Growing up with my aunt taking care of my siblings and I, I knew she always wanted us to learn just from the activities she had us do instead of just sit around doing nothing. She would have us assemble our own bracelets, craft pictures for our parents, we would walk to the park and be there for half of the day just entertaining each other. My aunt would always focus on what she thought the best outcomes would be for us and the best result for our childhood as we grew up. My aunt’s American dream was to come to the United States to help out her family and have her own family and made sure they obtained the education and family she never actually had when she grew up. She wanted to assure no one in her family that was growing up went through all the complications she went through that caused her a great deal of pain.

My aunt Gloria Zamago was born in 1953 in Durango, Mexico. She was one of the oldest girls from her seven siblings. Living with both of her parents. “What I did when I was younger that were memorable and were incomparable memories were going to elementary school and learning new material by reading and doing math problems. Then, play a little with the kids after school. In the evening we would all cluster together in a group to hear Spanish soap operas (telenovelas) on the radio with my grandparents.” she explained with a little laugh. It was a pleasant childhood until she just finished elementary school. Her mother had died from cancer. Soon after the death of their mother, their father who had drinking problems left them for the reason that he felt like the situation was too much to handle with such a massive family. Slowly, her family fell apart. Her siblings were made to be separated from each other since there was too many of them for a family member just to take in all of them. Six of her siblings were sent to the United States to live with their aunt and uncle. “My Childhood? You want to make me cry? Well my childhood was sad, sad in the form of the problems I experienced. I did have some joyful memories, but not all the time. For the reason that I wasn’t united with my family and the dilemma that happened throughout my life. But I didn’t have the childhood that I imagined I would have.” said my aunt with a sigh.

My aunt stayed in Mexico to take care of her youngest sibling and stayed with their grandparents. “What I did to benefit my family was to stay behind in Mexico and take care of my youngest brother. I was the ‘mother role’ to him since our mother died when he was only three years old. We did stay with our grandparents, but I often took care of him, considering I wanted him to know I was there for him. Due to that, I honestly didn’t go far based off of education. I only went up to elementary school. My ambition was to study more and accomplish school, but that couldn’t happen over the sense of the family problems. But you need sacrifice what you think is best for your family, especially when there wasn’t much family around.” she sighed as she explained the outcomes that came with helping her family.

“What I imagined my life was going to be like when I grew up was being the Queen of England.”, she said laughing. “No, but on the serious note everybody imagines how their life might be but it doesn’t always happen. But I imagined that I was going to have a family of my own and be with family and have the life I never had as I grew up.” she answered. My aunt came to the United States with her younger brother once they were older and there weren’t any difficulties since her siblings that were already living in the United States helped them. Finally, she started her family in the United States. “I guess you can say I’m living my American dream. The reasoning that my perfect memories were having my three daughters and finally having a family of my own.” she explained as she smiled. Even though her husband left right after her third daughter was born she was still appreciative she had her siblings and her daughters as a family.

My aunt went through burdensome situations growing up and even later in life. She grew up taking care of her loved ones and that’s what she goes by. Even though her American dream was about her family, she was able to achieve her American dream by giving to her family. My aunt has proven that even though you think you’re at your worst it’s doesn't necessarily mean it will stay that way. There are obstacles in people’s life and they might not be the best right now, but in the future you’ll realize that there’s always positive outcomes to your objectives in life if you fulfill what your goals and dreams.