My Autobiography
My name is Guadalupe Banuelos. I’ am 21 years old. I was born in Miami Beach, Florida. But raised in Pompano Beach, Florida. My parents are, my mother Amada Morales who is 48 years old, born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and my father, Nicolas Ramos who is 46 years old, born In Queretaro, Mexico. I’ m the oldest of six children. My brother Nicolas Jr. Ramos who is 20 years old, my sister Elida who is 18 years old and who has two babies, her daughter Monica Espinoza who is 2 years old and her son Miguel Angel Espinoza who 1 year old. My brother Ricardo Ramos who is 16 years old, my sister Rosalinda Ramos who is 12 years old and my brother Arturo who is 11 years old. All six of us were born in the same hospital and same place, (Broward Medical Center) we had always lived in Pompano Beach in a barrio called Calle Ocho. I have an aunt and an uncle, both on my mother’s side of the family and the two oldest before her. My Aunt Hermelinda Cedillo who is almost in her 60’s and had only one adopted child. And my Uncle Jose Cedillo who was in his 50’s and who had 2 daughters and 2 sons and 5 Grandchildren, but unfortunly my uncle Jose passed away 2 weeks ago due to his high diabetes. They had been living in the United States for so long, since they were teenagers (crossed the border).
Well where can I start. What can I not say about my childhood. I can’t lie me and my family had a great life. My father was full of life, he would never get sick, we had good cars, a lot of money, new brand cloth’s, we just had it all. Until one day, we lost everything. We started loosing cars, furniture, and jewelry. My father started getting really really sick to the point where he couldn’t move nor work, so we would get evicted frequently due to the unstable work and my fathers health.
The problems then got even worst. Sometimes we didn’t have anything to eat, we wouldn’t have any money. There were times where we had to sleep in our car, outside a rest area or a park. We would shower at friend’s house when we could or we would use the rest areas restrooms to brush our teeth and at least wash our sad faces off walk into school and pretend like everything was ok. My father started to get very violent; he then started to beat up on my mom. He wouldn’t come home after several days all drunk. There wasn’t a day where he wouldn’t get drunk till the point of passing out. For lots of years we watched how low our family fell lower, lower not caring how each and one of us felt. We would be so scared to death especially on the weekend, because that’s when we knew our fears would begin. Me and my brother’s started failing a lot of classes due to the lack we had. We would go to school just so we wouldn’t see my mom sit their and cry. We really didn’t care at all if we would pass class or not. When I got to Middle School my life changed even more drastically. I started caring even less; I started talking to many men. I started taking decisions of my own thinking I was doing right. Right when I knew it. I started to run away from my house with my friends, or with guys I would meet. I would be lost for a month or two. Just having fun, partying, drinking, enjoying everything I could and every moment I saw. Right when I would just get tired of hiding, I would go back home, I would just act like nothing happened. My mom would be so mean to me that I couldn’t stand her so I would do the same. Leave for another month, not knowing where I could be or with whom, and go back whenever I wanted.
Since a child we were Catholics from the heart but during these hard times, one Sunday we went to wash and while waiting, two gentlemen’s approached my parents, they were going up to everyone they saw to give them a word from God. After a year of going to a Christian church, I decided to get baptized. It was an amazing church. A church full of love and life and peace. I started getting my dad involved. We would be their every Sunday, listening to God’s word. Everything seemed ok. My father was changing his behavior more and more. He was becoming less violent, more comprehensive. Our life seemed like it was making a radical change. Right when I turned 14 years old we meet an aunt, Maria Ramos, on my dad’s side of the family. Maria, who was convincing my parents to move to Colorado. Immigration was being really picky and taking families apart in that time (2006). So my parents didn’t want to risk it. So we decided to leave.
