11

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'Grandpa, why did so many people bring you presents?
Why are you so Iamous? I want as many Iriends as you
when I grow up!
Luisito`s inquisitive words Irom the party lodged
themselves in Don Mario`s mind. He resolved to share
his experience and wisdom with Luisito and his other
grandchildren. LiIe had given him important keys to
their Iuture happiness and success. He desired to teach
them the best way to live.
No one gave Mario a roadmap to liIe when he was
young. His Iather died much too early. His mother`s
guidance, though inspiring, was more spiritual than
practical. She could do little to prepare him Ior the
diIfcult cultural transition ahead. His wisdom came Irom
real-liIe experience and keen observation. It was a frst-
hand education paid Ior in sweat, tears, and dedicated
work.
Don Mario remembered himselI as an eighteen year
old. He knew so little then! He had no notion oI the
adventures ahead. The choices he Iaced would lead him
to places unimagined in his wildest dreams.
12
13
His mother`s death leIt him with Iew reasons to
remain in Mexico. He and his brothers were orphaned.
They needed money to survive and had no way oI earning
it at home.
The promise oI decent wages in the United States
propelled his decision to leave. His brothers, still young,
stayed behind with relatives. Don Mario would send
money back as soon as possible. OI course, there was
no guarantee he would make it to the border - much less
get across. Even iI he did, there was no way to ensure
he could fnd a job. Truly, there were no guarantees on
this exodus.
He Iound a traveling partner in Ruben, his trusted
childhood Iriend. Practically brothers, they had played
together as little boys. Though the details oI Ruben`s
home situation diIIered Irom Mario`s, their motivations
were nearly identical. Both were hungry. Both had to
care Ior their Iamily. Both were desperate Ior a real
Iuture.
Together, Ruben and Mario made the arduous trek
across the border. The young men endured hardship upon
hardship as they pressed north. Harsh weather bore down
on them. They went without water Ior days through the
arid desert, twice passing ragged, dried corpses oI others
who had succumbed to the heat. Thieves tried to steal
their backpacks. Hunger challenged their determination.
By the time Ruben and Mario reached CaliIornia, the
two young men were utterly distressed.
14
Eventually, Iriends steered them to the orange groves
north oI Los Angeles to the rural town oI Filmore -
where they Iound work as laborers on a ranch. They
arrived destitute and Iamished. Their money and Iood
was gone. Ranch wages were low, but to Ruben and
Mario it was like striking gold. Their starting pay was
ten times what they could make in Mexico. The long
journey was over and they Ielt glad to be employed.
Previous work experience didn`t prepare Mario and
Ruben Ior the intense labor on a commercial ranch.
Mario`s sore muscles nearly paralyzed him aIter just one
day. His hands, arms, legs, and back reverberated pain.
Reaching and bending all day under the hot sun leIt him
exhausted.
But other men worked so hard it encouraged Mario
to gut it out. He remembered what his mother used to
say.
'Alwavs show a good face to bad weather.`
The words gave him determination to continue. He
applied the principle to every obstacle he Iaced.
The frst week was excruciating. Mario`s body
protested the harsh work. The aIternoon sun burned his
skin and sucked his strength. Thorns cut his fngers and
hands. Dust made it diIfcult to breathe. Sometimes it
seemed impossible to pick another orange.
15
16
The two young men earned 50 cents Ior every bin
oI oranges they picked. The frst day, Ruben and Mario
collected a third oI what the other men earned. It
embarrassed them to be so Iar behind. Mario resolved
to do better.
It took months to catch up with those accustomed
to the work. Even as he improved, Mario barely made
enough Ior rent and basic Iood. Still, Mario shared what
he could with his brothers back home.
The workers lived in miserable conditions. Mario
slept on a concrete foor. A single blanket protected him
Irom the cold. They lived in close quarters with ten to
fIteen people per cabin. Sanitation didn`t exist. Mario
likened living on the ranch to camping Iull time - without
gear.
The workers bought used clothes, making them look
like vagabonds. OI course, the image was an illusion.
They worked hard and long to earn their wages and
pay their way. The harshness oI their situation stood in
stark contrast to the wealth and liIestyle oI mainstream
America.

