A Mother’s Journey

An Interview with Esperanza Rivera

By Sofia Espinoza

What is something that you are proud of? 

I'm proud of my kids. Even though I'm a single mom, three of my kids have graduated from university. I'm proud of that. Coming to this country and learning English as a second language is hard. 

What was your childhood like? 

My childhood was hard. You probably don't see it now, and you never see it here in America, but children had to work. I started working when I was ten years old – working and going to school at the same time. I helped my grandma earn fifty pesos a day. 

What experience in your childhood shaped you into the person you are today? 

Starting to work early made me responsible. My mom and my grandma also taught me how to be a good person and be responsible. I’m now responsible for myself, my kids, and everything that I have. 

Do you wish your childhood were different? 

I think not. I think if it were different, maybe I would be a different person. I'm happy to have my life and my kids. 

What changes are you glad to see in this generation? 

Everything. The world is changing all the time. I see a lot of stuff I never imagined before. Most of the time, they are good things. 

Do you have any concerns for the next generation? 

There are a lot of concerns. We can be better people if we stay out of the stuff we aren't supposed to get involved in. I wish the new generation could do that. 

What advice would you give to the next generation? 

I want the next generation to understand that life is hard and nothing is easy. I want them to understand that it’s hard, but you can get everything you want. If you dream, you can be whatever you want to be – a teacher, a lawyer, everything. Never stop thinking about what you want or who you want to be. The most important thing is to never, never forget who you want to be. You always have to think about what you want for your life. Because dreams come true. And the more you're dreaming, the more you get it.