Reserving Culture
By Rocio Robles
I
t was a cloudy Saturday morning and loud rumbles of echoing thunder vibrated along the bleachers as thundering 15 year olds trampled the football field. A short 5’4, woman with long black hair, cheer for the team that approached the field. Her name is Rosa Laos, Rosa was cheering for her son’s team the lions as they made their way down the crowded lane that led towards the field, the Lions were close to beating the Bulldogs. When her son crashed into his opponent and trampled him to the ground, Rosa would be right there in the moment:
“No, foul! Mark the other team, come on referee!” Her voice caused a ripple effect, causing even the quieter moms to join in. This is not Rosa’s typical demeanor; usually she, too, is quiet and reserved. However, like a thermometer she can spike when the weather gets hot. If Rosa’s clients begin to flounder in their business, as they receive the pink slip that their business is going to close, Rosa would be right there in the heat of the action to establish peace, and order for her clients. As a business consultant for latino restaurants, Rosa uses strategic methods to guide
her clients into the right path by informing them certain documentations; such as documentation of citizenship. With that information in mind, and her direct attitude to inform her clients directly, latinos begin their path to a successful future. The problem in today’s society is that most latino immigrants who come to the U.S don’t have the educational support to help them start or continue their business. Mexico is suffering from government issues that cause educational conflicts with Latino families. U.S. Passports & International Travel states that the “Mex-
1
ican government has been often struggle to maintain engaged in an extensive their businesses because effort to counter organized they are uneducated about criminal groups that engage the common laws as well in narcotics trafficking and as federal laws that apply to other unlawful activities maintaining a good busithroughout Mexico.” ness. Most immigrants who come to the U.S have not completed their full four years in high school “Don’t make it impossior even middle school; “Mexico’s education ble,make it posibble” has many challenges such as lack of a clearly-defined educational model(teachers), the role For many latino immigrants of the Unions, level of sofeel as though they are recial engagement and parent luctant to ask for help when involvement”. According it comes to issues such as to “Education in Mexico,” starting a business. Rosa many immigrants who move applies the same passion she to the U.S may only have an uses to manage her chaotic educational level of a 5th family in her advocacy for grader. Latino immigrants the latino community. Rosa
has noticed the downfall of many struggling latino business, and each one of her clients remain uneducated about the rules and strategies for maintaining a good business. Rosa aids her clients by educating them about the rules of a good business. Born in Peru, but raised in the Big Apple, Rosa grew up without her parents’ involvement in social activities at school. Growing up with her family was a struggle because most of their time would be taken by work, making it harder for them to come to Rosa’s school events. Rosa grew up being a translator for her parents and the English world because of the language. She wanted
to live a better life for herself and to prove to herself and to others who doubted her that she would be a success in the world. At age 17, Rosa packed her bags and left home to pursue a career. She was planning to go to a university or college in New York, but unfortunately declined that dream living her own would be too expensive. After a few years of earning enough to apply to a college, Rosa finally achieved her goal. During her late 20’s, she went to San Jose City College while raising her first son, Carlos Laos. It was a struggle for Rosa to go to college and to take care her first born. She eventually received her Association of Science and Arts.
ty, teaching them, guiding them towards a better education for all the students in that charter high school. She continued to teach for a certain amount of time, but eventually switched careers as a restaurant consultant. Currently trying to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource, and Business, Rosa is trying to push her career further into the business world, while making a difference in her community with her family.
steps to maintain a good business, such as starting a financial statement. Just like her how she addressed her son carlos, Rosa knows what she needs to ask, and help her clients, like she addressed her son.
During the time she spent with Carlos at the Round table, Carlos thought he could sneak some soda to the table. Rosa immediately changed temperature, “I warned you, if you get a migraine again it’s your fault!”Rosa was making orders Carlos slunk back with a for her friends and family guilty look in his eyes, and to the round table cashier. brought back a cup of lemwhile doing so she immeonade instead. Rosa may be diately told her son Carlos surprising at times, yet it Laos that. “Carlos I don’t is good that she advocates want you drinking any soda, her clients about conseor eating any hot sauce. quences in their mistakes. It will give you migraine Her clients,employees are Before she went into again.” Carlos did not disone example, “Sometimes consultation, Rosa taught agree, although he pleaded employees misbehave.. to in a in a High School Char- that he should at least have them there is no motivation, ter School. She recalls, “... It some meaty, greasy topthere’s lack of motivation was half youth, 15-18 years pings on his pizza. Rosa within the company, within old, and the other half were obliged, but only to a certain the employees so they tend adults, which meant I would amount. When it comes to to lack performance. So I first teach a computer class her clients Rosa would bestart building them a reward and then a math class, and gin to ask them about their system.” for many years they would financials in the business. they would mix the youth Rosa reminds, and suggest with adults just because Although most of the time alternative solutions to solve they didn’t have enough her clients do not know issues, such as the employadults to teach both groups. what that meant. For startees, to maintain a healthy Adults mainly were Latiers they didn’t understood business, and to keep her nos; the majority of them what it truly meant to own clients dreams alive. I asked they were Mexicans.” Rosa a business. Rosa would have Carlos if he ever disliked mainly surrounded herself to wait begin the process of how his mother is so picky with the latino communiinforming her clients the about his eating habits, and
Latinos would create this bubble, a bubble in which only the related are allowed in this sphere, friends may be included from time to time but exclude the rest of society away from their safe haven. he said. “I’m fine, she just wants me to be healthy probably because I do lots of sports. (she) wants me to maintain what I eat, its just a normal routine we have. I’m grateful that my mom cares about my health”. Rosa wants to aid those in need of her assistance, even when they don’t notice.
Rosa has faced many individuals who deliver the same attitude towards her, yet some are more stubborn than others.Through my experience I have seen some of my family members requesting for help but is hesitant in rather allowing this individual into their sphere of confinement. Rosa is struggling to deal with the with Rosa is not the type of trust issues between some of person to back down from her clients, causing a wall to her goals, especially when it be made between client and comes to her clients’ goals. advisor. In order for Rosa to Although not many of her help her clients she has to be clients are willing to open able to overcome this obup the choices and decisions stacle of stubbornness, and she makes, in order for them unfaithful attitude in order understand Rosa would to help her clients achieve need to explain to her clithese dreams they so desire. ents the dangers and consequences Rosa described to Being a latino is a strugme how the latino’s behave gle for many individuals, when it comes to advice and whether your peruvian, or help from others. salvadoran, it is a struggle for all hispanics to achieve to live in a foreign land. In the western culture it is expected for individuals to be prepared for the reality. “Latinos need more help than those with a different ethnic, alot of them (Ameri-
can citizens) of this country, and get the support from the Government. The latinos are immigrants in this country, and don’t get that back up support because they don’t have the proper documentation for the support.”Said Rosa. Rosa is striving to get a better education for herself to work i help, and perseverance anything is possible. “Don’t make it impossible, make it possible.” Thats what Rosa said, as we squeezed a whole jug of lemons together, and made lemonade.