My Mother, Josephine Rubio Flores, was a 10th. generation Tejana (Texan) whose ancestors settled in San Antonio in the 1700’s before it was part of the USA. My Mother was a very strong woman who grew up during a time when women, especially minority women, were not appreciated or respected as others. She worked 2-3 jobs to help our Father provide for us and to pay for our small home. I believe that when my Mother lost her parents and 5 siblings in an accident that only made a her a stronger person. Because of her constant encouragement for us not to have to work as hard as she and for us to educate ourselves we have lived the “American Dream”. Five of us children have university degrees and our children have also educated themselves. Of 23 immediate family members, 17 have degrees! Mother was a huge influence in our lives!