Untitled Poem by Helen Sanchez

I wake up in the morning and the sun brushes my face 

As I welcome another day full of dreams left to chase

The further you go the prouder we’ll be

Were the words that my parents said to me

Moments that had been mentioned from the moment  of my birth

Academics and success all defining my worth

From the moment I enrolled and started school 

Stay strong, be brave, and don't falter was my number one rule

My parents who had nothing, left everything for me 

My blood sweat and tears would one day set us free 

My journey as a student started at the age of four

Kindergarten was the first battle of a long and hard war

While other kids could go outside and play

My homework was to practice the english language every day

“Como que no sabes” was the common phrase 

Pushing myself till failure just to gain my parents’ praise 

The years went on..the world began to unveil

The ugly truth…the opposite of a fairy tale

The gilded truth of the american dream

Hopes followed by disappointment became a common theme

We were their only hope, two sons and two daughters

As my parents spirits each day would get slaughtered

I lost my innocence at a very young age

Became an adult and from my childhood had to disengage

At the age of seventeen I finally had to leave 

Go out into the world..I had a list of dreams to achieve

As I packed my bags, i noticed the weight

The weight of all my emotions leaving me in a hopeless state

Guilt ate me up and obliterated my soul

I was missing my parents, a part of my whole

Was I going too far and leaving them behind?

Or was this all part of the plan God had designed?

The tears that they have shed and the words that have been said

Are the fuel that gets me out of my bed and thrusts me into life full speed ahead

Their sacrifices are endless

So my effort must be tremendous 

Turn their dreams into reality

Turn success, stability, and hope into normality

My parents left Mexico with nothing but dreams on their back 

And would one day soon wrap me in the american flag

They passed their american dream down to me 

Praying on a future that was not guaranteed

Now, on the eve of graduation I stand

Knowing that one day I will have a diploma and white coat in my hand

Sleepless nights and waves of tears all coming to fruition 

The culmination of the longest expedition 

Being a first generation student the journey seems unending

Put a smile on your face, act like you’re ok, and master the art of pretending

While your parents are locked in a golden cage

You spread your wings and take center stage 

but the moments you feel like you are flying away

are indicative of good times coming your way

“the further you go, the prouder we’ll be”

those words tattooed on my heart, finally set my parents free