Ruben Lomeli works in the lobby of the Cale and Irani Residential College at the University of Southern California Village, where I am a resident. He has always been the most pleasant and agreeable of people; he never fails to smile and ask people about their day, and he knows most of the hundreds of residents in the building on a first name basis. He's well-loved by all the residents. One day, he had mentioned to me that he struggled with insomnia, and I thought it would be interesting to interview him and make a video about what it is like to live with a condition like his. I had no idea that I was about to hear about the life story of a man who - at the young age of 35 - has gone through more adversity than the average person would face in three lifetimes. From a dark, abusive upbringing to a difficult transition into adulthood that passed through drug addiction, alcoholism, and divorce, Ruben is finally coming to feel comfortable in his own skin as a gay man. Ultimately, Ruben seems to exemplify the philosophy that life is what we make of it; we can only do the best we can with what we've bee given - and Ruben was given much less than most. Nevertheless, he's succeeded in building a community of residents at USC that adore him and he takes pride in doing his job well and with a smile on his face. His troubles are far from over - he still struggles with alcoholism - but he has made much progress and has made it through his own perseverance and hope.
Ruben Lomeli: If You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going
Ruben Lomeli works in the lobby of the Cale and Irani Residential College at the University of Southern California Village, where I am a resident. He has always been the most pleasant and agreeable of people; he never fails to smile and ask people about their day, and he knows most of the hundreds of residents in the building on a first name basis. He's well-loved by all the residents. One day, he had mentioned to me that he struggled with insomnia, and I thought it would be interesting to interview him and make a video about what it is like to live with a condition like his. I had no idea that I was about to hear about the life story of a man who - at the young age of 35 - has gone through more adversity than the average person would face in three lifetimes. From a dark, abusive upbringing to a difficult transition into adulthood that passed through drug addiction, alcoholism, and divorce, Ruben is finally coming to feel comfortable in his own skin as a gay man. Ultimately, Ruben seems to exemplify the philosophy that life is what we make of it; we can only do the best we can with what we've bee given - and Ruben was given much less than most. Nevertheless, he's succeeded in building a community of residents at USC that adore him and he takes pride in doing his job well and with a smile on his face. His troubles are far from over - he still struggles with alcoholism - but he has made much progress and has made it through his own perseverance and hope.
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