My name is Jose Antonio Gamboa, I was born in Caracas, Venezuela on July 14th 1996, but lived the majority of my life in the costal state of Vargas. I am a fan of rock music, virtual entertainment and traveling around the world. However my biggest passion is politics and public service, which is why at the age of 17 I started to participate in politics in my country, which is well known by its lack of civil liberties as a consequence of the policies implemented by our dictatorial regime. Since my start in political activities, I have participated in every aspect of modern politics, from peaceful protests to social work trying to help those who have been affected the most by the poverty that has existed in our region and in my country. For three years I was part of the fight for our freedom, but one day the effects of the dictatorship knocked on my door. Due to the increase in persecution and repression against government detractors, I had to make a decision that would change my life, I had to leave my country in seek of asylum.
I currently live in the United States, a country where things are completely different to my Caribbean nation, a country that is going through its own political hurricane, but that despite of that remains a democracy where institutions are respected and where consensus and dialogue, and not extermination of the opponent, are the ways to look for solutions to our common problems. Despite of my change of lifestyle and conditions, my hobbies and passions remain the same, the only difference is that now I go through days watching in agony the terrible news that come everyday from my nation, and thinking how I can help my family survive the effects of an unprecedented massive scarcity of food and medication. Now I live my days as another exiled Venezuelan