My first tear was shed in Mexico, but my first steps were taken on U.S. soil and I became a United States citizen at the age of 14. I am a divorced mother of four children, ages 19, 17, 10 and 9 years old. I am also an Army Veteran, that proudly served my country for four years. My mother raised my three bothers and I alone with little to no help from family members. I come from a proud Mexican culture and our native language is Spanish. Proper Spanish was only to be spoken around my extended family and especially the elders