Diabetes did not Prevent a Better Future for Sonia Sotomayor

The American Dream has never been available to minority citizens as easily as it is to American-born citizens. Affirmative action was first implemented around the year 1972, however it was not widely accepted or practiced. During this time society was just getting used to including women in higher education institutions so the concept of including minorities in higher education was almost non-existent. My Beloved World, by Sonia Sotomayor shows the challenges that a first generation, Puerto Rican, lower socioeconomic female had during this time. Through her autobiography she shows the struggles she faced throughout her life, focusing on her application to college, college experience and insight into her cultural background. My Beloved

As a result, she lacked confidence in her education. She stated, “My early education did not partake of the abundant opportunities which the present day affords and which even our common schools now afford. I was never sent to any school; I was always sick.” Even though she did not attend a formal school it did not put her out of reach of a proper education (Peterson, 9).

For the first time in her life, Zora Neale Hurston found a sense of accomplishment. Not only did she get her high school diploma, but she also went to college. During a time of racial oppression and Americans returning from World War I she managed to maintain various jobs to pay for her education. Morgan Academy was just the beginning of her extensive education. Howard University and Barnard College are where she obtained her degrees.

            In addition, having a language barrier does not suit her case. The idea of “not knowing how to speak a language of my home countries is the biggest problem that I have encountered, as have many Latinos” (Raya 121-122). “Pocha” (Raya 122) is used in Mexico to describe those “who were raised on the other side of the border”. More so, “it expresses a deep-rooted antagonism and dislike…to ridicule Mexican Americans” (Raya 122).  Evidently, the failure to speak proper Mexican Spanish fall under the dislike category. Even if a Latino speaks Spanish well, “it can never be good enough” (Raya 122). Consequently, Latinos who “speak Spanish in the U.S.” (Raya 122) have a tendency “of being called “spic” or “wetback”” (Raya 122). Hence, in order to be considered “fully Latina in college, however, I must know Spanish…I must satisfy the equation: Latina [equals] Spanish-speaking” (Raya 122).

Learning Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance form, since the age of 5 has taught me perseverance and the importance of hard work —characteristics that will allow me to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a doctor. This passion for medicine parallels my early journey through dance and has been reinforced by memorable experiences along the way. One of my earliest experiences involved a childhood friend who battled a brain tumor for nearly three years before succumbing to her illness. To me, her loss was heightened by a sense of unfairness—she was too young to have been robbed of her life before she truly had a chance to live. These thoughts followed me through adolescence as my mother also began to face a variety of health problems. Seeing how much disease and pain robs an individual of their essential nature frightened me and made me feel helpless.

Her father, Juan Fernandez, was a farm worker, miner, union activist, and a state assemblyman (Ruiz & Sanchez, 2005; Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). Her mother, Alicia Chavez, was a big inspiration for Huerta and one of the primary reasons she became a feminist (Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). Alicia Chavez owned a restaurant and a 70-room hotel where she welcomed low-wage workers and their families for affordable prices. Huerta and her brother worked at the restaurant and Huerta noticed that the poor farm workers who stayed there were working very long hours for very little pay; she got motivated to improve their lives (Mendoza, 2004; Ruiz & Sanchez, 2005). Her mother was also an active member in the community as she was involved in numerous civic organizations and church activities (Garcia, 2008; Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). Huerta’s mother encouraged diversity and made culture a big part of her upbringing (Garcia, 2008; Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014) Huerta was raised in Stockton, California; an agricultural community made up of diverse working families (Garcia, 2008; Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). Through participation in various school clubs and girl scouts, Huerta reflected her mother’s activism with her involvement at Stockton High School (Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). After high school, Huerta continued her education and earned a provisional teaching credential from University of Pacific’s Delta College in Stockton (Garcia, 2008; Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). Teaching did not last very long for Huerta because she was unable to continuously see kids (mostly children of farm workers) come to school hungry and without basic necessities, such as shoes and proper clothing (Mendoza, 2004; Garcia, 2008; Dolores Huerta Foundation, 2014). This experience sparked the activist in her and she began working towards correcting economic injustice

In 1961, she won the best supporting actress in the Academy Award for her role in the West Side Story. Another example that lead to the main claim of the movie was the story of Herman Badillo. He was an orphan from Puerto Rico that arrived in New York by 1941, because his parents died from tuberculosis. He went to Haaron High and graduated from there. He became Bronx Borough President in 1966, and he made a friend with President Kennedy. He became extremely important person for the Latino society, especially Puerto Ricans, because he helped them to vote in an election. He paved a way for many Puerto Ricans to vote and he also fought against discrimination. Later in his life, he became a Congressman and he opened up a way so that all races can vote. Another evidence that support the main claim of the movie was the story of Manuel Capo. He was an immigrant from Cuba, that leave the country because of Fidel Castro. Him and his sons moved to Miami to start a small business. However, they didn’t know how to speak English, so it was hard for them at

Sotomayor was born in Bronx, New York, on June 25, 1954 to parents whom emigrated from Puerto Rico. The family, including her brother, survived on a very moderate income while living in government public housing or “the projects.” Juan, Sonia’s father, whom had only a third-grade education, was employed as tool-and die worker and her mother, Celina, worked as a telephone operator until beginning her employment as a nurse at methadone clinic. Sonia was the eldest of the two children, raised by their single mother after Juan died when Sonia was only nine years of age.

President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court justice on May 26, 2009, making Sonia Sotomayor the first Hispanic female to be nominated for higher court. Sonia Sotomayor was born on June 25, 1954. She is currently a federal judge on the U.S Courts of Appeals for a Second Circuit. If nominated she will be replacing the retiring Justice David Souter and she will also be the first Hispanic and the third female Justice. This will be a huge milestone for the Hispanic community. Looking closely into Sotomayor qualification and experience we can predict that she will most likely be approved by the Senate.

She was responsible, stood up to Trujillo, and followed her dreams to go to college and obtain a

college. Even though she might have grown up with a hard life, she fought for different ways to

Born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., she attended Wellesley College, then earning a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from Yale Law School in 1973. This hardworking presidential candidate is a woman who’s been fighting for children and families for over forty years. Someone who has provided her best works in reaching over the limits of a woman and providing millions of children with health care. This person is Hillary Clinton, and these are the only some of the biggest accomplishments she has made during her lifetime, there can and will be more if she gets voted as President of the United States of 2016-2020. She has been through many experiences in government, such as being an American lawyer and politician, U.S.

She was only 15 years old when she got pregnant with her first daughter. She decided to drop out of high school, because like many of us, we cannot handle the responsibility of a child and school. She tells us that it took her 15 years to get back in school and earn her high school diploma at an adult school in Alhambra in 1971. She mentions that what drove her to get back in school was her 15 year old daughter. Lucero didn't want her daughter to experience school, if Lucero, herself, hadn't experienced it. It is very important to for us, as parents, to always give our children the best education and to be a role model to follow. Even if it means getting back in school 15 years later. The most beautiful thing we all find here is that both, daughter and mother, were working on getting their high school diploma together. Lucero only needed 3 more classes to be able to receive her high school diploma. At the end, her daughter was very proud of her mother for achieving what many mothers

This really intelligent girl studied in Honduras, and a really nice school in her neighborhood where she met a lot of great persons, then she ended high school at Conroe High School, where she also met a lot of extraordinary persons and teachers.

When tiredness and/or laziness hits we all enjoy sitting back. The modern life was built to keep us sitting down. For example, office work, watching television, driving and school. However, what happens when your whole day consist of you sitting down? In Diabetes: Yet another reason to get out of that chair, by Jen Christensen, CNN describes all the reason you should be more active throughout the day.