The Job/El Trabajo

By Gerardo Hernandez

“My family are first generations of immigrants, so it can get difficult sometimes.”

Gerardo: Hello. My name is Gerardo. I am a freshman at Benito Juarez High School, and I play center on my school's JV basketball team. On a regular day, my schedule consists of going to school and doing my after school responsibilities, like homework, house chores, basketball, and my radio production class. During school, I learn drills and about discipline in JROTC. After a busy school day, I help around the house.

My dad, I barely see him, because he works every day from 4am to 3pm. He works far, so he usually arrives home an hour later. On his regular work days, he's so tired that all he does eat and sleep, to rest for his next work day. My mom, she is my motivator. She also works as a housekeeper and selling cosmetics.

My older brother, an inspiration to the world. He has a genetic disorder called ataxia. Ataxia is having impaired balance or coordination. It can be due to damage to the brain, nerves, or muscles. Eventually, throughout the time, the disease worsens, and that has impacted my brother to lose his balance. He can't walk well, so my duty is to help him move around.

My family are first generations of immigrants, so, it can get difficult sometimes.

Mom: Veíamos que vivian bien, entonces uno también tenia ganas de, de superarse no?, Y en México pues, era más difícil, en primer lugar, porque no tengo un estudio profesional ni mucho menos, entonces para los que sí es difícil, para los que si tienen estudio pues, para los que no lo tenemos es mucho más difícil, entonces por eso pensé que viniendo a este país, pues si va a ser mejor para nosotros, para poder salir adelante.

Gerardo: When my parents migrated to the United States, their initial goal was to raise money to finish a house that they started building in Mexico. We have no insurance for my brother, and… it is very devastating, because we have no support for him. On the other hand, he won't give up. Even with the hardships, he won't give up. Although, with the disability, he has managed to work at an animal hospital in Brighton Park for ten years now. It's a job he enjoys and everyone there loves and supports him.

Within my family, especially my mom, I was able to learn to value and become a hardworking person just like them. With my mother being around, I was able to connect with her, learning how much of a hard-working of a person my mom really is.

As I'm learning, one thing I am struggling with is following my daily schedule while maintaining my energy on busy days. Oftentimes, I feel tired and unmotivated. To me, waking up early is a difficult task. Especially on the day after basketball practice. Sometimes, I even feel stressed of thinking how much work I have to get done in a day.

Mom: Pues que, a pesar de que somos inmigrantes, de que yo no hablo el idioma del ingles este, pues, gracias a Dios, y que hemos trabajado y todo, este, pues, tenemos una casa en donde vivir emm, lo siento un logro bonito, por lo menos de que nadie les diga nada a mis hijos ni nada, o sea el hecho de tener una casa, para mí ese es un logro bonito. Porque pues una casa es lo que siempre uno sueña tener para su familia para sus hijos, pues me alegran, y sobre todo que mis hijos este, hasta donde hayan podido o querido, han estudiado que es una gran satisfacción para mí que, hayan tenido más estudio que el que uno pudo tener. Y pues, ojalá y tú seas el que demuestre también que te interesa la escuela y que llegues a hacer algo, que es el sueño de todas madres, yo creo.

Gerardo: My weekends are dedicated to Yollocalli. Yollocalli is where I have my audio radio production class. It is where I get to enjoy my time and have fun, learning and connecting with the youth. Being able to hear other people and create audio stories. But most importantly, I help my family.

Mom: Pues, la experiencia de saber que no puedo regresar a mi país, porque. No porque no quisiera ir, si no no puedo regresar [laughter], entonces. Eso ha cambiado mucho, y ojalá y algún día se pueda resolver eso, pero dentro de lo que cabe, ya me he adaptado y ahora yo nada más pienso en que vivamos aquí en paz y tranquilos y ya lo demás no importa.

Gerardo: Over the years, I have realized how my family is very hard-working. Now that I'm fifteen, I was given the opportunity to learn to drive and prepare for the driver's test. Aside from school, which is my responsibility, helping my brother is a big blessing for me, and my family. I help him walk, commute to work, and if he ever needs anything, I am there for him. With my parents working, I am in charge of maintaining the house clean, so they can arrive home and relax.

Mom:Los retos de hoy en día son pues, más que nada, tu, pues eres el que está haciendo la escuela, pues, mi reto es que termines, este, tus estudios, que vayas a la Universidad ese es un reto, un sueño, un no sé, todo y que voy a hacer lo que pueda por que llegues a tener un título y no vayas a padecer lo mismo que padecimos nosotros. Aunque sea de las orejas, pero te voy a llevar! [Laughter]

Gerardo: I am thankful for my family, for all the hard work that they do to provide for us. To me, that is just one way of showing our connection because as we work together, we work on maintaining our family filled with happiness and love. Within my wonderful family, I was shown a valuable life lesson of working hard for what we want to accomplish. I'm still young, and I have so much more to look forward to. And in time, I will be ready for what life might bring towards me. Thanks to my family showing me to keep on moving.

Mom: No rendirse, seguir trabajando, seguir luchando por lo que queramos ya sea una casa un bonito carro, lo que sea, nada es gratis, todo lo que queramos nos cuesta, nos cuesta trabajo, hay que trabajar, pero es bonito cuando podemos tener las cosas.

Gerardo: Thank you so much.

Mom: De nada.