I’m a senior at Westwood. The talk in Arizona about changing the constitution could really impact me.

My sister and I both work to support our family. We can work because we were born here. I work as a cook, and I’ve already enrolled at Gateway Community College for their Toyota program so I can become a Master Auto Tech. Although it’s becoming harder and harder to go to school and work at the same time, my family comes first.

I know my dad would do the same thing for us if he were allowed to work legally, but he and my mother are here illegally, so it is hard for them to find jobs.

People sometimes think I’m white because of my green, blue, and hazel eyes. Two years ago, my dad came to the Westwood office to take me out of class, but they didn’t believe I was his son, so she asked him for a state ID. My dad said, “I don’t have to show you anything; That’s my son, so that’s that.” But they did not believe him until security came for me and took me to an office and I was able to tell them that he was my dad.  My dad got mad that day. I will never forget that.

I want to go to Gateway to take the auto program because I want to become a Master Tech and become famous, like the drivers and mechanics in the custom car magazines. I want to both work on custom cars and race them. I love to race; it’s my passion. It’s like time passes by and there’s nothing in the world that can stop you, and all your problems and worries go away.

But my dad said that he doesn’t want me to become a mechanic like him. He wants me to become a doctor or banker. I told him “No!” I told him I wanted to become a  better mechanic than him. “I don’t want to drink and do stupid stuff like you did in the past; I will become something better than you,” I told him. I’m just a normal person, but I’m reaching for my goals. Wait. — not my goals, my destiny!

To help my family, I work at a care center as a cook. It’s pretty cool and I like my job. I also do auto body work with my dad. It's fun and interesting to do, and you get lots of money for doing body work and painting cars. I love cars because of my dad and my Grandfather. My grandfather was a mechanic and my dad does some engine work as well as the auto body. I want to continue the tradition so it’s getting better by every generation.

Both of my jobs are easy once you get the hang of it. The only bad thing about working is that I go to work every day after school, either as a cook or doing auto repairs. Then on weekends, I work both jobs. I cook until 2 pm and then do auto body. So I never get time for myself to hang out or be with my girl or friends. The good part about working is that I have my own car, so I don’t have to take the bus or need any other transportation. I was also able to do my own work on my car so it has a custom-paint job and engine. 

Of course the main reason I work is to help my family. My mom used to work when I was in ninth grade, but that was when my dad had to go to jail because he had not paid old traffic tickets. I was too young to go to work and help then, and we ended up losing our house. We were able to go to court and get back the money we had put into the house, so we were able to buy another house.

Even though we lost everything, I learned that if you fight for the things you want in life, you will get it, and good things can happen to you. Even though it's hard, I've learned I have a lot of things to value in life. I know my family cares for me, and I love them. That makes me stronger from the inside out.