“Isaura ve a la iniversidad, estudiam superate, haste una professional, para que no termines como yo sin un futuro”. Every time I feel discouraged about school, my abuela’s words work their way into my mind. “Isuara, finish school, go to college so that, in the future, you can have options and not finish like me with not much to choose from.” My abuela, Daisy Alcantara, is my inspiration; she motivates me to do my best in school and maintain focus so that I can attend college and become successful.
What if I had a twenty floor office building to clean every day for eight hours each day: vacuuming office floors, cleaning bathroom toilets and mirrors, shining marble floors while carrying a cart bursting with toxic cleaning supplies? My grandmother has been working as a janitor for fifteen years. Daisy is hardworking, honest, caring and enthusiastic. I understand that working as a janitor is nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s not her vision of who I can not become nor is it mine. Instead, I have different goals and plans for myself. Gaining a degree in business is my main goal. I desire to become a successful entrepreneur, have a better life and make my grandmother proud. She constantly tells me to use her life as an example and not take the sample path. There’s not a day my grandmother doesn’t tell me the importance of school. She encourages me to get good grades; she tells me to take advantage of higher education because I will regret it if I don’t. Neither my uncle nor my mother finished college. I’m the oldest granddaughter and her wish is for me to obtain a college degree.
“Isaura ve a la universdad, estudia, superate, haste una professional, para que no termines como sin un futoro.” These words have traveled with me my entire life. My grandmother has opened my eyes and made me realize how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to graduate from high school and attend college. When I was younger, I never understood why she stressed the value of higher education. Now that I’m older, I’m conscious of what her expectations mean and why she wants me to succeed. She doesn’t want me to renounce my dreams. She believes I can accomplish anything if I go to college and get an education.
I understand that going to college will break the cycle of my family and education. Hopefully, I will become a role model for my family members as well as for other females in my community, just as my grandmother is for me. “No te preocupes mi abuela bella yo voy a seguir tus consejos y te llenare de orgullo.” “Don’t worry, Grandma, I will make you proud.”