Louis’ Road to Recovery and Professional Success in the USA: Creative Stories #5

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Luis from France. Luis had a drinking problem; he lost his job, so he didn’t do well financially. Luis’s dream was to move to America, get treatment for his alcoholism, and pursue the American dream.  His dream came true when he applied, won the Green Card Lottery, and moved to the United States for a better life.

After Luis arrived in the United States, he found a job at a fast-food restaurant during the day, attended night school, and took English as a Second Language classes to improve his English.  He wanted to stop drinking alcohol like he used to in France, so he kept as busy as he could. While Luis was working and going to school, he tried not to drink, but he found it hard to resist the temptation of alcohol. 

One day, Luis had a bad day at work.  He felt he couldn’t take it anymore and decided to go home.  As he returned to his apartment, Luis felt very depressed.  He walked by a grocery store and went inside.  Luis saw a bunch of bottles of cheap wine in the back room.  The wine reminded him of the wine he used to drink in France.  He bought a bottle and drank it all in the parking lot. He wanted to go back to the grocery store and buy more wine. Luis realized that he didn’t care about the consequences of drinking.  This was something that he did when he was drinking in France. Luis realized he had a problem he couldn’t fix on his own. Luis decided that he needed help to stop drinking alcohol. So, he called the Alcohol and Drug Help Line to see what their services were like. After talking to a counselor on the phone, he learned about Alcoholics Anonymous. 

He decided to go to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Luis found a local AA meeting in his neighborhood and began attending the meetings once a week. He learned about the 12 steps to recovery from alcoholism and began doing what the AA members told him to do. He kept going to meetings and making himself accountable for his actions. He knew he had a problem, and he made it a priority to take care of himself.

At first, it was hard to quit drinking. He would have a few drinks, and it would be very tempting to drink alcohol. Yet, he was determined to quit drinking alcohol. He still had his bad days when he drank too much alcohol, but it was getting less frequent and less intense. His dreams of America were still there, but he no longer felt as hopeless as he did when he arrived in the United States.  Luis decided that he wanted to commit to not drinking any alcohol.  He started attending AA meetings daily and keeping up with his daily spiritual exercise.

After a while, Luis stopped drinking alcohol and felt he had control over his life again. He began to realize that he could stop drinking whenever he wanted.  He no longer depended on alcohol to feel good. Luis knew he needed to live sober and do everything he could to help himself stay sober. He knew he had a problem and didn’t want to live that way anymore. He also learned about the benefits of attending the meetings and how it could help him in other areas of his life.

Luis continued going to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings regularly, and he felt better than he had felt in years. His family was proud of him because he was finally caring for himself. When Luis’s family asked him what he was doing at the meetings, he told them about AA. The family was surprised that he was able to stop drinking. 

When he was sober for a while, Luis started to think about what he would like to do professionally. He wanted to help people and make a difference in other people’s lives. He was thinking about getting a certificate as a nursing assistant. He heard about this free certificate program from his evening English as a Second Language teacher, Maestro Sersea. Maestro Sersea worked for North Orange Community Education, part of North Orange County Community College District in Anaheim, California. So, Luis went to the Anaheim Campus of North Orange Community College District and registered to be part of the Nursing Assistant Program there. 

The program was free for all students. After completing the program, Luis would get his certificate as a nursing assistant. His goal was to complete the program and get his certificate.

The program taught him how to care for patients and gave him the knowledge and skills he needed to work in a hospital. He learned how to administer medication to a patient and gave them fluids. He also learned the difference between a healthy person and a sick person. He was also taught to take a patient’s vital signs and check their temperature. He learned the difference between a normal temperature and a fever. He was told that a normal body temperature is usually between 97 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A person with a fever usually has a temperature of 102 or higher. 

Luis completed the Nursing Assistant Program at the Anaheim Campus. He got his certificate at the graduation ceremony. When he got his certificate, he realized how far he had come. He felt he was ready to make a difference in other people’s lives. He felt he could make a difference in other people’s lives by helping them with their pain or emotional problems. He also wanted to be able to take care of his family in the future. He didn’t want them to have to worry about his drinking. He wanted to live the life he wanted, not just the one he had been living. His dream of being a nurse and helping people with their emotional problems had been fulfilled.

Luis applied for a job as a Nursing Assistant for different hospitals in Orange County, California.  He hoped he would find a good hospital where he could help patients and make a difference in their lives.  He attended several job interviews and was accepted by several hospitals, including Saint Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, and Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California. He picked Hoag Hospital and started working there.

He was excited to start working and helping people.  Luis wanted to be part of the team that helped the patients get better. He wanted to see them happy and healthy again. He felt that if he could help the patients, he would make a difference in their lives.

He would be helping them to have a better life and not have to struggle with pain or emotional problems like he had struggled with himself.

At first, he was assigned to work with an older patient who had been in and out of hospitals because he was having trouble with his heart.  This man had been going to different hospitals but never got the right care for his problem. He had been in and out of hospitals many times, and doctors had been unable to help him.  Luis wanted to help this man and ensure he got the right treatment for his heart condition.  He wanted him to be able to live a better life, so he would be able to enjoy life again. Luis knew that it would be a good feeling if he could make a difference in this man’s life.

