Summary Of ' Playing Until Death '

My grandfather Frailan Sendejo’s father Gregorio Sendeja would take him to work in the fields every summer. So, just like his father, my grandfather got married and had my father Enrique Sendejo and worked in the fields every summer just like they did with him. My father said to me “My dad and I went to multiple states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.” (Sendejo) It was tough for my father because he never got to go to a full year of school, he had to leave during the school year and then come back late in the next school year. My father told me “Some summers were harder than others because I would go on a bus to another state and work without my parents to pick cucumbers.” (Sendejo) He also said ”I had to walk on my knees all across the fields and back to help support my family, and I would only get paid $40 for the day.” (Sendejo) When he went back to Crystal one year he went to school and met my mother Gina Sendejo. My father was going to have to leave to the fields again, so my mother decided to go with him. Though, after a few years they decided to stop migrating up North to focus on their careers and family. I never realized how difficult it was for my father to get to be the person he is today, but I’m glad that he and my mother brought me to where I am today, so I can continue to share their

On top of this, my parents always specifically looked up to me for being a leader in the house. The reason for this is, my parents knew very little English, and needed assistance with almost everything they would do. Also, I am the first child; the child that has to fall and learn from the mistakes without any older siblings advice or wisdom. Because of this, I make sure that once I learn the most efficient and effective ways of doing tasks, I then pass it down to my younger siblings. I make sure that they learn from my mistakes and accomplishments, while doing my best to lead them in the right direction to attain

This is an incredible story about a young Mexican boy who went through so much to achieve something he never thought he would. The tragedy of his infant sister’s death and an economic crisis in 1970s made him take this life changing chance – to cross the border to the United States. His cousin used to tell him that he would spend all his life working in the fields, Quinones-Hinojosa was ready to accept his fate, he did not know English language, did not have working permit, what else could he expect? So he started working in the fields, picking fruits and vegetables, pulling weeds until his hands were bleeding, hands that perform brain surgeries today. He discovered that being a poor immigrant without an education in a foreign country will make people treat you differently. At this point in his life, he decided to prove to

As a child I faced many difficulties that most children at my age would never face, but in order to understand my story you must first understand my background. I was born in Mexico City, Mexico at the age of four my mom made an incredibly important decision that wouldn’t only affect her, but also me as her son. My mom, Rosalia, made the decision to move out of her country that she had grown up in, and the country that I had begun my life in, in order to move to the United States so that her son could not only be with his mother, but also his father. At that age I didn’t think much of it, but today I sit here and respect the decision that my mom made at that time, and appreciate the amount of courage and strength that it took my mother to make

My family and I have been through a lot together, we’ve been through everything that a family should not have to go through but here I stand, in one piece. Without the help of my fellow family members, I don’t know how I would have coped. But I have come out of the whole situation older, wiser and much more

Living in the United States wasn’t any easier for my dad. Having no parents meant he had no permanent home. He lived with his sponsors that helped him come to the United States. My dad knew very little english and was enrolled into high school. There he and many Hmongs were discriminated by other students. After graduating High School my dad received his first job where he worked for minimum wage. Even though having a job my dad still had no permanent home. He moved in with his uncles that treated them poorly. My dad had to sleep in an attic that had a broken window in the harsh Minnesota winter. That night it was twenty below zero and my dad had three thick blankets on still struggling to stay warm. After thirty long years our family has came a long ways. Today we are fulfilling the American dream in the natural state of Arkansas.

Have you ever struggled so much, that you just want to give up? Well, a lot of Immigrants had this problem, and constantly they had to say, “ Don’t be afraid to start over.” and the Immigrants did. Esperanza Ortega from Pam Munzos Ryan’s Esperanza Rising, has to say this too. Esperanza had to leave her rich, Mexican, home (because of a fire), and and had to move to California as an Immigrant. While Esperanza began life with no worries, as she got older, she had to deal with strikers, and her deadly Mama’s sickness.

