One student, two pairs of shoes, a backpack, and a dream. Eliseo Jimenez made history when he walked from Lubbock to Washington D.C all for his Grandma and social security.

Straight out of Forrest Gump, our own Eliseo Jimenez began a perilous journey out into the treacherous world through many states. Shaking hands with the President? Now that was not according to plan.

” I walked 1600 miles from here to Washington D.C for social security” A daring feat that no high school kid could imagine doing. He slept in Air BNBs and went through two pairs of shoes to get there. His grandmother, a retired teacher, receives a social security check as all  older American citizens do, but now with the passage of HR-82 (The Social Security Fairness Act) she can no longer claim social security.

The bill became law on Jan. 5th, 2025 and thus began Eliseo’s journey of peaceful protest. There is no doubt, however; that the journey was rough.

“It helped calling my family everyday.” Eliseo said, his family supported him through out the journey and even called two Air BNB owners to ask them to let him stay. They told them all about the wonderful things he’s doing for his grandma and social security.

The road was rough, the journey was long, but he finally walked into D.C.

Entering the famous District of Columbia, Eliseo never expected to be inside the White House.

“I thought I’d meet a few congressmen and then they’d send me home, but no, I met the president. ” Eliseo says. ” I had to go through five security checks just to get in there. He talked to me about what I did and said that I should be proud.”

We all should be proud, Eliseo, there’s not many like you. This is a real kid who goes to our school, proving once again your age is nothing when you can make a difference.