Matías González sleeps on a bench at 200 Juan B. Justo Street, in the city of Neuquén. Among his few belongings is a Penal Code that he reads, highlights, and takes notes from.
One afternoon, a neighbor walking with a friend saw him so absorbed that she came over and asked his permission to photograph him. Matías smiled and asked if he should pose. She wanted to know what he was reading, and he replied without hesitation: “I want to be a lawyer, I dream of becoming a lawyer, and I love studying this, learning; that’s why I take notes”.
He dropped out of high school and likes chess, which he plays at the Alberdi Library, where he was given some of the books he carries with him. Before saying goodbye, the neighbor asked his permission to tell his story. He agreed.
The post spread across social media and sparked a chain of support from neighbors and government agencies. According to Mejor Informado, Matías spent a night in a shelter and now wants to work, become independent, and finish high school. What began with a question on the street changed his course.