It was April 28, 2006 at about 10:30p.m when we had finally arrived. After a three day and three night trip, we had finally arrived. Well what can I say. We really didn’t like it because we were so use to being a city, besides of being born their, especially with this climate changed. But my dad was really excited because my aunt had told him that he was going to make good money with his profession (Tile Installer). So we kind of stood up with the idea that everything was going to be ok. After a month of being here in Colorado, arguments started to rise. My aunt and my uncle, Jose, were constantly fighting and arguing with my parents. For who knows what reason. We started to get really worried, especially because we didn’t know anyone, and we didn’t have no where else to go, especially with no money. So we really didn’t care where we landed all we wanted to do was get out running from there. It was just to the point where she was getting really violent especially with my brothers. We had to sleep at the sirey park. We spent all day at the park acting like we were just there playing and right when it was about 10:00pm we would wait till my dad got there to get in this little shed and cuddle there until the next morning. I will always remember that moment. When we would sit there and cry and cry because o how cold it would be.
A week later, we started to attend a Christian church in Glenwood named Betel. There the Pastors were really nice and right when they found out about our situation they decided to give us a hand and help us. During that time there was a hotel named 1st Choice Inn where you could rent for as long as you needed. Small place but that’s what we could afford. It was better then staying at the park. We lived there for about 1 year in a half. Until we meet a brother in Christ at the church we were attending and he told us that he had a house in Silt with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, really comfortable for 8 people, that he wanted us to rent. So my parents accepted.
A week later we moved in. everything was perfect. My family had once again gotten up and with lots of power, tried very hard day by day. 2 years in a half had gone by and my dad wasn’t drinking any more, he wasn’t violent either. He had made a total change. School was going perfect. Me and my brother Nicolas then decided to find a job. And we did. A week later we both got hired at McDonald’s in Glenwood. We were only working weekends, just while school was over. By the finals of May, we started working full time. Everything was going ok. Until one father’s day, On a Sunday we had been told there was a special event at church, so we decided to go. We all ate, we singed to God, worshiped God and it was just that unforgettable day that we had plan for all the fathers at church it was really late when we got home because, my father loved to stay late to help with the mess.
So it was Monday morning. My dad was late to work so instead of taking I-70 he took highway 6. I was in a hurry getting ready because my brother had his day off, so I was going on by myself. So I was walking to the bus stop with my mom, when I turned to look at her. She told me she was really worried because my dad wouldn’t answer his phone. She was scared and nervous, thinking something bad had happened to my dad. About 5 minutes later my mom’s phone rang and right away she answered. She started crying, she couldn’t even talk. My heart was beating so hard. I knew something had happened. She right away hanged up and told me that my father had gotten pulled over and was taken into custody at the Garfield County Jail, for speeding. So I called in to work to explain why I needed the day off. Me and my mom ran to the Jail to get some more information. My dad had several charges. But we were more concern about the possibilities that my dad would get deported, because his resident card was expired and he never went back to renew it. And just when we knew it, he had an ICE hold. It makes me want to cry, just by remembering this moment. My father was in Jail for 2 months. 1 in Glenwood and 1 in Denver. It’s a feeling that we don’t desire other families to go through. We then got in contact with a lawyer, Ted Hess, who right away took care of the case. He didn’t charge us a penny until my dad was left free.
We were on our own. The only support we had was our church members. Me and my brother had to put up the money, because no one wanted to lend it to us. After two pay stubs we put the money together. We were the ones in charge of paying the bills; bring home food or what ever my brothers or my mom needed. We were trying our very best, to support each and one of us, because it was just really hard for all of us, to see my dad in this situation, and by our self with no support from my fathers side of the family, especially because they knew what we were going through. Finally my dad had won his case with a $1,000 bond. A month went by when we decided to leave our job, because we just wanted to be with my dad, spent the lost time we had lost because of this situation we had gone through. Our life’s kept going in a really good direction.
