My Childhood Dream Came True

“I will always be grateful to Deseret Industries for helping a young boy’s dream become a reality.”

As a young boy in my native country of Mexico, I dreamed about driving one of those big diesel trucks that roared by my house. I distinctly remember standing on the side of the road and saying to myself, “One day I will drive one of those big trucks.” My uncle was a truck driver. He also inspired me to become a truck driver. He would come to our house and allow me to climb up inside the truck. As I got older he taught me about driving and trucks. I would travel with him during vacations and dream of driving my own truck. Thanks to Deseret Industries, I have reached my dream of becoming a professional truck driver for a major trucking company.

I was unemployed for a couple of years, surviving day by day by working odd jobs. However, I knew that I needed to be self-reliant and have a job that would support my family. I heard about Deseret Industries from my home teacher and he encouraged me to talk to my bishop.

I was enrolled in the Deseret Industries program and began by working on the dock unloading pods and trucks. My job coach motivated me to improve my English, so I took ESL classes and practiced speaking English. I took a customer service class and a forklift course at Deseret Industries and soon I was forklift certified. I later became a driver’s helper. As I went out on daily door-to-door donation pickups, I remembered my childhood dream of driving the big trucks. I would ask the Deseret Industries drivers how to get a class “A” driver license, and learned that if I worked hard DI could help me earn my commercial driver license. Not only did everyone at DI support my decision to be a professional truck driver, but they also invested sacred funds to help pay for my driving classes.      

Today I drive cross-county in my own company truck and love every mile. Hopefully in a year or two, I will become a truck driver trainer for the company so I can help others provide for their families. I will always be grateful to Deseret Industries for helping a young boy’s dream become a reality.

“I heard about Deseret Industries from my home teacher and he encouraged me to talk to my bishop.”

For more amazing stories like Juan’s, visit the DI’s Facebook page by clicking here.