Personal Narrative: My American Dream

“I have to go mija, it’s getting late”. As soon as I would hear those words that my mom would use to say, my eyes would get watery and would felt a lump in my throat. I knew that I had to be strong, but deep down I knew I needed my mother more than anything. Not having the woman that gave birth to me by my side every day, it made me grow up with a mind of an independent woman and made me capable of knowing how to manage stuff by myself.
I come from a Mexican family where I grew up following Mexican traditions. I was the only child to be born in the United States, but since my parents were from Mexico, and considering that they already had a home in Tamaulipas, Mexico, my mother took me down there where I studied kindergarten and half of elementary school. Unfortunately, my parents divorced when I was born due to personal problems between them, but we were still a joyful family; my sister, my mother and I. The three of us lived in a little white house. I remember we would

always look the positive way of things and would always make sure we had fun; we were like “The Three Musketeers”. We just needed each other and no one else.
One evening day, I remember I was 9 years old at that time; my aunt Cristina from Houston was talking about moving down to the valley in order to be closer to us.

My mother and she talked about me moving with her to the valley in order for me to have a better future and pursue my "American Dream”. Then after adjustments, long talks and doing papers in the blink of an eye, I was already living with my aunt and both of his sons. Since I was 9 years old I grew up without my mother nor my sister. I remember when I barely moved with my aunt, my mother would sometimes come to the United States just to see me. When it was time for her to go, I would hold my tears until it was time to sleep and would cry in the dark so no one could see me. I used to feel so alone because I was not ready to move out from my house. Then, my mom got a job and it got difficult for my mother to come and see me, since she lived in Mexico. In addition, after several months of me moving to the United States, she stopped

coming.
I believe that my situation has shaped me in what I am today. I grew up “alone”. I did not trust my aunt nor my cousins to sit down and talk to them about my problems. I would always keep my feelings to myself. I had to learn how to wash my own clothes, cook, clean and don't depend on anyone when making decisions. Even though, these events changed me completely I am glad it happened. I am grateful that my mother had the courage to send me to a complete different country because she was worried about my future and my education. I am now a person that is capable of doing things by herself, I am not afraid of new things and I know how to manage stuff by myself. I am proud of the woman I have become because of my mother. I may be a complete different person, but I am sure that I will become a great person in the future. Even though I lost that special connection with my mother, I love her because of her courage, how strong she is and how she had the courage to do anything for me in order for me to have the best life opportunities.