Venezuelans in Venezuela | Guillermo Suárez: "Starting from scratch is no longer a problem for me"

My name is Guillermo Suárez, I am 27 years old, I was born in Maracaibo, I am a lawyer, but I work as a physical trainer.

My childhood was good. Although I did not know the value of money, I knew that we lived a very comfortable life. My first memories of that stage are from school. I studied in an American school where I experienced my first approach to the English language.

Unfortunately, the country’s economy affected us deeply and many things changed, among them, my school. I started studying at a Catholic school, and the difference was abysmal. Starting from scratch at such a young age was very difficult for me.

At the age of 18, I decided to go to law school, and I realized very quickly that this was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but I still continued studying until I finished my degree. Although I did not like what I was studying, I must admit that the university made me improve my communication skills.

Argentina.

Some time after my graduation I made the decision to go to Argentina. It had been a long time since I traveled, I wanted to live in another culture, meet people, work, become independent. I made the decision out of the blue without planning it. It was very difficult for my family because I was the first to migrate. It took me almost a year to scrape together $1,200 USD to buy my plane ticket and bring me a little extra money.

I don’t know how to put my time in Argentina into words. A lot of good things happened, but a lot of bad things happened also. Today I try to see the good in it. I was able to connect with myself and understand the great responsibility that having freedom implies. I worked washing dishes, in food factories, I was a physical trainer in parks, etc. I learned that earning money takes effort and that it is even more difficult when you are alone, without friends, without family, when you are just an alien.

I remember that one night when I was feeling very worried about money, I suddenly began to feel abdominal pain. I had to walk to a hospital and believe me, I felt very sad and lonely.

I decided to leave Argentina in winter; I didn’t have a job, I had to pay for a lot of things, I didn’t have any money, and besides, my grandfather passed away. When they gave me the news I cried for hours. I had lived with my grandparents for many years, and not being there at such a difficult time was something that made me feel terrible. That was the cherry on top. I think it was the most difficult moment of my life. I remember that I went to a park called Costanera Sur and there I cried, I talked to my grandfather and said goodbye to him.

Returning to Venezuela.
One month after my grandfather’s death I was already back in Venezuela. At first, the country felt the same, but over time I understood that I had lived in a place that was completely different from Venezuela. Much of what was normal in Argentina is taboo in Venezuela. This helped me get rid of the resentment I felt towards Argentina, the experience of living in freedom without being judged is unmatched.

Burn it down

For years I had helped friends with their training, they paid me something symbolic, it was something very informal. After getting certified, in January 2020 I started offering my services as a personal trainer under the name Burn it down. Little by little, we have done wonderful things, every day I look for a way to do something more professional, and the truth is that the effort has paid off. In two years, I think I’ve trained like 200 people from around 10 countries.

I think what is special about Burn it down is that I seek to connect with people on an emotional level and their processes. I want to be a change agent, and people feel it. I want my work not to be exclusively for Venezuelans, but also for people of other nationalities.

Final words.

I have been working very hard to migrate again without making the same mistakes of the past. I am clear that as I found Burn it down, I can find other passions and I am trying to discover what other things I like. I want to exploit my creativity. Starting from scratch is no longer a problem for me and it shouldn’t be for anyone. When you have the determination and accept the journey that life has arranged for you, you will not feel afraid for the future again, I am sure of that.