My life in the ocean

A new phase of my life began when I was living in Mexico, my mother and stepfather lost their jobs. My mother became pregnant and my stepfather was in major automobile accident. My family started to go through a financial-crisis. As soon as my mother was able to work, she returned to work, however she did not earn enough to solve the expenses at home. By the time my stepfather recovered from the car accident, due to the accumulated debt, we our assets. Continuous fights began at home because of money. They got divorced. Thing went from bad to worse. I began to wonder if my future dreams of going to college, finding a successful career, and having a family would be able to become reality.

Following the divorce, being a ninth grade student I was responsible for taking care of my three year old sister while my mother worked double shifts to pay the bills. This means that in addition to my homework and studies, I needed to bathe, feed, play with my sister, as well as help with the housework.

After a couple months, my mom could not solve all the expenses at home, so I had to work. Immediately following school I was going to work. Many times I only sleep a few hours a day. There were many days that I felt overwhelmed and could not continue with my current situation of going to school, homework, and working throughout the week. However, during that time I learned the importance of time management and being responsible, whether at school, work, or my life. One day the idea of coming back to America my country of birth, came to mind. I analyzed my idea and knew it would not be easy because I would not have the financial support from my parents and I would leave my entire life in Mexico behind. I knew that moving would provide me an opportunity to get a better education and help my family more. Therefore when I was fifteen years old, I returned to the U.S. without my parents to live with people that I had I never met before, everything was new