We hope to inspire future generations that there is much hope to be found in the Latino Community. from UC Irvine; Jackie, a Teacher with a B.A.
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Below is our parents' nomination:
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My parents are heroes because they helped their children overcome the odds when no one thought it possible. We grew up in the rough part of Los Angeles known as South Central, an area synonymous with gang violence, drugs, and economic deprivation. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, we are a family o
f five college educated children: Rafael, an Investment Analyst with a B.A. from UC Irvine and an MBA from Yale; Angelica, a Public Health Educator with a B.A. from CSUN and an expected Masters from CSULB; Rosa, a Business Attorney with a B.A. from UC Irvine and a J.D. from the University of Washington; and David, a recent UC Irvine graduate and aspiring law student. My parents are heroes because with their humble immigrant background they taught us the greatest lessons in life. Our father showed us to appreciate hard work when every night he would proudly show us his shirt drenched in sweat from an arduous day of labor. Our mother encouraged us to value our education when she lovingly walked us to and from school every day to ensure that we were safe from the dangers lurking in our community. And, we learned the meaning of sacrifice, when our father worked while undergoing cancer treatment, refusing to retire until his last child graduated from college. Our college degrees provided us with opportunities in life, but it was our parents’ persevering spirit that instilled within us a desire to succeed.
