Leaving Mexico in Search of Big Dreams
This is Part 2 of a multi-part series. Guest writer Stacey Robles, DEI Program Manager at The Greater Des Moines Partnership, wrote this narrative. She tells of her family's immigration from Mexico to Chicago to Des Moines. It’s a story of sacrifice and big dreams for their future.
My parents are from Mexico. My dad, Ezequiel, is from Durango, and my mom, Esmeralda, is from Morelos. My dad grew up in a large agricultural family. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a homemaker. He’s one of twelve siblings and one of the middle children. Because of my grandparents’ financial struggles, my dad had to leave school after third grade to help support the family. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager with his brothers. My mom, on the other hand, comes from a smaller, city-based family. She’s the oldest of two siblings. Her mother worked as a midwife in a hospital, and her father was a police officer. My mom graduated from high school and started college but couldn’t finish due to financial challenges. She was in her early twenties when she and her brother made their move to Chicago for a better future for themselves and to help support their families back home.
I’m the oldest of four siblings, though I often joke that my brother, Jose, and I are twins because we look so much alike. In reality, all of us are four years apart. Jose and I were born in Chicago, while our two younger sisters, Kate and Samantha, were born in Des Moines. My dad is an extrovert who can strike up a conversation with anyone, while my mom is quieter and more introverted. Jose is also an extrovert who loves spending time with family and friends. He is a high school science teacher. Kate teaches elementary English language learners and is quiet and shy but opens up when she finds common ground with others. Samantha, the youngest, is an observer who stays reserved until she feels comfortable. She is studying at Iowa State University and is double majoring in Biology and Animal Ecology. My siblings would describe me as driven, self-motivated, reliable, and extroverted in certain settings, though I tend to be quieter overall.
After immigrating to the US, both of my parents ended up in Chicago. It’s where my parents met, started their family, and created opportunities they might not have had otherwise. I was in third grade when my parents decided to leave Chicago and move to Des Moines. Chicago had been my parents’ home for ten years, and during that time, our extended family grew as more relatives immigrated to the city. While Chicago held so much for us, my parents eventually made the difficult decision to leave. They wanted better opportunities for our family and a safer environment for their kids. The high crime rate in our neighborhood was a big factor. They dreamed of a place where we could play outside without fear and grow up in a more peaceful setting. Before choosing Iowa, my parents considered moving to Texas but ultimately fell in love with Des Moines. They liked that Iowa had all four seasons, and Des Moines offered the perfect mix of a city feel with a quieter pace than Chicago. My dad had a relative living here who spoke highly of the city, which encouraged my parents to visit. Once they did, they knew it was the right place to start the next chapter of our lives.
After we moved to Des Moines, my parents worked hard. My dad had two jobs and my mom worked overnight shifts. When I was younger, I didn’t fully understand why they couldn’t always be at my school events or why we couldn’t afford books or trinkets at the Scholastic book fairs. But now, I see that they worked so hard to make sure we had the chance to further our education. My parents also worked incredibly hard to learn English. When we moved from Chicago to Des Moines, we didn’t speak English. I grew up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood where Spanish was spoken everywhere. My elementary school was even taught in Spanish, with just an hour a day for learning English. But once we moved to Des Moines, it became clear how important English was. I watched my parents struggle as they navigated systems they didn’t understand in a language they were still learning. As I picked up English at school, my parents worked alongside me, learning too. Their resilience is something I truly admire. They’ve faced so many challenges head-on and fallen down at times, but always found a way to get back up, shake it off, and keep going. Their strength, determination, and resiliency are qualities I deeply admire.
After moving to Des Moines my parents worked in the food industry for a long time until ultimately becoming entrepreneurs. They were able to utilize everything they had learned about the restaurant business to eventually launch their own successful business.
We moved to Melcher-Dallas when my parents finally got the chance to make their dream of owning a restaurant a reality. My siblings and I worked there on weekends, either waiting tables or cleaning. On weekdays, we went to school, came home, did our homework, and finished our chores. Working alongside our parents instilled a strong work ethic that we’re all deeply grateful for. It made us appreciate the effort our family put in every day, not just at the restaurant, but also from how much they poured into our home. Since moving to Iowa, my dad has always had a garden and a small plot of land. Every day, before or after work, we’d watch him tend to it. My mom, on the other hand, has always loved home projects. She was constantly fixing things and turning our house into a home.
When I was younger, I didn’t always understand why my parents were constantly working. At times, I resented that they didn’t spend as much time with us as my friends’ parents did. But as I got older, I realized they were sacrificing their time to give us the opportunities they never had. Seeing their dedication made me value hard work and earning my own money.
In high school, I was the only Latina in my class, as my family was the Mexican family in town. One challenge I faced was that my classmates didn’t always understand why I pushed myself so hard academically. I graduated a semester early, and many of them questioned why I was taking college-level courses instead of adding study halls to my schedule. At the time, it was hard for me to explain my family’s background and why I was so determined to take advantage of every opportunity.
After I graduated from college, I took on both a full-time and part-time job. I loved the service industry and stuck with it for fun. Once I started graduate school, I shifted my focus to my studies and my full-time job. My position as DEI Program Manager at the Greater Des Moines Partnership keeps me involved with the community. In my spare time, I spend my time giving back to my community and supporting organizations I’m passionate about. I currently serve on three Boards of Directors and have loved connecting with other community members.
Over the years, my parents have owned three restaurants. They currently own Bernardo’s Burritos in downtown Des Moines and focus much of their time on growing their business and finding work-life balance.
Growing up, my parents made a lot of sacrifices. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that the biggest sacrifice they made was the time they lost with us as we grew. I watched my parents sacrifice everything to give us a better future and opportunities they never had.
The Iowa Writer’s Collaborative
What an inspiring story! Thank you, Stacey, and thanks to you, Jane, for sharing it with us.