My mother often tells me that I was her best surprise she has ever received. On an autumn evening, seventeen year old Noellia Martinez is rushed to the hospital after enjoying herself with some friends at the Clackamas Town Center Mall when suddenly her water broke. She was taken to the Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City until at 09:02 am on September 17, 1998, she birthed a son. Surround by plenty of loved ones the environment around her was energetic full of laughter and good times, yet all should could think about was holding her son, her flesh and blood, her whole world that she could easily cradle and care for.
The first few years for this new young mother wouldn’t be easy. Still only a junior in high school, a big help for her was the P.A.C.E. program that aids young mothers and couples in high school with children. There she found childcare, a lifelong friend, baby toys, clothes, and other baby essentials. Yet she wanted to be able to care for herself and her son and not feel that she’s looking for hand-outs on the way to his eighteenth birthday; so once she was ready, with her diploma, a promise of a job and some money saved, she went out on her own.
Sixteen years full of laughs, tears, nightmares, sick days, getting married, and watching her little five pound fifteen ounce baby become into the man she sees before her and she just looks in awe. Reflecting on her life and how she used to act when she was younger, she sees much of herself in her son; her smile, passion for art, drive to be the best that he can.
I’m very proud to be my mother’s son. Our close relationship makes it easy to go to her for things, whether I need her help to solve a problem, or when we’re just messing around cracking jokes at each other. In the end, I always try my best to impress her, model myself after her decision making skills, and do all I can to make her proud.
A FATHER’S SON
My (step) father has been there for a long time. Jaime Macedo, the second oldest of six from the start had responsibility to look our after his younger siblings. His youngest sister Araceli was good friends with Paula Martinez, one day he was driving with Araceli to pick up Paula at her house. He went to knock on the door where Noellia answered, he asked for Paula to come out and with her quick response that she would get her, she slammed the door in his face; it was then at that precise moment, they had met.
With some time to get to know each other since that awkward introduction, he began to have feelings for her. One day he asks her if she would like to go to a country music concert. One date after another, they had then began their relationship. A pretty big elephant in the room was how Jaime would be with Noellia’s son Anthony; he could be with her or he could be with them. His choice was to be the man she wanted and to be the father Anthony needed.
My first memory of Jaime and I was close to the age of four or five or even three (it’s one of them). I never called him by his first name, to me he was my father so I called him dad. Of course I knew that I had another father, I would often refer him my “real dad.” However he was my role model growing up, he was the one who was there to shelter me, take care of me, provide for me, play ball with me, he was the father I wanted and needed in my youth. Nowadays it is hard for us to get along, go one whole day without arguing with each other but I never consider having anyone as my true father.
I am proud to be Jaime’s son. I’m glad that he was able to have the courage to stick around to raise me and that he would never leave. I do my best to impress him and make him proud to be my father. He is the perfect father figure who never seems to run out of advice to give me. No matter what I do in life I know he’ll support me and never lose faith in me.
A MOTHER’S SON
My mother often tells me that I was her best surprise she has ever received. On an autumn evening, seventeen year old Noellia Martinez is rushed to the hospital after enjoying herself with some friends at the Clackamas Town Center Mall when suddenly her water broke. She was taken to the Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City until at 09:02 am on September 17, 1998, she birthed a son. Surround by plenty of loved ones the environment around her was energetic full of laughter and good times, yet all should could think about was holding her son, her flesh and blood, her whole world that she could easily cradle and care for.
The first few years for this new young mother wouldn’t be easy. Still only a junior in high school, a big help for her was the P.A.C.E. program that aids young mothers and couples in high school with children. There she found childcare, a lifelong friend, baby toys, clothes, and other baby essentials. Yet she wanted to be able to care for herself and her son and not feel that she’s looking for hand-outs on the way to his eighteenth birthday; so once she was ready, with her diploma, a promise of a job and some money saved, she went out on her own.
Sixteen years full of laughs, tears, nightmares, sick days, getting married, and watching her little five pound fifteen ounce baby become into the man she sees before her and she just looks in awe. Reflecting on her life and how she used to act when she was younger, she sees much of herself in her son; her smile, passion for art, drive to be the best that he can.
I’m very proud to be my mother’s son. Our close relationship makes it easy to go to her for things, whether I need her help to solve a problem, or when we’re just messing around cracking jokes at each other. In the end, I always try my best to impress her, model myself after her decision making skills, and do all I can to make her proud.
A FATHER’S SON
I’m told that I am the spitting image of my father. Very intellectual, Frank Barahona would hardly ever have to try when it came to school. His ability to become familiar with material very quickly, outstanding mathematical skills, and a photographic memory aided him in school from elementary to high school. However from influence of his closest friends and family, school wasn’t his number one priority.
For many years Frank and his brother Noe would live fun-filled lives of partying with friends and family and just enjoy every second of their waking lives. Sometime later he would meet with the “Martinez” clan, who were just as willing to party as hard as them. During that time he would meet Noellia, they hit it off and started a relationship. The relationship however would be short-lived and they broke up, seeing each other occasionally but not thinking much of it. Close to seven months after the end of the relationship, Frank heard that Noellia went into labor, and that he was the father.
Seeing his son close to his time of birth was the highlight of his day, the baby learning to play, eat, crawl, lift his legs, laugh, he was able to witness most of this. From that point on however, his presence would be spotty to absent. It was not entirely up to him, he loved his child from the second he set eyes on him and would do anything for him; but life can be cruel and distract people from their acquired responsibilities to temporary thrills and events. Once he was able to put his life back on track, he was able to try and make up for all those days he was gone. All those missed birthdays, holidays, days at the park playing basketball, and times when the maturing son would’ve needed guidance. His son was able to understand that Frank meant well and forgave him.
I’m honored to be my father’s son. Seeing his dedication to have a relationship with me after all the trials he had to endure, decisions to cut off those who weighed him down, everything he has done was to better his life and was so that he can be a role model for me. I love the time we have with each other, and I do my best to show him my worth. Everything I do is to make him proud.