Story Time

I saw this over at Pixie Purls and although it is somewhat like a MEME, it is a bit more in depth and I thought it was a great way for you to get to know me a bit more.

My story and thus my journey begins when I arrived to NY from Mexico....I was 15 years old at the time. My life before 15 was pretty rough and well it is best that it stays in the past.

Once upon a time...a 15 year old ran away from home. At the time, she was living with her grandparents in Mexico, her Mom lived in NY. She dreamed every day of living one day with her Mom and being able to walk down 5th Ave, just like they do in the movies. After waiting for years for her Mom to come pick her up and bring her to the fanciful world of opportunities, she got fed up and picked up a set of clothes and ran away from home. She didn't go too far, but far enough to get her Momma's attention.  She only lived away from home for a few weeks, all the while her Grandparents and her Mom deviced a way to bring her to the States...and thus our story begins.

When I arrived to NY, I had so many dreams and aspirations. I dreamed of one day being one of the fancy people that you see on tv--wearing beautiful clothes and living in a beautiful apartment...kind of like Sex in the City style. Boy did I have a rude awakening!! I was small and insignificant and I didn't know how to speak the language. I lived in Queens, NY, which is not bad but it is not Manhattan. My dreams of going to school did not come to fruition right away, instead, I got a job with my mom at a factory. It was terrible...I was the youngest person working there, the pay was not bad compared to Mexican standards, but now that I look back it was terrible! I worked there for about 6 months, the worst 6 months of my adult life (yeah, I count being 15 an adult as I had to already pay my own rent and pay for my own food). My aunt, who is only 3 years older than me lived with us and she was always the sporty type person. She dragged my fat a$$ to a Tae Kwon Do class and being easily pressured, I signed up. I thought it was going to be a waste of money, but joining lead me to the best path that I should have taken at that time.

At the class, I met a wonderful guy whom had the bestest and most wonderful parents. Him and his family encouraged me to enrolled in high school, and they convinced my Momma that it was the best path for me to take--if she ever wanted me to be more than just a factory worker. My Momma thought about it and of course had to take into consideration all the expenses. A mother always wants the best for her children and she did the best by me. She enrolled me in school! At the age of 16, I was a Freshman at Newtown HS.

The first year of school were the hardest for me. I had to learn a new language while at the same time learn school curriculum. At first, I thought I could handle at least Math in an English class setting but after the first semester of failing--think 14, 18...etc., I gave up and had to swallow my pride and ask for a Spanish class. Once in the Spanish class--math became my number one subject. From that day on, I was pretty good at it: joined the math league, and many other math associations (long forgotten names, but I have tons of certificates and junk like that). I immersed myself in the English language completely--watched tv in English, heard radio in English...and tried to speak in English all the time. At first it was difficult, but after a few months, my teflon brain started letting some of the information stick. I had wonderful, dedicated teachers...they cared for every single one of us and they gave of their time freely--they understood that they had our future in their hands. I owe them who I am today--I really do! I graduatedwith 3 college classes under my belt and in the top percentile of my class and ..okay, I was # 23, not valedictorian, but when there are 797 students graduating, it is hard to be valedictorian. In my book of achievements, graduating from HS in the top percentile was huge. I not only learned different subjects, but I also learned English, and I learned that I did have a chance in this world! Giving a person a new path is the best gift ever! I was given that...I was given the chance to become something more than just a bum!

During my high school career, I didn't work much, I helped around the offices at school and was always in the library, either as an aide, or reading. I figured that my time would be better spent learning rather than playing: I quickly learned that if I wanted to become someone--other than a factory worker--that I needed to learn and learn and learn. In my senior year, I got a job at a cafe at the mall--I loved that job. I loved the interaction with the customers and my relationship with my co-workers. In a short-time, the enthusiasm for my job got me the position of manager (which is not hard to get, but you have to be friendly to get it and responsible to manage the money). I loved that job....I enjoyed putting ice-cream in the cones, hehehehe. I left that job when I went to college in the city.

College...my college life was wonderful. I attended Baruch College for my first 3 years and I had some of the most wonderful friends. I worked too: I worked as a tutor in the math department, then in one of the offices as an aide, then in my 2nd year I got a job with a big marketing company. I started small, just as a receptionist--but I loved it. Again, the interaction with everyone every day was fascinating, I got to smile and say hello to everyone who came in, and every now and then I got to work with the big shots of the company. Then, I got a huge break--one of the main executive assistants left the company and she recommended me to take her position. I was in heaven--my pay went up about 50% and my work load went down about 50%, lol. Answering 1 phone and answering emails, typing a letter or two, or arranging meetings was easy. I loved it! My boss was also very nice..he was a nice older gentleman, always happy (even when the numbers were bad) and he always said "take your time".