After 1 year later, my father had finally received his new Resident Card. We were so excited and happy. I started going to church. But something just started to go wrong. I started to run away from my house, I would drink alcohol, do drugs; I just wouldn’t care about anything. I just wanted to have freedom and have as much fun as I could. I started applying for jobs. But after a while I would get bored and I would quit and keep up with my crazy life. I was causing my parents a lot of stress and worries. I wouldn’t care.
One day me and my father got down to talk, and our plan was to move to Logan, Utah to work. So we planned it and we left. We lived there for 1 month in a half. I had two jobs there, in the morning I would work at the corn field. And in the afternoon I was a cashier at a Mexican clothing store. We were making so little, barley for the gas. There I meet new friends, and then I felled in loved with a guy, whose name I don’t want to say. I really liked him; he was nice, lovable and sweet. But my dad had just decided that we had to go back home with my mom and brothers. So we left. I was so sad. But we kept texting and calling each other.
Until one day I decided to run away, after 5 months of being away from him. I packed my stuff and left. I will never forget this moment. It’s really harsh what I’m going to say. His uncle tried to rape me, it was horrible. I would cry and cry. I was really scared. When finally I had arrived my boyfriend wasn’t really excited to see me. He wanted to do things the right way; I had just ruined all his plans. That night we talked about what had happened. But he didn’t believe me at all. Our problems started then. We would fight about every single day, until he started to get really aggressive with me. He then started too hit me until I would turn purple. I took this torture for 5 months. We then decided we needed to get away from each other before something worst could happen. And it wasn’t until December, on Christmas morning. I packed my stuff and got on a greyhound bus, towards Colorado.
When I got to the bus station my brother Nicolas and my mom were waiting there for me. When I got home my mom and my dad were really mad at me. They didn’t know what to do to me. Slap me or hit me. My mom was so mad she started calling me a (bitch) (skunk), she was just insulting me in front of all my brothers and my dad wouldn’t say nothing to her. I was also full of bruises he had left on me days before all this had happen. My mom laughed in my face and told me that, she was glad this had happened to me, that I had deserved this. All I did was lay my head down and cry. I was the one who had to stay home and clean and cook for both my parents and my brothers because my parents were working night shift. I was only 17 years old when all this had happened.
Believe it or not, I started to amend my life. I would go to church every Sunday; youth group on Fridays, and was even taking CMC classes at nights. Things at my house were just worst and worst; me and my mom wouldn’t stand being next to each other. So it wasn’t until I turned 18 years old, I left my house, besides she couldn’t do anything to me no more. I then moved with a friend I had meet at church, Claudia who was a single mother, with a daughter name, Alexa, who was 5 years old. well, I thought my life was going to get any worst, but me and Claudia had so much freedom, we would party from Thursday till Sunday, non stop. One day, I woke up early, got dressed and told me that she was going to take me to one of her friend’s house. And we did. I’m not going to lie; I even thought he was really good looking. His name is Jaime, he was 24 years then and he was a divorced man in Mexico.
We talked for a while and we even had a beer together. So we left. By 9:00pm, Claudia received a call from him asking me if I would accept a date with him. I wasn’t going to loose the chance. And I accepted. I arrived home, took a shower and got ready; we decided to just lick back in my room, drinking some beers. And ever since then that day he would come over, spent the night. I really didn’t want to get involved with another relation ship. I was to scare to live the life of hell I lived before. Another thing, he wasn’t the same as the rest of the guys. He was really sweet, lovable, nice, respectful, comprehensive, and supportive. He was there as friend. I bought a ticket to Florida, all I wanted to do was get away from so much sadness, but for some reason he found out and he stopped me. He asked me to give him a chance, to let me prove that he wasn’t like the rest of the men. So I did. I wanted to have some one special in my life. A week later, he moved in with me. I loved it. I was starting to believe in loving again. He was working really hard, providing me with everything he could. I had finally found the love of my life.
