Diana Dozal Villalobos

Mrs. Lee/Ms. Rhoney

Written & Oral Communication (WOC)

Monday 15 May 2023/ Tuesday 16 May 2023

1983
Don’t let what anyone says put you down. Knowing to be independent, and believing in yourself

can take you a long way.

Now even though it is a really common thing to say I now really believe that this is important in

my life because of my mom.

Ever since I was a kid my mom has told me that if I have a dream and I want something that I

need to pursue it because I can achieve it. I always thought she said that just because it seems

like a common thing to tell your kids, you know? Like something that every parent tells their kid

so they feel encouraged. Until she told me her experience and why she truly does believe that

being independent and believing in yourself is really important.

We have long car rides sometimes and although I don’t remember what we were talking about

before one day she told me her story. Now she began to say “When I was your age..” and when

she said that I didn’t think much of it since a lot of parents like to lecture their kids with that line,

but I still listened and she continued, she added on saying “…I lived in a very small town in

Mexico where there was only two schools, one gas station and not many opportunities.” She’d

say that unlike me she didn't have her parents faith, that when she told them she wanted to go to
school, study and get out of that small town, they would tell her no. She would tell my grandpa,

her dad, that she wanted to study, get a good job and move to the U.S. He would immediately tell

her that she was crazy, or maybe even delusional, that women didn’t need to study, and that

women could not work or make a living for themselves. And since it was a small town with

small town people they told her the same thing, that instead she should just settle down and find

a good man to marry.

But instead of listening, my mom told them no. At my age she got a job to get money, money she

would use to pay for the bus, a bus that would take her to the city, a city where she found a better

school to go and study. Now telling me that she did that every day, by herself with nobody, not

even her family’s help. That on her own she eventually made it exactly to where she wanted to,

without asking for her family’s money or support.

Now she tells me that if she could accomplish that then I can too. And now that I know that she

was able to reach her goals as hard and impossible as they seemed, I too believe that knowing to

be independent and believing in yourself can take you a very long way and maybe even exactly

where you want to be.