Defeating the Odds
María Luisa Villagómez Victoria
Growing up my father was rarely
around, and my mother had to
work long hours to provide for my
four sisters and me. After my parents
divorced, my mother decided that, in order to
provide for us, it was best for my sisters and
I to live with my grandmother in Mexico, so
About the Author
we moved.m
At the time, I was about 7 years old
while my youngest sister was only a baby. In the
meantime, my mother worked picking strawberries
in the fields of Oxnard, California.
During that time, my father was in and out of jail
for reasons unknown to me. As a single mom, my
mother worked and sent money to my grandmother
in Mexico to care for us. My grandmother was our
angel on earth and one of my heroes. She loved us
unconditionally.
Living away from my mother for almost eight
years was one of the most difficult experiences of
my life. My sisters and I missed her very much. At
times, that memory still pains me.
Statistically, with the adversities with which life
presented me, my future should have been very
different. But I chose differently. I decided to improve
my life for me, my family and for our community and
society in general because if I’m well, so is my
community. I was determined to defeat the odds.
Nonetheless, despite not having been raised
for many years by my parents, my sisters and I had
a wonderful childhood, thanks to my maternal
grandmother. In fact, she is the inspiration behind
one of my books: My Grandma.
Farmworkers, Small Towns and My Grandma,
my recently self-published bilingual children’s books
were inspired by my childhood memories. In part,
they tell my story as a child and the story of many
children who grew up away from their parents.
Farmworkers is a tribute to the many Mexican
immigrants who work very hard and long hours in
the fields to provide for their families. It is an attempt
to highlight their love for their families, whom they
must leave back home often to care for them
and offer them a better life. It is also an attempt to
share with the world the tremendous work ethic
Farmworkers exhibit and pass on to their children.
My Grandma is an admiration for my
grandmother’s unconditional love and her
dedication of her best years to raising me and my
sisters and instilling in us simple but good values.
Ultimately, My Grandma is an honor to my
grandmother’s courage to love unconditionally.
She provided us with security; a vital
environment for all children.
Small Towns is a compilation of childhood
memories. This story takes place in many Mexican
villages and many small towns around the world. It
illustrates the daily routine of children who are raised
in small communities. Small Towns reflects how a
small, but unified community, offers a positive
environment to the well-being of our children.
While humble, the principles reflected in
my books are imperative to the well-being of
contemporary and forthcoming generations. Good
work ethic, family love, a caring and safe
environment and an optimistic attitude towards life
can take one on a journey beyond the imaginable.
Such values allowed me to defeat my odds, which I
intend to pass on to my son.
LS
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María L. Villagómez Victoria is the first Mexican-American
woman academic dean to be hired at Napa Valley College, a
Hispanic-Serving Institution. She was hired as an administrator in
2016. Currently, she is the dean of language arts, library, and social
sciences. Prior to becoming an administrator, Villagómez Victoria
graduated from several local and statewide leadership programs.
She has taught all levels of Spanish courses at NVC since 2000.
Villagómez Victoria has volunteered at various organizations and
has been a member of the board of directors of several
organizations. Villagómez Victoria earned a bachelor’s and a
master’s degree in Spanish from California State University,
Sacramento, and a master’s degree in education from Sonoma State
University. More information is available on her website at:
www.latina1blogger.com and at www.mariavillagomez.com.
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