2024 showed us what it means to be human

In my twice-weekly column, I’ve shared with you stories of hope, sadness, setbacks and joy, driven by real people who would otherwise escape the headlines. You’ve shown me that in a time when outrage and fear often win the most clicks, people want — no, they need — news that connects us and honors the beauty and messiness of life.

In this annual tradition, I visit people from some of my favorite columns over the past year. Thank you for reading these stories and caring about your fellow Minnesotans, making my dream job possible. May your days in 2025 be happy and bright.

After graduating from law school last year as an undocumented immigrant, Juventino Meza took the bar exam. The 36-year-old says he had worked too hard to prepare adequately and then came down with a sinus infection just before the exam. He didn’t pass. So he took on several jobs to build up his savings, allowing him to begin full-time study this month and readmit the bar in February.

What is it like to cram legal knowledge up to nine hours a day, so much so that his back hurts from sitting too much? It’s terrible, he says, but also a privilege.

“Guilt is a big part of my life,” he said with a laugh.

Driven by this guilt, he still tries to grab openings for others to pass through. Families without legal status in this country are panicking over Donald Trump’s promise of day one deportations.

Meza, one of more than 3 million Dreamers who arrived in the United States as children, recently created a 64-page resource guide on bit.ly/UdokumenteretMN for undocumented students. It is a practical but hopeful document that advises how these young people can find their way. He notes that many of the benefits for undocumented families still exist in Minnesota, from driver’s licenses to in-state college tuition.

Meza reminds students to take care of themselves and keep pushing for the lives they want.