Ambar Espinoza Listen to Ambar read her essay. Read Ambar's biography. Ambar Espinoza Every time my 10-year old sister asks where “our dad” is, it makes me sad. At seven, I never asked questions. I knew that I had a father who left before I was even born. I knew that my baby sister had a dad who didn’t stay with her either. I knew. No questions asked. My entire life I have watched my single mother struggle to raise my little sister and me. I have struggled along with her. At eight, I already had responsibilities--not just second-grade homework, but a baby to look after. I stayed home alone with my little sister when my mom couldn't find a sitter. I picked her up after school while my mom was working. I also translated for my mom at her jobs, at my school when we had teacher/parent conferences, or when she didn't understand bills that she needed to pay. And I still burn with anger at the way people treat my mom sometimes, like she doesn't count, because she doesn't speak English very well and she's "just a housekeeper." I have had to be strong to help my family survive--but it hasn't been that hard because I have my mother's daily example. Every day, I see my mom get up at 6 a.m. to get ready for work. And when I get home from my part-time job at 9 p.m., she's still working, cleaning the house, cooking dinner or doing laundry. My mom and I have so many hopes for me. That's what I think about when I get up at 5:30 a.m. to take the bus to a better school in a better neighborhood. And I try to keep it in mind as I open my books to study on the bus on the way home from work. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to work part-time in a shoe store, but my mom really needs help with the bills and with my school expenses. I do get tired, but whenever I feel like giving up, I read the short note that my mom gave me on the 17th birthday: “Gracias por todo su esfuerzo en superarse para su futuro. Es el mejor regalo que yo recibo dia con dia Quiero verla como profesional y siendo responsable para con usted misma. La quiere, su mom .” (Thank you for all your efforts to succeed in your future. It is the best gift I receive day by day. I want to see you as a professional who is responsible for her own self. I love you, Mom.) As I get closer to making my college dream a reality, my mom and I have been on edge--we both want this so much. I'll be studying late, and she'll get mad at me for leaving my desk messy. I'll snap at her for getting on my case about petty matters or when I’m simply stressed out from school. Whenever I try to talk to her about financial aid, she just changes the subject. It's scary to be so close, and yet so far. I know my grades are a little shaky, especially in math and science. But I’m still trying hard to make up for those classes, especially since not one day goes by without my mom emphasizing the importance of education. For this reason, I am applying to the Educational Opportunity Program offered at UCLA, I want to be the first person in my family to graduate from college. But I also know that no matter what happens, I will always achieve the goals I set for myself. My mom may have been shut out by society, but she's made sure that I haven't been. All the things I've done -- taking honors and AP classes, interviewing the head of the school district, taking summer journalism classes at USC, editing my school newspaper -- have helped my family believe that if you work hard, “uno se supera" (one can succeed). I’m even going to be editor-in-chief of my school paper next semester. I was nationally selected to be part of the Teen People News Team--only 36 out of more than 400 applicants from all over the country were chosen. I was nationally selected by the LA Times to attend the inaugural Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Conference--only two students per state were selected. I am extremely proud of myself for having achieved a lot in so little time. All of these honors that I’ve earned with my hard work and dedication is shaping a path for a career that I am passionately pursuing. I'm beginning to learn how the world works, and I'm finding out that success is not based on who your dad is, or if your mom went to high school, or the color of your skin, or where you were born. Success is just setting goals and building a path to make them happen. And I am on my way to success.