Ana Maria Cuenca's Story

From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankar Vedanta.

This is my unsung hero, stories where one person reached out to help another in a time

of need.

I would like to thank my unsung hero.

I do not know her name.

And all of a sudden I look up and this hand slides to warm chocolate chip cookies across

the desk.

This day, it was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.

Today's story comes from Ana Maria Cuenca.

In the 1990s, Ana Maria's father drove a taxi in Miami.

Every so often he would get a call from a businessman who needed a personal driver during work trips.

The man always asked about Ana Maria.

And at the end of each ride, he would give her father some extra cash meant for her.

On one particular trip, her father mentioned that Ana Maria was now in her first year of

college.

And the ride ended, the man took out his wallet.

Usually he pulled out a 20.

But this time, he pulled out a $50 bill and he said, I'd like you to give it to your daughter

so that she can buy herself something really nice.

And so when I received the $50, I was in the process of applying as a transfer student

to Georgetown University's School Foreign Service.

It was a school that I had wanted to go to since I was in high school.

And at that point, I actually needed the $50 for the application fee.

And it was like $50 was a lot of money for a college student back in 1997.

And unfortunately, at that point, my parents really couldn't give me a lot of money.

They were both pretty working class.

And I was surviving with savings from a summer job, so it was really not a good time financially.

So the $50 came perfectly.

And I submitted my application and I got in as a transfer student.

Now that it's been almost a quarter of a century after I graduated, I've had a full career

in international affairs.

I've traveled the world.

But it was a really significant thing because I never really got to tell this person what

I had done with the $50 that he had given me.

I mean, I guess in every career moment, when I've kind of like reviewed my career, you

know, because of transitions or whatever.

And I thought, wow, like this would have never been possible.

And this path was forged with someone's help.

If I had this person in front of me, I would say that I bought a really, really nice thing

with your gift.

And that was a chance at getting into the university that I had dreamed of going to.

And I ended up going to the university.

So every time I think about you, I thank you.

Listener Anna Maria Cuenca lives in Washington, DC.

Do you have your own story of an unsung hero?

Someone who noticed when he was struggling and went out of their way to help?

We're looking for stories of one person and one moment when someone showed you unusual

generosity.

Find a quiet place and record your story using your phone, aim for three minutes or less.

Then email the file to us at my unsung hero at hiddenbrain.org.

Again, that email address is my unsung hero at hiddenbrain.org.

I'm Shankar Vedantum.

See you soon.