Father worked hard to bring family back together

A student at Lee College, Maria Martinez is enjoying having her family all together again.

“I was about 9 years old the first time I got to see my father. Well, maybe before that, but I can’t remember because I was too young. I lived with my mom and my siblings in Mexico, and he would come there to visit us. Then he would go back here to work construction.

“I used to call him on weekends. He would tell me to just worry about school and to study hard. He said he was working so we could all have a better life. It was really hard because I wanted to be with him.

“I always loved him. I respected him. But I didn’t get a chance to know him. I didn’t know what he was really like.

“Then, almost four years ago, he finally said, ‘I think it’s time for us all to be together.’ I have six siblings, and I am the oldest. We all live together in a house my father bought.

“He still works a lot, but now we get to see each other more. At dinner we can ask, ‘How was your day?’ We are all connecting now. It’s wonderful.”

— Maria Martinez