My story is similar to many first-generation, low-income, Latino students who come from working class, Immigrant Communities and who attend underserved and underresourced public schools. But only in America could a Mexican-American kid who grew up in a low-income, working-class community, south of the railroad tracks, the oldest residential area in the City of Ontario (Mexican Barrio), achieve his dream of a doctoral education. I am indebted for life to many people who supported and encouraged me throughout this journey.

          My grandfather, Jose Cordova Sandoval, was a Mexican citrus farm worker who came to this country in 1916. He was from a small, rural town named Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico. He migrated to the U.S. legally because there was NO "Illegal Immigration" prior to the 1920's. His first job in the U.S. as a young man was in Douglas, Arizona. He worked as a laborer in the copper mines for a short time. He eventually moved to California and settled in the small town of Ontario, California. He was a hard worker and eventually earned enough money to buy a small property in the oldest residential area of Ontario (the "Mexican Barrio") My grandfather had no formal education and was a monolingual Spanish speaker. He worked as a citrus farm worker picking fruit the majority of his adult life. My grandfather followed many "Paisanos" and family relatives who came from rural villages in Jalisco, Mexico. He was part of the mass wave of Mexican nationals who came to the U.S from 1910–1920, fleeing persecution and impoverished living conditions.

          My grandmother, Teodora "Lola" Gonzalez, was from the same small, rural town, formally known as "Las Bocas" or "Huajucar", in Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico. They married and had 8 children, the oldest, Lupe, Salvador, Rafael, Felipe, Manuel, Jose, Elodia, and Rosa, were born in Ontario, California. Three of my grandparent's sons served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. My grandfather and his Paisanos helped build the first Roman Catholic Church, "Our Lady of Guadalupe Church," in the "Mexican Barrio" in Ontario, California, in the 1940's.

          My father, Manuel Gonzalez Sandoval, was born in 1924 in Ontario. He was born in the Mexican Barrio in Ontario along with all of his siblings. He was a World War II Veteran and Korean Conflict Veteran. He was drafted in 1942 at the age of 18 and served courageously and valiantly in the U.S. Army. As a Military Policeman, his tour of duty included Palermo, Sicily, in the Italy Campaign under General Patton. His first job after he returned from military service was as a skilled laborer. He was the second Mexican American hired at the General Electric Corporation for a flat iron plant in Ontario, California. My uncle Ralph Sandoval was the first Mexican American ever hired by General Electric Corporation flat iron plant in Ontario, California. My father Manuel worked for G.E. Corporation as a skilled laborer for 35 years. He worked there his entire life until 1982 due to a plant closure and transfer of the G.E. Corporation Flat Iron Plant operation to Singapore, Asia. The G.E. Corporation plant shutdown displaced hundreds of workers and caused economic uncertainties for many working-class families during that time. My father was forced to retire as skilled laborer.

          My mother, Maria Manuela "Nellie" Perez Sandoval, was born in 1924 in East Los Angeles and raised in the small rural village known as Cieneguitas de Fernandez, Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico. She had no formal education and was illiterate. She returned to the U.S. in 1950 to live with a great uncle Jose Bermudez and his family in a small, country village of Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga, California. My mother's great-uncle was also a citrus farm worker. She lived there for 11 years with her uncles and cousins. My mother recanted her life story that was etched in my memory as a child, she said she felt "adopted" by this beautiful family who loved and cared for her very much. My mother was also a monolingual Spanish speaker whose first job was as a babysitter for the wealthy Italian Citrus Farm Owner Family in Etiwanda in those days. Her second job was as a laborer packing fruit at the Lemon Growers Association Packing House in Upland, California. She met my father at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Ontario, California in 1960. In July 1961, my father and mother married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga, California. They lived in Ontario, California.

          I was born in Upland, California, at San Antonio Community Hospital, the only hospital in the area at the time. My sister Marianne also born there 5 years later. She has been a Middle School Resource Specialist/Teacher Assistant for the Ontario-Montclair School District for 30+ years. I was 18 years old when I started my first year in college as an Educational Opportunity Program student at Cal Poly Pomona University. I graduated from Chaffey High School and De Anza Junior High in Ontario. I am an alumnus of the Ontario-Montclair Elementary School District. I am a product of the public school system, similar to many of today's first-generation, low-income, Latino students. I recall having to take remedial education in English and Math my first year of College. On top of that, I also struggled and suffered from low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence coupled with an identity crisis. The Educational Opportunity Program at Cal Poly Pomona provided tutoring, counseling, mentoring, and support services to make it possible for me to complete a college education.

          There were many factors that influenced my success. Along the way, I had many mentors and professors that believed in my potential and guided me in my journey. Another key factor was discovering the richness and beauty of my ethnic background. This engraved in me the true sense and meaning of the words, "Familia, Leadership, and Pride!" Looking back on my experience as a first-generation, low-income Educational Opportunity Program student, the key to my success was having family and academic support and relentless determination.