Francisco Acuna stands near a water fountain 0

Looking at both sides of immigration debate

“I’m a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents migrated here when they were teens for a better life, better job opportunities. It really worked out well for them. My mom works for a veterinarian and my dad works construction, installing ceramic floor tiles,...

Madilyn Lawrence sits with her laptop computer 0

Perseverance helps student overcome deafness

“I was born bilaterally and profoundly deaf, which basically means that I cannot hear at all in either ear. The only reason I’m able to do this (interview) is because of a special hearing aid. If I took it out, I...

Painting of an orangutan 0

‘Kindness of strangers really does go a long way’

“Sometimes on Facebook you get to be friends with people you’ve never met in person. Loving art, I met this lady from Tacoma, Washington, named Michelle Osborne. “She would post pictures showing the progression of her paintings. As I sat up...

Glenda George stands on fishing pier 0

Cancer, age work against her when job hunting

“Me and my brothers took care of our parents before they died. They were both in their 50s. It was tough to watch them deteriorate. They didn’t have all the money in the world, and they had to spend loads on...