I then started working at a bar name “El Barrigas” where I worked as a Bartender/Waitress. My night mare started then. Me and my boyfriend started having lots of problems; he didn’t like me working there because it was a bar for men only. That’s when all this idea of “selling drugs” was proposed. We started little by little. At first I was scare, I wont lie after a while I just took as a game. It didn’t take us long when we were selling a lot, especially during the weekend during the night shifts we had at the bar. I thought I was going to get away with it, but it wasn’t until, September 9, 2010 I was arrested in my apartment, with a warrant arrest issued against me. I had seven charges.
I was being accused of, (Distribution of Control Substance) (Cocaine) class felony 4. I was being detained at the Garfield County Jail on a $50,000 Bond. And believe me, that was not a good feeling. I would cry night after night begging my parents to get me out because, my boyfriend couldn’t. And it wasn’t until October 23, 2010. That morning will be unforgettable. I woke up at 7:00 am but, they wouldn’t let you out of your cell until 8:00am, I got out walked to the couch and sat down with some of the girls that were there watching music videos. It was a Saturday. I felt very dirty so I decided to take a shower and it was around 11:00am. I got out the shower and headed towards my cell. I walked in, got dressed, washed my mouth and brushed my teeth. Right when I was about to click the button to let them know that I was done and I wanted to go down again, I heard my name come out the speaker, asking me to grab all my belongings, and to get ready because I was leaving.
I was really scared; my heart was beating really fast. I quickly grabbed my stuff, walked out my cell and just when I knew, an officer approached me and told me to follow her. We started walking towards the elevator and I was shaking, very nervous, I had just thought I had lost my case and I was going to prison. But, right when the elevator stopped, I was told to start walking and I remember I was heading towards the front, where I have arrived the first time. The officer at the front desk told me that I needed to get dressed on with my own cloth because I was finally leaving. I couldn’t stop hugging her. I was so excited all I wanted to do was sign my release and walk out before they would make up their mind. I asked her who had came to sign for me, and right away she said my father. My tears scroll down my face of joy.
I knew my father was there to help me no matter what the situation was. I ran out, crying so hard, with so many emotions mixed. I saw my family outside in the parking lot in the back, and right when they saw, they ran to me. I couldn’t believe I was out again; I had my freedom back, and be with my love ones. I was finally out of that horrible place. The only was I was being contacted with my parents was because my aunt Her Melinda from Florida, was sending me money so I could order prepaid phone cards. I had lost much weight. I was starving food so bad. My parents took me to the Chinese buffet in Rifle. My parents in that time were living in Hyrum Utah. We ate had a great time talking about my experiences with my family. I right away went to look for my boyfriend to hug him and tell and tell him how much I had missed him in this long process. I didn’t wasn’t to leave his side at all. I didn’t want anything else to separate us again.
Unfortunly, my parent’s had to leave the next morning because they had a really long drive to go, and besides my brothers couldn’t miss any more school days. So they left. They were just hoping that I had learned my lesson and they didn’t want me to fail again. I had to wait until February 22, 2011 to be sentenced. Finally the day was here. I was really terrified. I wanted to get out of this court room and run away. But thanks to god I had made it safe. When the Judge saw me he right away told me he could see the remorse I had in my face. He sentenced me to two years Supervised Probation, with several requirements. 80 hour Public Service, US’s, 12 days Work Enders and I had to complete my GED/High School.
And you know what. I m very glad and proud of my self to say that I have done the very best of me and that I have completed all the above. After that me and my husband decided that we needed to settle down the right way. In December of 2010, I got pregnant from my first son Damian Jaime Banuelos, who was born in October, and after having my son Damian 1 month in a half later I got pregnant from my second son Joaquin Nicolas Banuelos, who was born in September. My sons are only 11 months apart, but they have been the blessing that we needed. Our life’s has made a 360 degree turn. Being together, supporting one another. Being together in the good and bad times. When ever I fall he picks me up and when he falls I’m their to pick him up. My goals are accomplishing.
