I will like you to know the current situation I'm in. Towards the end of March my parents decide to go to Mexico because my dad was very sick. They knew they were not going to be able to come back but my dad was very sick and he didn't want to stay. They left my 19 year old sister in charge of me and my three younger siblings . Two days later my uncle showed up to our apartment and told us my dad had passed away. My mom is now alone in Mexico and me along with my siblings are alone here with no other family members. My sister had to drop out of community college in order to work and maintain us. She currently works a part time job in Fresno. It has been very difficult to deal with the responsibilities such as paying the bills, taking care
Growing up in a Mexican-American family can be very fun and crazy. Having two different perspectives on two different cultures almost daily really shapes you to become a certain way as you grow up, which is what happened to me. Ever since I was about three months old I have been taking trips to my parents home town for a month time each time we have gone. Practically growing up in both Mexico and the United States for six years has really helped me understand my cultural background and the different parts of my whole culture, such as the food, heritage, language and culture.
There are about 7 billion people in the world; each one of us is different in our own way. Everyone has had different life experiences, some good and some bad. This world is full of cultures that aren’t the same. Being Mexican-American has made me who I am today because I come from a different culture. I know both of my languages, English and Spanish. Also it has built my character.
The United States is a country known for its variation of nationalities and ethnic races. After extensive research, and questioning I discovered that my ancestors originated from Norway and Switzerland. My family migrated to the United States in the late 1800’s from Norway due to social, economic, and religion reforms as well as, a surplus in the population. Learning of my ancestor’s migration to America has very much influenced my views on the existing immigration problems that the U.S. currently faces.
All people seem to want the same basic things out of life regardless of race or religion. Universally, people want a good job, a healthy family, and a chance for their children to have a better life than the one they have. Families that already possess these things, whether through their own hard work or merely by way of inheritance, rely on the existing power structures within society to ensure that their future happiness continues . But what do people who do not belong to existing power structures turn to in order to secure these things for their families and children?
At the age of two my parents made the long and devastating journey to bring me and my siblings to the United States from Mexico. Wanting a brighter future for us, my parents fought tooth and nail to give us the world they didn’t grow up having. Ever since stepping foot on the U.S soil, going back seemed impossible. The effects of this life-changing move, couldn’t mask the unforeseen disadvantages. Lacking exposure to Mexico’s colorful culture, little to no bonding time with my family from abroad, and the struggle of trying to blend into an environment that was so different, soon began to interfere with my overall identity. Realizing this, my wonderful parents prepared a transformative trip back to my homeland, and back to the past, facing
Affected by my family, my background, and everything around me, I was born in a family who is the first generation to get here. My grandmother, and my parents, along with some other relatives, moved here in search of better opportunities, like those from other countries for the same idea. They started out fresh but had a hard time to get started, when I was little, I assumed it had to be somewhat easy, but for people who do not know English it is like starting from scratch, but they did well, they’ve made it.
We have lived with other families in their homes and as an effect, we have had to store our belongings in a storage. In 2010, we were unable to pay the monthly bill for the storage and our storage unit was sold in an auction; we lost all of our belongings. It had felt as if my parents and I had just immigrated to the United States – we had nothing to call ours. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I saw this misfortune as a motivation to set long-term goals and I pledged to my parents that I would be college graduate to eschew living under the same circumstances during my
For many Mexican immigrants, crossing the border into the land of freedom and the American dream is no easy task. Some immigrants come over illegally by means of hiding in cars to cross borders, using visitor visas to stay longer, marrying to become citizens, and having babies as ‘anchors’ to grant automatic citizenship. Other immigrants gain green cards and work visas and work their way into becoming US citizens legally and subsequently gaining citizenship through paperwork for their families back home. After escaping harsh living and working conditions in Mexico, immigrants come to America prepared to gain education, opportunity, and work. This American dream unfortunately does not come to pass for most.
Growing up in a Mexican household where education isn’t a priority or important has been one of my major obstacles that I’ve had to overcome. Although my family’s culture believes that education isn’t necessary their experiences and lifestyles have influence and motivate my choices for my future. I come from a home where I have no role model or someone influential. I have no one to ask for advice for college or anything involve in school. In most homes, older siblings help their younger siblings with their homework or projects but in my house no one was able to provide me with any help. I grew up to be independent and to do anything school related on my own. My parents are both immigrants who didn’t get to finish elementary
I was raised in an encouraging household where both of my parents greatly valued education. Although they were high school graduates, neither could afford to attend college; a combination of family and financial woes ultimately halted their path. As a result, my parents frequently reminded me that getting a good education meant better opportunities for my future. To my parents, that seemed to be the overarching goal: a better life for me than the one they had. My parents wanted me to excel and supported me financially and emotionally of which the former was something their parents were not able to provide. Their desire to facilitate a change in my destiny is one of many essential events that contributed to my world view.
My mother, who manage to speak broken English, and I, immigrated from Mongolia at the age of seven to meet my mother after being separated, live together now. We do not receive any help from relatives or the government. Last year, 2016, as I lived with my single mother, we truly defined the struggles of a first-generation immigrant family. She lost her job three times and each time, it made the financial burden grew to be bigger and bigger till it peered over us. The rent payments accumulated. This brought upon our family of two great difficulty to meet our daily needs such as food and even rent payments. As we were stumbling out of the debts due to unemployment, my mother got into a car accident and which helped us plummet further into poverty.
Do you know what it’s like to be separated from your family and you have no one else to help you?
March of 2014 my Grandma passed away due to an aneurysm rupture. At that time I didn't know what to do, or think. In the past we had made a plan of what to do if something were to happen. The next week all the paperwork started, and I was going to be living with my sister in Altoona. Not long after my Grandma passed I got a call saying my Mom had passed
We were bounced between foster homes, for years. She tried her hardest to provide for us. The life a young mother is always hard, but even worse when there are two lives depending on you to not screw up. As a young adult now I can realize the sacrifices she made in hopes of giving us a better life .The problem was she was still not able to provide for basic needs. When I turned three I was taken out of her care. I grew up resenting her, I thought that she didn’t care enough to try to keep me and my sister. I learned that she did try, but somethings peoples efforts just aren’t enough. She struggled with depression for years after losing custody of me and my
On the night of April 4th, 2015, he left. My father got in his car and drove away to not be seen for the next four months. He left without saying a single word. This event caused my mother to land in a state of depression where she was an inch from committing suicide. My sister was not able to do much since she had to go back to college. My brother at that time was busy filling out his college applications, but without a mentor to guide him, begin to contact a military recruiter in order to help pay for college. I was left with all the responsibilities including keeping my mom from reaching her breaking point. Everyday, I had to make sure my mom was still alive. Everyday, I had to fight my mind to keep myself positive. Everyday, I had to find the motivation to keep fighting and overcome the greatest adversity that I had faced in my