"Now That's What I Call a Cup of Tea" by Elise B

            I have always been ambitious. Some may call me a dreamer while others may simply call me crazy. Whatever the title, I have chosen to live a life without boundaries in hopes that one day I will have a positive impact in this world. One of my many life goals is to open a nonprofit organization focused on helping women in third world countries to overcome poverty.

            Kind of crazy huh? If you are wondering why I have such a strong passion to help others that I may never meet, you would not be the first. I have gotten countless questions, sideways stares, and the infamous judgmental head-nods when I have explained my aspirations to adults and my peers.

            However, contrary to popular belief, I am inspired by my family that came before me and their stories. Growing up, I was always reminded of the many blessings and to never turn my back on my heritage. My family is from Belize (don’t feel bad if you have never heard of it). The home of my heritage is a small third world country with the population of Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga combined and can be traversed with a four hour car ride. While my humble beginnings may seem uncomfortably small, I am proud to call myself an American-Belizean. My family and their stories inspire me to work harder and dream bigger. My abuela (grandmother) for instance, has always been a great story teller and also a source of inspiration to me. We would talk for hours and simply discuss the idiosyncrasies of life, dreams, and her life.

            It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon as I sit with my abuela on the porch sipping cinnamon tea with freshly baked ‘powder buns’. My abuela, with her leathery lips and aged eyelids stares out into the pouring rain that stirs memories of days spent in the sugar cane fields of Belize. I listen intently as I know that every word is pure wisdom.

            She reminisces “The rain was pouring down in sheets and I didn’t have time to get to the hato (makeshift hut). Before I knew it I was face down in the mud again in the middle of the field and paralyzed in fear that your grandfather would see me. Two workers were sick and no replacements were available. Fire from the neighbor’s crop had spread to our field and burned our cane prematurely. If we couldn’t get this crop harvested on time, a year of hard work would be lost.

            With eight kids to feed, and six workers with families, losing our crop was not optional. To salvage our field your grandfather and I had to jump in and help. The rain prevented any work the rest of the day, it was only 2:00pm. We all piled up in the Land Rover, eight of us, wet, dirty with soot, 5 seats. The potholes from the unpaved roads made the ride home seem like an eternity.

            As we neared home we could see silhouettes of little children waiting at the window. They knew the extent of dad’s exhaustion very well and they gathered around to help him take off his rubber boots and wet socks. His contribution to this process: lying in utter defeat on a wooden chair.  

            Next was helping my eldest daughter finish the black beans, tortillas and ‘habanero machucado’ (pepper sauce) for dinner. As we worked, I thought about how a worker would tell him about how they had to retrieve me from the mud once again. The fact that a woman’s help was needed to get the job done had demolished his ego and pride. The next day I had to plea to be allowed to join them at the fields again. Begging was a small price to pay to ensure we met my oldest son’s high school tuition so that he might have a chance at an office job.

            From the kitchen, I heard grandpa get up and run to his friend’s knocking at the door. They were off again to drink the little money we had for food. I said a prayer in my head and hoped that he would remember the talk we had and come home after only one drink.”

            One thing that my grandmother and I have in common is our determination to succeed despite the doubt of others. My grandmother worked her hardest with the supplies she was given and never ceased to amaze me with her strength. At age sixty, my grandmother earned her GED. I am proud to say that this year, I will add my name to the short list of people in my family that will graduate high school and pursue a higher education.

            Hard work is engrained in my soul. Despite the doubt in people’s eyes, I am determined to succeed in helping people and making this world a better place. My life will not be defined by the boundaries set by the generations before me, but rather by my vision for a better world.