Golden

I was watching the movie of the summer, K-Pop Demon Hunters, at a movie night at my daughter’s school.

When Golden came on, the place erupted.

A hundred kids—ages 3 to 10—jumping, screaming, going up, up, up at the top of their lungs:

🎶 Now I’m shining / Like I’m born to be… 🎶

I wanted to check Instagram, but there was no signal. So for once, I had nothing to do but watch. And I’m glad I did.

I watched music plant words of destiny into the next generation. I watched belief take root. And for just a moment, I felt a pang of sadness—because I’ll never be a pop star. I’ll never inspire crowds like that.

But then I remembered two conversations I had earlier that day—free consults with international students.

To be honest, I had nearly stopped doing those calls. They weren’t “converting.” They weren’t building revenue.

But I’ve been reminded lately that some work is not about profit—it’s about purpose. God doesn’t call us to get rich. He calls us to do good work.

And because of that shift, I stayed the course.

That day, one student told me:

“I heard about you and said to myself—I have to talk to that man.”

Another said:

“I’ve never seen anyone on LinkedIn speaking like you do. People work at schools, but they don’t say what you’re saying.”

I was honest with him—it hasn’t been easy.

My administration questioned what I was doing.
Leadership worried how it reflected on the university.
Our legal team got involved.
DHS showed up on campus.

But the mission… was too important to stop.

Someone needs to advocate for international students.
Someone needs to speak the truth about policy and power.
Someone needs to say what so many only whisper:

“Get work experience. Do internships. Network.”
…But not you, international students.
That makes people uncomfortable.

Perfectly legal pathways exist. Many schools just won’t risk using them.

Most will stay silent.
And that’s fine—for them.

But it wasn’t fine for me.

I’m reminded of Isaiah 6:8: “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”

I may never stand on a stage and sing.
But I have been given a different calling—
one that reaches across oceans and into dreams.

And This Is Where You Come In

I don’t write this for applause.
I write this for you.

Because one day, it won’t just be me saying “Send me.”
It will be you.

You, stepping into rooms you were never invited to.
You, choosing courage over silence.
You, refusing to shrink, even when the world says “wait your turn.”

You were not born merely to survive immigration processes.
You were born to lead. To rise. To go “up, up, up.”

To be shining… 🎶 Like you’re born to be. 🎶

So if you ever wonder why I fight this battle, why I refuse to go quiet…

It’s because I believe one thing with every part of me:

The future needs your voice.

And until you can speak freely…

Here am I.

Dr. Josh

P.S. Have we not talked yet? Let’s fix that- book your free call here.