Success Stories

Overcoming Struggle

I want to tell you a little success story about my family. My wife and I were married in our country on May 28,1985. One month later I lost my job, and in May 1986 we came to the United States. She was 15 years old and I was 23.

She was very young, we were lonely, and illegal in this country because we didn't know anybody. We met a couple and they let us live with them. I remember when we were sleeping we slept in a closet and my feet were always out of the closet. We also went to a church because they gave us food and clothes. I also remember the first day when we went to search for a job, we walked many hours. I felt afraid, but I wanted to be here, and I had to survive in a new country.

Everything was different than my country. The same day my wife's feet felt sore, she was tired and hungry. Although, she didn't said a thing, it was very sad, she was a child, but she was my support, she was a motive to survive. We had many hard things, but gradually we overcame that. She started working like a baby-sitter and I started working for Fiesta Mart in July 6, 1986.

On May 8, 1990, my first daughter was born. We were very happy and proud for our daughter. One year later my wife started working like a housekeeper, and she cleaned houses for a few years. On November 8, 1993 my son was born, it was wonderful, I felt that my life was shining.

In 1997 my wife asked me, if we could go to school, I thought, it is something good, and I said yes. I saw my wife very interested in participating in the classes, that's the way we started studying in different classes. I remember my first day in class, my teacher spoke and wrote, and I only watched, and I felt shy. On January 20, 1999 my second daughter was born, it was great because I wanted another daughter. I felt my life realized, because I always dreamed to have a family. I know that God gave me a wonderful family.

My wife learned very fast, she has a very good brain. My wife obtained her G.E.D. on June 24, 1999. We were very proud for her success. Then she worked for the Family Literacy Even Start Program. She also worked for Wharton Country Junior College. She worked a few years with these programs, then she began working full time with the Fort Bend Independent School District as a parent liaison. This was a new opportunity for her because it was another goal that she obtained. In July 2000, we bought tickets for my wife and my children to travel to Guatemala, because my wife had not seen her mother in fourteen years. But the owner of that company stole money from many people. My wife was very sad, and I felt powerless because I could not do anything to help her. We didn't have anymore money, my wife cried for a long time, and I was not able to help her. My wife told Mrs. Bellamy and she obtained an interview for us with channel eleven and they talked to Continental Airlines. Continental Airlines gave us four tickets free. I learned that there is always somebody with us. Now my wife is going to study history and math at the Houston Community College. She is in the second semester. She wants to be a bilingual teacher and I am sure that she will be a teacher.

My oldest daughter is Behatriz, she started in a bilingual pre-K class. In fifth grade she began in regular classes. She has always had very good grades, she is very timid, but very smart. Now she is in seventh grade, my daughter speaks very good English and Spanish too. She overcame the barrier that she had with the English.

Ivan is my little boy. He is nine years old. He is in third grade and he has very good grades. Last semester he participated in the Kids Money Club. He was also a member of the Student Council in his class. I am very proud of him. He speaks good English and Spanish too. Perhaps in fourth grade he will start in regular classes because his teacher told me that and I know that my boy is very intelligent and gentle. I love my son.

Ligia is my little bab. She is four years old and she is going to the Head Start program. She is very restless, but she learns everything. She understands and speaks English and Spanish too. Also she does and says many things that surprise me. She is not timid. She is always speaking, and she has many ideas. She has many ways to convince others and she is always looking for other ways to get what she wants.

I been working for Fiesta Mart seventeen years and I have been in school for a few years. First I began going to school for two hours and a half for two days a week. Last year I started going for four hours and four days a week, now I am in E.S.L.THREE.

We started without nothing and now we are paying our house, a new car, and we have a used car too. Perhaps for many people it is nothing, but to the poor people it is too much. When I say poor people is when the people don't have nothing to eat.

I am thankful for the Family Literacy Even Start Program, Head Start program, and Wharton County Junior College, also with all the people who gave us and are still giving us the opportunity to improve our lives. I am also thankful for these programs for teaching me how to help my family and because they let me know that there is still good people in this world.