And now that I’m going to be done with all of this, I really just want to be with my children, and spent all that lost time, because being a full time student, being a wife, and being a mother hasn’t been easy at all. Me and my husband want to be their for our children. Give them a better example and a better education about life. Love my children every day of my life is all I wan to do. My sons have been that strong reason why I wake up to a better day. I will be done with Probation finally in June, and I will go to Collage. I really want to say that there is nothing impossible in this world that you can not accomplish because you don’t need anything else, but your children, to keep your head up, and when things seem to get hard they will give you that warm hug and everything will be ok. I can say I’ve improve, and I have overcome as a human being and also not only as a women, but as a wife, as a student and most important as a parent. I am the happiest and most proud mother on earth.
Well where can I start. What can I not say about my childhood. I can’t lie me and my family had a great life. My father was full of life, he would never get sick, we had good cars, a lot of money, new brand cloth’s, we just had it all. Until one day, we lost everything. We started loosing cars, furniture, and jewelry. My father started getting really really sick to the point where he couldn’t move nor work, so we would get evicted frequently due to the unstable work and my fathers health.
The problems then got even worst. Sometimes we didn’t have anything to eat, we wouldn’t have any money. There were times where we had to sleep in our car, outside a rest area or a park. We would shower at friend’s house when we could or we would use the rest areas restrooms to brush our teeth and at least wash our sad faces off walk into school and pretend like everything was ok. My father started to get very violent; he then started to beat up on my mom. He wouldn’t come home after several days all drunk. There wasn’t a day where he wouldn’t get drunk till the point of passing out. For lots of years we watched how low our family fell lower, lower not caring how each and one of us felt. We would be so scared to death especially on the weekend, because that’s when we knew our fears would begin. Me and my brother’s started failing a lot of classes due to the lack we had. We would go to school just so we wouldn’t see my mom sit their and cry. We really didn’t care at all if we would pass class or not. When I got to Middle School my life changed even more drastically. I started caring even less; I started talking to many men. I started taking decisions of my own thinking I was doing right. Right when I knew it. I started to run away from my house with my friends, or with guys I would meet. I would be lost for a month or two. Just having fun, partying, drinking, enjoying everything I could and every moment I saw. Right when I would just get tired of hiding, I would go back home, I would just act like nothing happened. My mom would be so mean to me that I couldn’t stand her so I would do the same. Leave for another month, not knowing where I could be or with whom, and go back whenever I wanted.
Since a child we were Catholics from the heart but during these hard times, one Sunday we went to wash and while waiting, two gentlemen’s approached my parents, they were going up to everyone they saw to give them a word from God. After a year of going to a Christian church, I decided to get baptized. It was an amazing church. A church full of love and life and peace. I started getting my dad involved. We would be their every Sunday, listening to God’s word. Everything seemed ok. My father was changing his behavior more and more. He was becoming less violent, more comprehensive. Our life seemed like it was making a radical change. Right when I turned 14 years old we meet an aunt, Maria Ramos, on my dad’s side of the family. Maria, who was convincing my parents to move to Colorado. Immigration was being really picky and taking families apart in that time (2006). So my parents didn’t want to risk it. So we decided to leave.
It was April 28, 2006 at about 10:30p.m when we had finally arrived. After a three day and three night trip, we had finally arrived. Well what can I say. We really didn’t like it because we were so use to being a city, besides of being born their, especially with this climate changed. But my dad was really excited because my aunt had told him that he was going to make good money with his profession (Tile Installer). So we kind of stood up with the idea that everything was going to be ok. After a month of being here in Colorado, arguments started to rise. My aunt and my uncle, Jose, were constantly fighting and arguing with my parents. For who knows what reason. We started to get really worried, especially because we didn’t know anyone, and we didn’t have no where else to go, especially with no money. So we really didn’t care where we landed all we wanted to do was get out running from there. It was just to the point where she was getting really violent especially with my brothers. We had to sleep at the sirey park. We spent all day at the park acting like we were just there playing and right when it was about 10:00pm we would wait till my dad got there to get in this little shed and cuddle there until the next morning. I will always remember that moment. When we would sit there and cry and cry because o how cold it would be.