Schoolwise, I was doing great: great grades, awesome classes, again, terrific teachers.I got to join Golden Key NHS where I met my amazing, lovely, wonderful friends. If you think that honor society members are geeks--you are highly mistaken. We were a bunch of roudy, loud, happy bunch--a bit on the naughty nutty side too.

It was at one of these Golden Key conferences where I met a hunk of a guy from Utah. I was head over heels for the kid...he had blue eyes and I was always a sucker for blue eyes. Then, I got it in my head that I wanted to change career gears from the business world to the world of nature--geology to be more exact. So I looked into schools that had a geology degree--and guess what, Utah State University had one...for that matter, a lot of schools in Utah did...what a concidence!!

I applied to Utah State and I was accepted...I moved to Utah. The boy whom I met in the Golden Key conference got lost in the shuffle, but then came my wonderful love and friend--Sammer. We "dated" for about 6 months. On one Christmas day, he asked me to marry him...he just blurted it out, he had not planned it, and once it was out he couldn't take it back in. Once he asked, my first words out were "are you sure? cuz this is forever we are talking". 4 months later we were married in the beautiful, majestic Logan Temple.

While married, I finished my degree--no, not geology, but Business Administration. I graduated with a very decent gpa...enough to make me proud, hehehehe, and enough to make my kids work very hard :). I had a few jobs at the university, nothing too serious, just working at different offices doing office work.

Now, Sammer and I have 2 wonderful little ones: they are a handful, but we love them and we couldn't imagine our lives without them, or without each other. I help him out at his job but mostly stay home with the kids...life has been good. The first 15 years of my life left me with a lot to be desired...I thought that I was unloved and one of the unwanted children of the world, but the last 15 years (ok, 14) have been quite good, my life has changed for the better. No, I am not rich, nor do I have an office job, nor do I walk among the glamourous people of Sex and the City, but I am happy. I have a beautiful family who loves me and friends who are only a phone call away. In a sense, my life is like a cinderalla story...a happy ending...or at least I am having a happy middle, or to be more accurate, the beginning of a very happy life :).

This is my story...at least half of it :). Thanks for sticking around to read it.

I have this post pre-saved to publish while I am on my way to California. Wish me luck...I hope they don't mind my Rosita accent too much--to tell you the truth, I am most concerned about my accent than about my knowledge of loom knitting...hope they understand me and I don't sound too horribly.

Pictures of my past...

Comments

[Stitch-n-Snitch]

You are inspirational, Isela! ;)

[Zonda]

You are a very courageous and amazing woman! Thank you for sharing with us! :)

[Lynda]

Thanks for sharing your story! Your are amazing, and quite an inspiration.

[Jeannie]

Wow Isela! You are quite an amazing young woman.

You have accomplished so much, and against such difficult odds. I think you are a wonderful role model. You have proven that a person can reach his or her goals with hard work and determination. : )

You are an inspiration to me in more ways than you know!

Huggz!

[Erin]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I have been skimming bloglines today because I am just too busy to really get into blogging right now but something about your story caught my eye and I read the whole thing. What an amazing story you have. I am so happy you have found happiness and contentment in your life. Now I am all warm and fuzzy about life. Thanks.

[Marisol]

Que dichosos somos todos nosotros de haberte conocido! Gracias por compartir la primera parte de tu vida. Te deseo salud, amor, y muchas pezetas para gozarlo:)

[KnitPastis]

This was a very nice story to read and I am so proud of you. Something good always comes from being good. You matter! You always did:) I know you are probably on the way to Knitty Gritty but have tons fun and can't wait to hear all about it!

[Amy]

Wonderful story Isela. Thanks for sharing.

Amy

[Kim]

Isela, I always have thought you were such an awesome person, but wow, I had no idea! Thanks for sharing this. I'm really in awe of how much you've accomplished in your lifetime. Makes me want to work harder and be a better person.

So glad to be your friend, and I wish I lived closer again!! Sorry I haven't stopped by in a while--I've been so swamped, but I've been thinking about you! Hope you have lots of fun in California, and good luck!

[Barb]

Well, I think about the only thing our arrivals in New York would have in common was life in a very small apartment in Queens. : ) Good on ya, as they like to say here.

I'm sure the show will go really well! When I used the how-to videos on your site, I thought your voice was very calming, which was great for teaching (since I know zip about loom knitting) and that will be great for TV too.

[BethC]

What a great story! Does a teacher's heart good.

[Patricia]

What a wonderful story. It sounds like your making happy endings to every day. Thanks you for sharing!

[Michele]

Thanks for sharing your story...it's so wonderful to hear how people have gotten to where they are today!!! You're such an inspiration...keep up the fantastic work!

[shobhana]

all i can say is, 'wow'! thank you for sharing your story. =)

[Kate]

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story!

[Heather Joins The Round]

Your accent is beautiful!