Stories That Carry Us: Ms. De La Cruz Family's Journey

"Even though everything was hard, at the end, there was always a main goal. Their main goal was to create a foundation for us here and give us the opportunity to fight for the American Dream." - Brianna De La Cruz

Oral traditions are stories passed down in families. They share culture, history, and lessons that last for generations. One inspiring story comes from Ms. De La Cruz, our Biliteracy Coordinator at SOAR Palmdale. It’s about her mom’s journey from Durango, Mexico to the United States to give her family a better life.

De La Cruz’s mom grew up in Durango and spoke only Spanish. She wanted to come to the US for more opportunities. Her husband was already in the US, and after waiting months, she decided to travel alone with her two little boys, both under two years old.

It was a scary journey. There were days without food, and once they only had a soda to eat. Being separated from her kids and figuring out a new country by herself was hard, but she kept going to give her family a better life. Once in the US, De La Cruz and her siblings helped teach their mom English and shared American culture at home. Together, they learned lessons from both cultures.

De La Cruz shared how learning about her mom’s journey has made her appreciate all the sacrifices her parents made. She talked about helping her mom learn English, going to her citizenship classes, and being there when she became a US citizen. Passing this story down to her siblings and now to the next generation helps keep the family history alive and teaches the importance of hard work, persistence, and valuing the opportunities her parents fought for.