes how he has risen above adversity in an orphanage and the streets of El Salvador to arrive in Chicago, and shows readers that they can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances.
How has he managed to remain resilient and positive in the face of so many difficulties? “I have not forgotten my past and the challenges, but rather I embrace them,” Sam says. “They are part of my life. But the one thing I did learn from the beginning at NPH was that regardless of your past, there is no ‘poor me’ in this world. That [attitude] has helped me to maintain balance in life.”
Every child at NPH has a story, Sam says. “They are all hard to listen to, but at NPH we [learned] to embrace our journey and take advantage of every opportunity, because now we are a family,” he says. “NPH is there to give every child in their care a second chance to break the cycle of poverty.”
Sam has learned the hard way about facing difficult and challenging times. “All of the NPH children had difficult times before arriving,” he says. “Yet, while living there, we were happy with the little things we had. And remember, there is no ‘poor me’ in this life. Embrace those tough times and try to enjoy the little things such as a cup of coffee, because the beauty of life is in the little things.”
“Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.”—Zig Ziglar
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