Entire Iamilies worked the felds. Men came across
the border frst to establish a way Ior their wives and
children. On the ranch, laboring Iamilies struggled
together. They Iaced wind-chilled mornings. Icy rain
pummeled their tin-rooIed shelters at night. Some days
it rained so hard that everyone went to work soaking wet,
slipping and sliding in rivers oI mud.
17
Abuse was ever-present. Bitter, Irustrated men
treated other workers badly. They were hardest on new
arrivals those who couldn`t speak English and didn`t
know their way around. They took their anger out on
anyone vulnerable enough to accept it.
Mario Ielt compassion Ior the weak around him. He
knew their loneliness. They longed Ior a kind hand or
advice anything to help navigate the strange new world
in which they toiled. Ranch workers appeared tough and
hardened to outsiders, but in truth, most were desperate
and IearIul.
Mario never allowed Iear to deIeat him. Recalling
his mother`s perseverance and Iaith, he reIused to give in
to thoughts oI Iailure. Her memory gave him courage.
Back in his living room, the now mature Don Mario
thought about the steps he had taken on his way to
success. He recognized them as simple concepts, yet
they made all the diIIerence in determining the outcome
oI his liIe.
'Success requires dedicated, sustained work and
staying mindIul oI other peoples` needs. Don Mario
said to himselI. 'My grandchildren must set achievable,
worthwhile goals that liIt up themselves and those around
them. They must courageously persevere until their goals
are achieved. SuccessIul people never give up.
18
Mentally, Don Mario recognized Iour important keys
to success:
Set achievable, worthwhile goals.
Bury your fear of failure and
never give up.
Overcome obstacles with
dedicated, sustained work.
Show friendship and
compassion to other people.
19
1. Set achievable, worthwhile goals.
Back in Mexico, Mario clearly saw that his homeland
held no Iuture Ior him. Staying in the country he loved
would mean a liIetime oI privation. Mario set the goal
permanently in his mind: he would provide a more
comIortable liIe Ior himselI and his brothers. Their
mutual need outweighed his natural inclination to remain
at home.
The trip to CaliIornia was risky and dangerous. It
was also, undoubtedly, their best hope.
2. Bury your fear of failure and never give up.
Mario chose to bury his Iear with his mother. Fear
wore workers around him. Anxiety drowned out their
hope and stifed their reason. Mario banished Iear Irom
his being.
He swore to himselI that he would never Iall short oI
Iully achieving his goals. Once started, he was true to
his word. He courageously marched the long road out oI
poverty and never gave up.
The road started with a dangerous journey out oI
Mexico. It led to an American society that conIused
and intimidated him. He was isolated in an immigrant
subculture. He didn`t speak English and his education
was limited.
20
Many around him gave up. Some Iamilies reached
the border only to turn around. Some gave up shortly
aIter crossing. Some even quit aIter fnding employment!
Backbreaking work and homesickness overwhelmed
them.
Don Mario never turned back. Fully committed, he
provided Ior himselI and his brothers - no matter what
happened.
3. Overcome all difculties and obstacles with
dedicated, sustained work.
Mario`s mother taught him to Iace daily struggles
head on. Ignoring or avoiding problems only made them
worse. He overcame his diIfculties one at a time. He
made it to CaliIornia. He learned and mastered English.
He grew strong and productive. It took total, unrelenting
commitment to his goals. It required sustained, dedicated
eIIort.
His persistent, unstoppable drive turned a liIe without
options into one rich with opportunity.
4. Show friendship and compassion to other
people.
Mario learned the meaning oI human vulnerability
Irom his experiences in CaliIornia. His Iellow immigrants
needed one another`s support. Teamwork was vital to
their survival. This remained true Ior strong individuals
- like Mario - as well as Ior the weak.
21
Mario and Ruben`s Iriendship was Iundamental to
their success. Neither could have made it into the U.S.
without the aid oI the other. They made critical decisions
together and kept each other out oI trouble.
On the ranch, Mario saw how circles oI Iriends
provided a saIety net Ior those who Iell ill or lost jobs.
Their unity healed wounds and created comIort Ior those
hurting or in need.
Mario helped those around him. They helped him
in return. As Mario emulated the selfess love oI his
mother, liIe became more enjoyable. Adversity became
more tolerable.