My
parents immigrated to this country two to three decades ago from their homeland
of Mexico, both with their large families. On both my mother and father’s side
they had eleven brothers and sisters, coincidentally, both faced the troubles
of being immigrants in a foreign land. My father struggling after losing his
mother at the young age of eight and his father abandoning him, then had to
help raise his family with his eldest sister. My mother’s family having to move
constantly for my grandfather to find work in multiple areas in southern
California. They lived the life of immigrants, they did this for me, not
knowing me yet though but they knew that I would come to life one day.
I currently live in Pacoima,
California. Mostly low-income, gang presence is not as well shown but very well
known in the underbelly of the valley. There is not much opportunity to come by
here, many jobs are taken by those in desperate need to feed their families. Many
poke fun at stereotypes each day without realizing that, sadly they are true.
There are immigrants hiding from detection because they cannot be allowed to
become legal for whatever reason and need to stay for their families’ sake.
I am the eldest of five brothers, as
such I was placed with tough responsibilities and consequences than that of my
brothers. I believe I was born a leader, first onto the battlefield of life,
most times the best way I had to learn was through experience and sometimes
they were terrifying. Being the eldest I was born with connections to them, and
how painful it is to watch as you learn that sometimes you fail and when you
fail, someone can get hurt. Sometimes things happen out of your control and you
watch a brother slowly dying, and you hold your breath, then you exhale as he
recovers from a near death experience, too young to ever remember it. The
stress of this, is that life is one giant struggle, those you grow up with are
the only people you will ever be closest to and when you might lose them you
hold them closer.
I struggle in school because some
days I feel like, ”What’s the point in this? How will this get me anywhere?
This is too hard to put up with, why does everyone label me as ‘Magnet Student’
when I don’t even think I can pass a simple math class?” But I know that if I
quit, then there is no reason, that if I have to then I must put out and keep pushing
myself to my breaking point. It was out of this pushing that I realized I
wanted this life, I want to become a Marine Corps Officer. Why? Because I have
to, I owe it to my parents, my country, and to my ancestors. I joined the
United Naval Sea Cadet Corps to learn what military life was really like and as
I rose through the ranks I became more infatuated by the glory and the
dedication of a military life; and yet ever so fearful of it. I am now a
Seaman(rate: E-3) and becoming a Petty Officer 3rd Class this
summer, I am taking on a leadership role over dozens of cadets who, just like
I, will become this nations future leaders.
I am the son of parents who had
immigrated to this country in spite of hardships and turmoil, and because of
this I must do my part in the building of this nation as those have done before
me. I am someone who overcomes struggles because it is in my blood to do so but
it is also in me to overcome and exceed past it. I am a survivor just like my
parents, just like my ancestors, I have done that for which this country was
built upon, to struggle and overcome.
