My mom has always worked the night shifts at carpet mill. It has been 15 years. She goes out at 10 pm and comes back at 7 am. She’s been doing that so that she could see us go to school and come back from school — instead of us possibly going out, doing drugs and stuff. She tells me all these stories from work. She says it’s all worth it because we can afford clothes, house, and food. She’s a good example. When I first got my job, I had self doubts about my work ability, but my mom always set a good example for me to follow. It shows, people respect you more if you work hard in life than just getting a degree on a piece of paper. Same thing with my dad. He’s a construction worker. I apply those principles of not taking short cuts and working hard. I am not afraid to sit down and work on something, and just keep at it. Some students give up after first five minutes, but for me, I’m gonna do it until I get it right.”

What are some challenges that you face while living in America?

Being a minority in a majority white school. That’s definitely a challenge. Especially being a hispanic at UGA, you don’t see a lot of students. Moreover, the Hispanics that you do see are usually construction workers.

What are some racial stereotypes that people make of you?

There is always this stereotype that I will have an accent and that I won’t be able to speak proper English. Also, people assume that Hispanic people are always encroaching on the government — such as food stamps — but that’s not true. Oh and also, they think that I am not educated or most hispanic students don’t go to college. Especially the first generation hispanics; there is this gap between the first generation versus the later ones who were born in the U.S.

When was the moment that you truly felt discriminated because you were a “minority?”

When I went to pre-law advising at UGA. My advisor insinuated that I am a minority trying to go to law school. I told her that I wanted a 170 score on the LSAT. She said that it was a big goal and that I should not expect it. I felt that my ethnicity lowered her expectation towards me.

When people were racist towards you, how do you feel and what do you do?

Well first, it kinda gets to me. But then it’s sort of like you have to remind yourself that no one is giving you things. You got to work and earn it yourself. I’ve always loved and expected hard work. People are afraid of hard work is what I’ve noticed.

What are some of the challenges you and your family experience as immigrants in America?

Family wise, this applies more to my parents, the language barrier. For me personally, trying to meet family’s expectations knowing the sacrifices that my parents have made. It’s sort of like — [thinks for awhile] it’s never easy for any family. They come here and start new. Trying to readjust to new cultures, living, and stuff, so parents have these expectations of you.

What are some of the problems you see among immigrant families?

It’s more of trying to get college education and understand the process of how college works; such as knowing how scholarships, financial aid, and etc. works. They don’t see college as a viable option. Parents and families have hard time understanding the ways society works with college education because they’re so focused on hard labor all the time.

If you could give an advice for immigrants, what would it be?

Invest everything in the youth — your children. Don’t try to be their friends and be strict on them. If they want to go out late at night, don’t let them. Keep them on track and let them know that education is important. Don’t lose sight of goal.

What should Americans do to stop racism — particularly against immigrants?

They need to learn more about other cultures. They need to learn the both sides of cultures. They need to know how hard it is to adapt to a new place and culture. There are certain habits and things that they will do because it’s accustomed to their traditional cultures — so, it will take longer to adapt and understand.

What are your thoughts on those who believe that immigrants should be deported?

I thought about this a lot. Honestly, immigrants don’t really care what Trump or others say because they’re so busy trying to get food on their tables. Hispanic or migrant workers don’t have time for boycotts because they know at the end of the day, that if they protest or sacrifice their work, their families won’t be able to eat. They could care less as long as their families are fed and are out of trouble. Someone has to get the “dirty jobs” done, which majority of the immigrants do. Like crops, no Americans want to work picking tomatoes with low minimum wage.

Most importantly, what makes you happy?

When I tell my mom that I’ve done well in school, and I could tell that she’s happy. With all the things that she has sacrificed, it’s worth it to work hard. That’s why I work my ass off.