I was born in Abasolo Guanajuato, Mexico as the youngest of eight children. My father lived in the United States as a farm worker while my mother and siblings lived in Mexico. My mother placed great importance on our health and education. Living a very humble but happy life in Mexico, she always wanted to give us everything she never had as a kid. We finally joined my father in Bakersfield, CA on December 25, 1990. I remember that date because it was the first time we celebrated Christmas with presents and Santa Claus! The transition was difficult at first since I was exposed to a new language, culture, and traditions. During my first few years in school I was placed into a class that catered to non-English speaking students, but I learned quickly and got up to speed. My high school years were a turning point in my life because that was when I joined the JROTC program. I liked the structure and discipline, which stuck with me. After high school I attended a vocational school and obtained a diploma as a medical assistant. I loved my job as medical assistant for a private doctor, but the pay was minimal with little opportunity to advance at work and in life. Remembering my positive experience with JROTC, I started researching the Navy and what it had to offer. I wanted a college degree and knew that the Navy could give me that chance. After informing my parents of my decision to enlist, they were both upset. I explained that I wanted to better my life, get an education, and serve my country. Since the Iraq war was frequently in the news, I knew they were very concerned, but they both supported my decision. I was very surprised and honored when I came back home from boot camp and “A� School and saw my Navy picture framed on my parents’ living room wall! Knowing the pride I brought to my family inspired me to be a better person and do the best I could, not only at work, but also in my personal life.

I have now been in the Navy and the Seabees for seven years as a Culinary Specialist, working in Galley and Barracks operations. I have served with the 31st Seabee Readiness Group and am now with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FORTY, both based out of Port Hueneme, California. I have been deployed to Okinawa (Japan) twice, once to Guam, and I’m currently serving in Afghanistan. I have the honor of leading a great division of 7 cooks and 14 food service attendants, and we’re responsible for feeding over 550 service-members (all military services are represented) and civilians. I enjoy working with my crew to create high quality meals for my Seabees, especially after they come back in from their long and difficult hours of building structures, operating and maintaining construction equipment, or maintaining the camp. It was during our 2005 deployment to Okinawa where I met my husband, Seabee Builder First Class Mitchell Garcia. Spending time away from him and our daughter during deployments has been extremely difficult, but if not for the Navy, I would not have my wonderful family or the great experiences with my “shipmates.� I feel special pride for the country that adopted me and living by our Navy Core Values (Honor, Courage, Commitment), which keeps me strong every day. I hope my daughter will one day understand that while her mother was gone for extended periods of her early life, those sacrifices were made to help secure her future, just as my father did for me. The Navy has provided me with the tools to live a better life (only five more classes until I earn my Bachelor’s degree!) on many levels. I can honestly tell my family, friends, and shipmates that if given the choice, I would do it all over again!