He was very excited to work at Hoag Hospital.  Luis took his job as a Nursing Assistant seriously. He worked hard to learn the patients’ medical conditions and how to help them best.

He was very motivated and dedicated to his work at Hoag Hospital. He did a good job helping the patients and making a difference. He was proud of himself for getting this certificate. Luis’s mother was happy when he got the job at Hoag Hospital. She felt that he would be able to live the life he wanted. She told him to enjoy it and stay sober. 

Luis also wanted to be able to live a successful life. Luis felt that the job he was doing at Hoag Hospital was better than the one he had had at the fast food restaurant he had when he first moved to the United States of America. It was a job where he could make a difference in other people’s lives. It was a job where he could do something to improve their lives.  Luis had always thought that if he could help others, he could help himself. His goal was to be healthy and be around for his family. If he could get better, he could live a healthier and happier life and have a better chance of improving his life. Luis worked at Hoag Hospital until he retired 20 years later. He loved the work that he was doing, and he felt like he was making a difference in the patients’ lives. He was helping people who needed help and felt good about it. He wanted to help as many people as he could.

Although Luis had a rough start in the United States of America, he eventually got a better life. By focusing on his education and health, he beat his problem with alcoholism and became sober for life. He became a successful professional, and his family in France was very proud of him. Luis was able to work for Hoag Hospital for 20 years and help the patients there. He continued his education at night to become a Registered Nurse.  He is very happy with what he has achieved in his life. Luis is proud of himself for becoming a successful person.

English Learners, what did you think of this story? What did you like, and what did you want to be different? How would you continue this story? Add your insights in the comments section below.

Activity: Multiple-Choice Questions

Directions: Please take out a sheet of paper or use your notebook to write your answers. Once you write your answers on your paper, please review the answer key below.

  1. Based on the passage, what motivated Luis to move to America?
    A) His desire to pursue the American dream
    B) His interest in learning English as a second language
    C) His hope for a better job opportunity
    D) His need for treatment for his alcoholism
  2. What does the phrase “in context” mean in the passage?
    A) Understanding the literal meaning of a word
    B) Understanding the figurative meaning of a word
    C) Understanding the meaning of a word based on the surrounding text
    D) Understanding the historical meaning of a word
  3. What was Luis’s initial job in the United States?
    A) Nursing Assistant
    B) Fast-food restaurant worker
    C) English as a Second Language teacher
    D) Alcoholics Anonymous counselor
  4. According to the passage, what did Luis do to resist the temptation of alcohol?
    A) Attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
    B) Found a new job at a hospital
    C) Moved back to France
    D) Started drinking more alcohol
  5. What did Luis’s mother advise him to do after getting a job at Hoag Hospital?
    A) Enjoy his success and continue to stay sober
    B) Quit his job and move back to France
    C) Pursue a different career path
    D) Start drinking alcohol again
  6. What was Luis’s long-term goal in his career?
    A) To become a Registered Nurse
    B) To become a doctor
    C) To open his own fast-food restaurant
    D) To retire early and travel the world
  7. What is the main idea of the passage?
    A) Luis’s journey from struggling with alcoholism to becoming a successful nursing assistant
    B) The benefits of attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for individuals with alcohol addiction
    C) The importance of foreign language education for immigrants in the United States
    D) The impact of family support on overcoming personal challenges
  8. Based on the passage, what motivated Luis to pursue a career in healthcare?
    A) His desire to make a difference in other people’s lives
    B) His interest in learning about different medical conditions
    C) His need for a stable job with good benefits
    D) His aspiration to become financially independent
  9. According to the passage, what did Luis do to improve his English skills?
    A) Took English as a Second Language classes
    B) Enrolled in a nursing assistant certificate program
    C) Attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
    D) Applied for the Green Card Lottery
  10. What is the author’s tone in describing Luis’s journey?
    A) Inspirational
    B) Critical
    C) Sarcastic
    D) Indifferent
  11. What does the passage imply about Luis’s relationship with his family?
    A) They were supportive of his decision to move to America
    B) They were disappointed in his struggle with alcoholism
    C) They played a significant role in his recovery process
    D) They encouraged him to pursue a different career path
  12. What did Luis do to overcome his alcohol addiction?
    A) Attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and followed the 12 steps
    B) Moved back to France and sought treatment there
    C) Started drinking alcohol in moderation instead of quitting completely
    D) Relied on his own willpower without seeking professional help
  13. What did Luis’s experience at Hoag Hospital teach him about healthcare?
    A) The importance of administering medication to patients
    B) The difference between a healthy person and a sick person
    C) The value of working as part of a team to help patients
    D) The challenges of working with older patients
  14. Based on the passage, what was Luis’s ultimate goal in pursuing a career in healthcare?
    A) To become financially independent
    B) To have a stable job with good benefits
    C) To make a difference in other people’s lives
    D) To gain recognition and praise from his family
  15. How did Luis’s life change after completing the Nursing Assistant Program?
    A) He became a successful professional and achieved his dream of helping others
    B) He struggled to find employment in the healthcare field
    C) He decided to pursue a different career path outside of healthcare
    D) He realized that healthcare was not the right fit for him

