My Life
- Steve Govea
- Los Angeles
- UNITED STATES, 8-8-72
- 18
My name is Steve Govea and I am half Mexican and half Salvadorian. My father immigrated here from Mexico and my mother immigrated here from El Salvador. They both came to the United States in search of the American dream. I am glad that my parents decided to come here and bless me with the opportunities they granted me. Both my parents are hard working and have established their legal residence here in the United States.
My fathers name is Martin Gerardo Govea. He came to the United States from Michoacan, Mexico. My father crossed the border illegaly in search of a better future. He told me about how he came here. My dads occupation is working on cars. He is a mechanic. I have never seen my dad get a car he couldnt fix. My father is not a quitter or lazy person. He said he didnt come on his first attempt. He also told me that when he did get caught by immigration he asked them how he could cross the border without being caught. The immigration officers or "la mirga" told him that he should try at night. He told me about when he would get chased by immigration, and the slower people would always get caught and deported back. He said it was dangerous coming to the United States but worth the cost to give me and my brother and sister a better chance at success in life.
My mothers names is Maria Aurora Maldonado. She came here from El Salvador. My mother had it easier than my dad when it came to crossing the border. She did cross illegaly but not through desert or mountains or anything like that. My mom had a "coyote" that brought her across the border and used documents of an already U.S citizen and said she was my mother.
My mother is the toughest woman I know. She has three kids and works two jobs at nearly minimum wage to keep us with food to eat and maintain a roof over our heads. My mom is also a single mother. My father has three diffrent familys including one in Mexico. I live with my mother in Los Angeles, California. My father left to live in North Las Vegas, Nevada when I was only 5 years old. He has another family there. I do miss him at times but I know that like my mother I have to be strong and look at my future instead of my past and what is left behind. I hope to become something great when I get older. I dont want my parents risk at coming here to go in vain. Especially not my mother. I love her so much she works hard for me and my family even though we are not the best children at times. I hope to do big things in my lifetime. Right now I am about to graduate and get my High School Diploma from Daily High School.(hopefully). After that I hope to go to Glendale community college and transfer from there to UCLA. I am a work-in-progress towards the American dream.