Literacy Links

Success Stories

The American Dream

by Iliana Guerra

Hello, my name is Iliana Guerra. I was born in Mexico in a small town close to the border called Camargo. I came to the United States looking for the American Dream.

I started to work at a meat market as soon as I arrived in Houston. I found a job as a cashier I didn’t know how to count American money, but I was happy that I had a job. I told myself, “You can do it.” I looked at the money and saw the numbers on the bills. I started telling myself this is a $20 bill, a $10 bill, a $5 bill, and a $1 bill. The coins were quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. I struggled, and for more than a week the cash register was short of money most of the time. But finally after a few days, I learned. I didn’t understand English and when someone asked me something I didn’t know what he or she were saying. I just looked at their eyes and I smiled and asked my coworker in Spanish what they said and she translated for me.

After that I started working for HISD as a custodian. When I started working for HISD I had my interview with a translator next to me because I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying. “I have to learn English”, I said to myself. I started reading some old books that I had and started attending night classes at the school I was working in. Two years later the principal of my school called me, and she said, “ I remember when you started working and you did not know a word of English. You have to feel proud of yourself because you have learned a lot in these two years.” She gave me a job promotion and I felt great, I felt wonderful, I felt like someone.

I married in 1989 to a man named Martin Guerra. We met at the meat market where I worked, he worked there as a butcher. Later we had two beautiful children - Janell and Alex. My husband and I decided to buy a dump truck and started working with it. My husband worked seven days a week. Sometimes we had to take our kids with us to work. Later we saved some money to buy a tractor and pick up trash with it. Little by little we were able to open our own business.

I was very happy because the kids didn’t have to be in day care most of the time. We have been working together for more than 12 years, and I have learned almost everything about the business. I dedicate most of my time to work for us, and also time for my beautiful teenagers.

Now I’m attending the Adult Reading Center in Pearland. I have had wonderful teachers like Mrs. Cletta, Mrs. Jill and Mr. David A Beckman. I have learned a lot of things these past two years. It has helped me a lot, and the people there are very kind. Since I have been coming to this school, I have learned a lot of things that help me in the office like how to write a check, fill out an application, to do a job interview, and even speak with my customers in person or by phone. From Mr. Beckman’s classes, I have learned how to use the computer in my business. I feel more and more confident with myself.

After all I’m very happy to be living in America. It’s a wonderful land. A land that gives a lot of opportunities to the people that want them. I am very thankful for what I have and now I can say that I am living the American Dream.

About the Author

Iliana is a student at the Adult Reading Center of Pearland.