Something about My Life

My story begins many years ago when I was a student in my country. I was only twelve years old and I was the best student in my class because I always liked to study a lot. I got the highest score in my class and the school gave me a scholarship.

I was very happy and very excited because I wanted to be a doctor, but my father said, "No, you don't need to study more because you are a girl. Only boys need to study more." I felt frustrated and I cried a lot. Then, I had to work to help my family. I thought that when I had a daughter, she would be a doctor.

Several years after I got married, I came to this country. A few months later, I had my first child. She was a girl! Five years later, I had a boy. I worked very hard in a factory for twenty years. It was all to help raise our children.

During those twenty years I thought about my daughter and my wish. One year ago my daughter got her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from a university. It was at that time I decided to learn English because when she brought her friends to our home I felt embarrassed since I couldn't talk with them.

Now, I want to stay in school. I want to get my high school diploma. If God helps us, my daughter, who is now twenty-two years old and a very intelligent girl, will go to medical school in September.

- Dominga Caballero

From Stories from the Heart: A Reading and Writing Book for Adults, by Ronna Magy. Linmore Publishing, Box 1545 Palatine, IL 60078. Used by permission.