Oscar's Life

            As I interviewed Mr. Machuca, I learned that much can be said about a man of such caliber.  What I discovered is that people aren’t always what they seem to be on the outside. 

Oscar Machuca was born in Los Angeles in the year 1983.  He is the second oldest of his siblings and has become a positive role model for them all.  For the most part he lived what we all consider the typical family life. His family moved to Riverside when he was six.  Oscar graduated from high school in 2002 while living in Moreno Valley.  It is his post high school years that I found to be the most unique and inspiring.

            Immediately after graduation, he spared no time and jumped into life feet first and gave everything he had.  Oscar joined the U.S. Marines.  Of all the occupations and positions available, he chose to go with infantry, what he refers to as "a grunt."  This is a moniker that most military personnel label their infantry soldiers.  The name sounds somewhat crude in nature, but in reality it is a nickname for some of our bravest soldiers in the U.S. Marines. 

During his tour serving as a soldier, he spent eighteen months in Iraq during our most recent invasion.  As I spoke to him I asked him about his position on the war and about the time he spent there, it was clear that he didn’t feel he wasn't just another soldier fighting a bloody war.  His battalion “1/4” spent much of their time helping the communities they were stationed near.  The team worked at rebuilding homes that had been battered by war and by an unstable environment.  They invested time, energy, and finances into the lives of many people in Iraq.

            After four long years serving as a Marine and after his many travels around the world, Oscar was now ready to embark on the next chapter of his life.  In 2006 he was released from duty with an honorable discharge and was now ready to make the transition to civilian life.  Once again Oscar spared no time in jumping into the unknown.  In 2006 he then made a bold decision and moved to Guam.  He spent eighteen months on an island over 5,000 miles away.  Despite the high humidity there, he was able to hike to the top of Mount Lamlam, a mountain that is rumored to be the tallest mountain in the world.

            His journeys are not limited to these few:  He has also been to Korea, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.  Oscar truly believes that the traveling he has done thus far in life has really shaped him into the man he is today.  In fact, he is choosing to dedicate the rest of his life to traveling the world.  His desire is to become a cultural anthropologist and study the lives, beliefs, and traditions of people all around the world. 

           

            While he waits for his dream to be fulfilled, he diligently works toward his necessary degrees at Oxnard College.  He is currently a full time student and is giving his undivided attention to making sure he achieves his goal.  As we were wrapping up the interview I did feel the need to ask just one more question; I asked him what advice he would give to someone who desires to do great things in life or by what philosophy does he live his life by.  After a brief pause, he looked me in the eye and said, “Common sense.  Don’t outsmart it.”