A week later, we started to attend a Christian church in Glenwood named Betel. There the Pastors were really nice and right when they found out about our situation they decided to give us a hand and help us. During that time there was a hotel named 1st Choice Inn where you could rent for as long as you needed. Small place but that’s what we could afford. It was better then staying at the park. We lived there for about 1 year in a half. Until we meet a brother in Christ at the church we were attending and he told us that he had a house in Silt with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, really comfortable for 8 people, that he wanted us to rent. So my parents accepted.
A week later we moved in. everything was perfect. My family had once again gotten up and with lots of power, tried very hard day by day. 2 years in a half had gone by and my dad wasn’t drinking any more, he wasn’t violent either. He had made a total change. School was going perfect. Me and my brother Nicolas then decided to find a job. And we did. A week later we both got hired at McDonald’s in Glenwood. We were only working weekends, just while school was over. By the finals of May, we started working full time. Everything was going ok. Until one father’s day, On a Sunday we had been told there was a special event at church, so we decided to go. We all ate, we singed to God, worshiped God and it was just that unforgettable day that we had plan for all the fathers at church it was really late when we got home because, my father loved to stay late to help with the mess.
So it was Monday morning. My dad was late to work so instead of taking I-70 he took highway 6. I was in a hurry getting ready because my brother had his day off, so I was going on by myself. So I was walking to the bus stop with my mom, when I turned to look at her. She told me she was really worried because my dad wouldn’t answer his phone. She was scared and nervous, thinking something bad had happened to my dad. About 5 minutes later my mom’s phone rang and right away she answered. She started crying, she couldn’t even talk. My heart was beating so hard. I knew something had happened. She right away hanged up and told me that my father had gotten pulled over and was taken into custody at the Garfield County Jail, for speeding. So I called in to work to explain why I needed the day off. Me and my mom ran to the Jail to get some more information. My dad had several charges. But we were more concern about the possibilities that my dad would get deported, because his resident card was expired and he never went back to renew it. And just when we knew it, he had an ICE hold. It makes me want to cry, just by remembering this moment. My father was in Jail for 2 months. 1 in Glenwood and 1 in Denver. It’s a feeling that we don’t desire other families to go through. We then got in contact with a lawyer, Ted Hess, who right away took care of the case. He didn’t charge us a penny until my dad was left free.
We were on our own. The only support we had was our church members. Me and my brother had to put up the money, because no one wanted to lend it to us. After two pay stubs we put the money together. We were the ones in charge of paying the bills; bring home food or what ever my brothers or my mom needed. We were trying our very best, to support each and one of us, because it was just really hard for all of us, to see my dad in this situation, and by our self with no support from my fathers side of the family, especially because they knew what we were going through. Finally my dad had won his case with a $1,000 bond. A month went by when we decided to leave our job, because we just wanted to be with my dad, spent the lost time we had lost because of this situation we had gone through. Our life’s kept going in a really good direction.
After 1 year later, my father had finally received his new Resident Card. We were so excited and happy. I started going to church. But something just started to go wrong. I started to run away from my house, I would drink alcohol, do drugs; I just wouldn’t care about anything. I just wanted to have freedom and have as much fun as I could. I started applying for jobs. But after a while I would get bored and I would quit and keep up with my crazy life. I was causing my parents a lot of stress and worries. I wouldn’t care.
One day me and my father got down to talk, and our plan was to move to Logan, Utah to work. So we planned it and we left. We lived there for 1 month in a half. I had two jobs there, in the morning I would work at the corn field. And in the afternoon I was a cashier at a Mexican clothing store. We were making so little, barley for the gas. There I meet new friends, and then I felled in loved with a guy, whose name I don’t want to say. I really liked him; he was nice, lovable and sweet. But my dad had just decided that we had to go back home with my mom and brothers. So we left. I was so sad. But we kept texting and calling each other.
