Prompt: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

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“Nunca dejen los estudios y un dia podran tener lo que quieran y no van a tener que depender de un jefe racista como lo tengo que hacer yo.” “Never leave your education behind and you’ll be able to obtain all that you desire and you will never have to depend on a racist boss like I’ve had to do.”  I can still remember my dad telling me this everyday after a long shift. After 12 years with that boss he decided to leave that job and created Auto Recycling Denver. Even though he did change jobs and went after his dreams he still went through many challenges like he used to but now I experienced those challenges too. This that my dad has told me has been as well as those challenges we have faced together has motivated me to keep my grades up and try my hardest in school because one day I want to be able to give my parents what they’ve always wanted.

Ever since I was in the fifth grade I have been learning how to be a secretary, answer the phone properly and I have been translating for my dad.  Being there by my dad’s side through the process of creating this company not only have I seen my dad go through obstacles and I have lived those obstacles too. One time that I can remember of going through an obstacle was actually just last year. This moment has not been one of the worst times but I know this obstacle impacted me a lot. It happened on a Wednesday during school hours, I had gotten a message from my dad telling me a lady wanted to speak to someone who could speak english to get some information. I decided to step out from class and call her to ask what she needed help with. Without knowing that the business was family owned and worked the first thing she tells me is, “fire that wetback and get someone from here to answer that phone and pick up those cars.” I didn't know what she was talking about so I asked nicely to explain what the situation was and how I could help. She said, ¨that stupid wetback stole my car and I want it back. ¨ I tried calming her down and telling her that she was talking about my dad and that he had the proper documentation showing he had bought the car from her and not stolen it. She completely ignored me. The next thing I can remember her saying was, “ You and your dad are thieves just like all of the immigrants that come here and steal everything from us.” I hung up. She called again from a different number and said many more things that hurt to remember again. She ended calling the cops to get us in legal problems but luckily we had everything showing she was wrong and sold us that vehicle.

I am thankful to have been able to live these obstacles because thanks to these things that happened to my dad and I, I know that life keeps on going even if people do not believe in you or not wat you here at the end of the day you need to focus on making yourself a better person. You can accomplish what you desire if you put your mind to it. In order to accomplish my dreams I will take care of my education and be at school giving my full effort so one day I can tell my dad that “nunca deje el estudio y gracias a ti nunca perdí la fe que necesitaba para obtener lo que quise”. Knowing and being by his side through those obstacles I will now not let the same things get in my way. One day my dad will see I followed his footsteps and make him proud to have a daughter.