Candeleria
The Family Tree
This is Candelaria's story, Candelaria is from Guadalajara, Mexico. Candelaria has six biological brothers. When Candelaria was barely four years old her father died. This left her mother to financially support her children on her own. For a while, her family was doing well. A year later, her Aunt died of cancer and left three small children with her mother. Her two uncles were already in the US so when they found out that the aunt die they gave money to help pay for food and necessities. Having to care for 10 children, her mother decided to take them all to their grandparents in Atoyac, Jalisco. Candelaria was nine years old, when her mother left her to go to the US to give her children a better life. Candelaria, four siblings, and three cousins would have to stay with their grandparents and help in the ranch. Her mother took two of her children, the youngest and oldest with her to the U.S. Candelaria would see her mother 7 years later.
. Candelaria wasn't asked to help her grandparents, but she could clearly see that her grandparents would needed help. Therefore, she took it upon herself to care for the seven children since she was the oldest. Candelaria grandparents were also very strict with her. For example, she would get timed on how long it took her to get home from school. Her grandmother would be waiting for her outside of the house. In addition, her grandparents expected her to wake up early to tend to the ranch animals, and expected her to follow a strict dress code of long dresses passed her knees and was not allowed to wear pants or shorts. Life in the ranch was very difficult.
Little by little, her mom began sending money for each child to pay for their own coyote. However, she was last child to leave Atoyac because she had to take care of her cousins that stayed with the grandparents. At the age of 16, her uncles invited her to United States. Her family told her to request a visitors visa, with the excuse of visiting Disneyland. She was given a one month visitors visa but she knew she wouldn't return back to Mexico with her grandparents. With this decision made, she would become illegal in the U.S. as soon as her visa expired. While living in the U.S. she was very reminiscent of her family back in Mexico especially her grandma and grandpa. Now she has a good job and she owns to houses and two cars. Also she gets to travel with her family. Candelaria has a three kids one in particular is very nice and intelligent. Candelaria sends her daughter to school she is also going to graduate college so Candelaria is so happy and glad she send her to school.
About The Authors
About the Author (Adamaris Rezas)
Hi my name is Mariana Rezas I was born on May 29 2005 I go to Alvarado Intermediate School. The reason I want to become middle school Counselor is because, growing up my life wasn't that great at all. My father who left when I was around 4 years old, had such a great impact on me, my brother and Mother. This brought great pressure on my mom, who had to work everyday of the week in order for her to support me and my brother. As well as, my brother who at a very young age was "man of the house," and really made the effort to help my mom out and look after me. After seeing how things were when it was just the three of us, I began focusing on how I wanted to help others who go through the exact situation and how something this affects their education, so I've decided that becoming a counselor will make a difference on myself and others.
Yes, It is because a lot of people do not know the reason why immigrants come to the U.S and if we put some else is life story they will probably see why they have to leave their home.Some new information I found out is that a lot of people have to leave their home because of war and they are not safe. Two skill that i used was art and website design. One social skill I used is interviewing. A personal lesson I learned was that know matter what always love your family because they do everything for us.
About the Author (Jovanni Camagong)
.I had always grown up to like college and that's a good thing and it inspires me to do better than my dad who went to cal state long beach. This is why I dream to go to UCLA or UC Riverside. I have always loved playing sports and the two I have enjoyed most are basketball and football and my dream is to be a all star player, join the army, or become a firefighter. I have always loved music and everyday i'll listen to it and my parents always do push me to do my best which I appreciate and even though we do fight I will never forget the stuff they do for me.
This project has helped me by giving me a better understanding of immigration and why it occurs and the reason I understand how immigration has shaped us is because it has and it's nice to know that there are people who try to come for a better life. Yes it is important to hear the stories of immigrants because their stories can give us a better understanding of why they came and how hard it was to give up everything and everyone like your valuables and home just to come to the fake promised land. I learned that immigration does not only come from Mexico or India but also Asia and other areas and most are for family wise which warms my heart. I also learned that immigration is a very hard journey to do and we got to realize that they gave up everything just to have a better life which sometimes doesn't come true. I learned more about to be compassionate and to have a open heart about feelings and other things like that and to be able to understand that I can't just go about what people say and I have to listen about the other side of the story and put myself in other people's shoes.