When We Were Down to Our Last $3

Sometimes the dream you chase isn’t the opportunity that ultimately changes your life. In Episode 04 of The Journey, Wendell Bennett shares what happened after he and Casandra got married and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. They arrived in California as newlyweds believing Los Angeles could provide greater opportunities. Instead, much of their early experience became about survival. With one car and their savings disappearing quickly, Casandra worked at CVS Pharmacy while Wendell searched for work. For months, they lived in an extended-stay hotel costing roughly $530 per week—nearly all of Casandra’s weekly pay. Eventually, they were forced to move into a Motel 6 in a dangerous area. Then came a moment Wendell would never forget: they were down to their last three dollars. Casandra bought peanut butter, bread, and instant noodles, and somehow they made it work. The experience tested their finances, expectations, and marriage, but it also taught them how to depend on one another when they had almost nothing. At the same time, something else was happening. Wendell landed a job as a DIRECTV field technician and began developing practical technical experience. Years earlier, a family friend had told him that if he wanted to get into information technology, he should look into Cisco. Wendell hadn’t acted on the advice yet—but he hadn’t forgotten it either. California was supposed to be about acting. Looking back, it was also quietly laying the foundation for an entirely different career.