From a very young age, I contended with countless setbacks, but the vitality placed on our income at home was the leading factor to my family’s problems. I remember when my parents chose to buy me a new pair of running shoes over paying the electricity bill or when they stayed up all night making tamales to sell so they could afford to pay for medical bills. There never went a month without my parents constantly arguing over the monthly rent or not having enough to buy groceries for the family. I grew up with five siblings in addition to two cousins who were sent from Mexico by their parents and placed under the legal guardianship of my parents. Naturally, learning to adapt to unfortunate circumstances was not rare and I quickly understood

I was born in Merida, Mexico. That special day my father was in prison, he would leave our family by my fourth birthday. It would take me eight years to reunite with him in America. With two sisters and a single mother, I became the man of the house at a young age. Neither of my parents finished a high school education. I held my first job at age seven cleaning windshields at stoplights for any available change, in an effort to alleviate my mother’s burdens. My life experiences have taught me resiliency, hard work, and determination.

There was a lot of stress in my family because it is always chaotic and troublesome, because of the jobs my family and I had to work. When my mom came to America, she strived to attain a better life. She worked multiple jobs with low minimum wages to become where she is today. My mother had come to America after the Vietnam War, which she experiences many problems facing racism to see the realization of the “American Dream.” For her, the “American Dream,” was to be grateful for what she has and to live another day with blessings like food and

I was raised in a close-knit family household, which has left me with great memories and many stories, but I have also had first hand experience the troublesome transition of Mexican immigrant parents to America. However, the trajectory my of success my parents have had without any resources has encouraged and impacted me greatly to go out and help those in need, because everyone has the potential of greatness. Even though I didn't always have the dolls, clothes, home, or shoes I wanted, I was too busy to mind, because school academics and dance have been a passion of mine since I was smaller; it fills my heart with joy every time I am part of these things. Besides, having two brothers made everyday something special, and I still love taking

Everything that my family has provided just makes realize even more of how fortunate I am. In Peru, I lived in a small neighborhood full of poverty and despair. I went to a small private school that was two blocks away from my house. I was raised by my mother for eleven years of my life while my father was here in America working really hard to sustain us. Moreover, my life in Peru wasn't the greatest because of the circumstances I was living in but I was happy and very lucky to have what I

You see some of my family are immigrants. I had two uncles that were deported back to Mexico. It’s really sad to watch them getting taken away. Knowing that you're probably not going to see them for a long time. I remember one of my uncles gave me this spinning top. You had to wrap a rope around the top and through it on the ground to make it spin. I always ask for help, I would say “uncle come help me” then he’ll

They all have kids making me an aunt of 6 nieces and 2 nephews. For me being an aunt is like being a mother. I’ve learned to care for them and nurture them as if they were my kids. I always try my best to set a good example. Pushing my older nieces to their limits is important simply because as a child I never had the help of my siblings in school nor my parents since they didn’t speak fluent English, understanding my homework was as hard for them as it was for me. My parents arrived to this country at young age from Colombia. Not knowing one English word, but that didn’t stop them. They had responsibilities and the hope of one day living the American dream. My parents have lived in Queens ever since. If it wasn’t for my parent’s decision to arrive to this country where would I be now? Would I have had the opportunity to sit in your classroom? Maybe not. So I’m grateful for what I have and what I’ve learned and proud of who I am now thanks to the courage of my parents leaving their family to begin their

At a young age, my parents were always working day and night shifts to provide for their family so I had to take care of my two younger siblings. This was my responsibility being the oldest sibling in my family. I vividly remember despising looking after my siblings because I would rather go outside to play with my own friends instead. I always complained to my mother of how looking after my brother and sister was so boring and nobody would ever want to do it out of their free will. I also loathed when my brother and sister would always cry because I would never have understood why. This frustrated me because I believed they cried for no reason. Every time they cried I would get impatient and yell at them to stop.