Answer Key:

  1. A
  2. C
  3. B
  4. A
  5. A
  6. A
  7. A
  8. A
  9. A
  10. A
  11. C
  12. A
  13. C
  14. C
  15. A

18 thoughts on “Louis’ Road to Recovery and Professional Success in the USA: Creative Stories #5

  1. Hello our dear English teacher!
    what I think of this story, it is a good lesson for people who could not control themselves. I like the way Louis became a man who can help others and make a difference, and how his mother is very proud of him.
    I would continue the story by making him to came back in his family and tells them how he changed and help others not only in USA by also in his county.
    Thank you

  2. Hello , hind from Iraq ,
    Louis road to recovery and professional success in the USA
    Human have positive and negative energy ,so it developed positivity and gets rid of negativity while every human must know the s strength sources inside and when giving without limits that is mean reach to the goal.
    Louis story have a dream then after along struggle , the goal has been reach,
    Louis have rough start in AUS، but he didn’t despair so
    He eventually got a better life, by focusing on his education and health by begin to change to reach the goal , he was able to beat his problem with alcoholism and became sober for life by asking for help from authorized person. He became a successful profession and his family back in France was very proud of him by start of change step by step , He was able to work at hospital for 20 years and help the patience there. He continued his education at night to became a registered nurse, he is very happy what he has achieved in his life because he giving without limit
    He is proud of himself for becoming a successful persons

  3. Greetings Maestro Sersea
    Althought, the beggining was tough because of the alcholism problems, he took an important decition, letting to drink, and his determination changed the whole situation completly, when he called to the phone line alcholics anonimous, I think that this was of key importance because after that, Mr. Luis take set up goals for his life. first he decided to learn a new language, then he was to registered to a free program as a nursing assitent and he got his certificate, and finally he became in a Registered nurse. He got a job. I like the words of her mother, she told him, that he ought to enjoyed and stayed sober for life. He worked for 20 year at Hoag Hospital and just right, he is retired. Now, His life has a purpose.
    Best Regards

  4. I really like this story because it reminds me of my familiar’s stories, all those who had alcoholic problems left addiction and reached a more healthy and better life, and all of them made a good change for a better life with their families.

  5. I like the story. And I’m glad he will overcome his alcoholism problem. Since it is not usually very easy to leave that. Although I wish he would have had someone to support him, since not even a dog accompanied him. But well, I think it was good at the same time, because with someone or not, I get to be a nurse and help people. And I wish there more people who will help the sick, their work is very honorable.

  6. It is commendable that Luis has given up alcohol and is free from his depression. I especially pay attention to one detail Luis realized that he couldn’t fix on his own.
    Many problems we cannot solve on our own but need the help of a professional agency. That is especially important for people living in the US. When you have a problem and do not know what to do, just pick up the phone and call 211 (look similar to 911, right?), and someone will help you.

  7. I like the history, since is difficult when you have a problem about alcoholism, but I think that whit help, and commitment can be achivied.
    I think that working with people is important since remember that people can go through similar problems, and doing what you like frees you from trouble.

  8. We see a person with the problem of alcoholism. He wants to improve himself, but the temptation of alcoholism is very strong. Even when he seeks help, it is that he comes out of the problem of alcoholism. And that makes him live better life with his family.

  9. For me I think it’s very important to help people, I don’t drink any alcohol, but the most important thing is to recognize that there is a problem, at least that’s what I’ve heard. It is important to face the problem and provide the solution, and it is interesting to see how Luis gave a reason for his life from a problem.

    The history is very interesting.

  10. Hello,

    I think it is very interesting the story of the personal superaction of Luis who has suffered for a long time his addition to alcohol, but his desire to achieve and fulfill his dream of improvement led him to fight with his addiction and fulfill his dreams

  11. I like history. And I’m glad he overcomes his alcoholism problem. Since it is not usually very easy to leave that problem.

  12. Good history . Luis was able to accept his illness. heal and move forward overcoming obstacles and achieving what he wanted, study, work and help.

  13. It is good to know the Luis change his mind, and asked for help, because same of those people is very difficult to give up alcohol, and I think that Luis to be very proud of himself because he reached his goal.

  14. I like this history. Luis was addicted to alcohol but managed to quit. I focus on helping other people and I achieve it.

  15. Luis is a lesson in life, first because he realized his alcoholism, and that this did not allow him to achieve his dreams of covering himself as a nursing assistant and that he could not help people with their medical and emotional problems. But thanks to his effort and the help of alcoholics we managed to contain his years of drinking and living fully, now his family is proud of him, and he has achieved his dreams.

  16. I really liked the History because it talks about self improvement, Luis left the problem with alcohol and study for a nursing assistant.

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