SUCCESS

LUIS

My grandparents brought me from Chile

in 1973, right after my parents disappeared,

victims of a brutal, US-supported dictatorship.

I’ve never figured out why so many refugees

choose the same country that caused us

to need refuge.

Now I’m a computer science professor,

living near Berkeley, where I enjoy seeing names

of other chilenos in the newspaper, especially

Matías Duarte, an inventor.

Freedom of the press and freedom of speech

are just as important to me

as understanding

the marvels of technology.