Alfonso L. Esparza

A hero to me is someone who is hard working and succeeds in life. Personally my dad is my hero. How he lived his life and succeeded makes him my hero. My dad has gone through a lot to live a better life for him and his family. When my dad was a teenager his parents died and he was left with an older sister and eight younger siblings. My dad then had to care for my aunts and uncles. He did this by crossing the border and coming to the United States.

My dad lived in a small town in Mexico called La Colonia Madero, in Juchipilla, Zachatechas. People that went from the US to Mexico told my dad it was a great place to go. My dad then moved to the US, to find work, at the age of twenty on Oct 8, 1968. He walked across the border and got a ride from a friend to Los Angeles, CA. He got a job working with a landscape company. He sent money to his family back in Mexico. He lived in an apartment. He stayed with three friends, they shared the apartment and each paid their own share for the rent.

my dad and his family come from Mexico (Google images)

In 1970 some of his brothers and sisters started coming to the US for a better life. By 1971 my dad managed to get six of the nine siblings he had to live in the US. Till this day he only has four sisters who stayed in Mexico, once in a while they come and visit but still don't want to move here. In 1980, twelve years after living in the US, he got his citizenship for the United States. In 1982 he then chose to move to Santa Maria CA, because there was very good work in the fields at the time. By that time he had two kids, my brother and sister. In 1992 my mom delivered her fourth and last child, which was me. My dad therefore had to get a better job to support his family of four kids, his wife, and himself. Therefore he started his own gardening business which he still has today.

My brothers, sister and I have always helped my dad out. He has taught us many things and one I will always use in life is to help others and never ask how much they're going to pay me. "They will pay you back with something better than money," my dad always said. Most of the things he has taught me made me into a better person physically and mentally. This is why my dad is my hero.

My dad is my hero for many reasons; he has gone through a lot to give his family a better life. He took the risk of crossing the border on foot and living in the United States. He cares for his family and is hard working. He has made my siblings and me hard workers and amazing people. Without my dad I don't know where I would be in life and the things I would be doing. I love my dad and thank him for everything he has done for me. He's my hero forever.