Until one day I decided to run away, after 5 months of being away from him. I packed my stuff and left. I will never forget this moment. It’s really harsh what I’m going to say. His uncle tried to rape me, it was horrible. I would cry and cry. I was really scared. When finally I had arrived my boyfriend wasn’t really excited to see me. He wanted to do things the right way; I had just ruined all his plans. That night we talked about what had happened. But he didn’t believe me at all. Our problems started then. We would fight about every single day, until he started to get really aggressive with me. He then started too hit me until I would turn purple. I took this torture for 5 months. We then decided we needed to get away from each other before something worst could happen. And it wasn’t until December, on Christmas morning. I packed my stuff and got on a greyhound bus, towards Colorado.
When I got to the bus station my brother Nicolas and my mom were waiting there for me. When I got home my mom and my dad were really mad at me. They didn’t know what to do to me. Slap me or hit me. My mom was so mad she started calling me a (bitch) (skunk), she was just insulting me in front of all my brothers and my dad wouldn’t say nothing to her. I was also full of bruises he had left on me days before all this had happen. My mom laughed in my face and told me that, she was glad this had happened to me, that I had deserved this. All I did was lay my head down and cry. I was the one who had to stay home and clean and cook for both my parents and my brothers because my parents were working night shift. I was only 17 years old when all this had happened.
Believe it or not, I started to amend my life. I would go to church every Sunday; youth group on Fridays, and was even taking CMC classes at nights. Things at my house were just worst and worst; me and my mom wouldn’t stand being next to each other. So it wasn’t until I turned 18 years old, I left my house, besides she couldn’t do anything to me no more. I then moved with a friend I had meet at church, Claudia who was a single mother, with a daughter name, Alexa, who was 5 years old. well, I thought my life was going to get any worst, but me and Claudia had so much freedom, we would party from Thursday till Sunday, non stop. One day, I woke up early, got dressed and told me that she was going to take me to one of her friend’s house. And we did. I’m not going to lie; I even thought he was really good looking. His name is Jaime, he was 24 years then and he was a divorced man in Mexico.
We talked for a while and we even had a beer together. So we left. By 9:00pm, Claudia received a call from him asking me if I would accept a date with him. I wasn’t going to loose the chance. And I accepted. I arrived home, took a shower and got ready; we decided to just lick back in my room, drinking some beers. And ever since then that day he would come over, spent the night. I really didn’t want to get involved with another relation ship. I was to scare to live the life of hell I lived before. Another thing, he wasn’t the same as the rest of the guys. He was really sweet, lovable, nice, respectful, comprehensive, and supportive. He was there as friend. I bought a ticket to Florida, all I wanted to do was get away from so much sadness, but for some reason he found out and he stopped me. He asked me to give him a chance, to let me prove that he wasn’t like the rest of the men. So I did. I wanted to have some one special in my life. A week later, he moved in with me. I loved it. I was starting to believe in loving again. He was working really hard, providing me with everything he could. I had finally found the love of my life.
I then started working at a bar name “El Barrigas” where I worked as a Bartender/Waitress. My night mare started then. Me and my boyfriend started having lots of problems; he didn’t like me working there because it was a bar for men only. That’s when all this idea of “selling drugs” was proposed. We started little by little. At first I was scare, I wont lie after a while I just took as a game. It didn’t take us long when we were selling a lot, especially during the weekend during the night shifts we had at the bar. I thought I was going to get away with it, but it wasn’t until, September 9, 2010 I was arrested in my apartment, with a warrant arrest issued against me. I had seven charges.
I was being accused of, (Distribution of Control Substance) (Cocaine) class felony 4. I was being detained at the Garfield County Jail on a $50,000 Bond. And believe me, that was not a good feeling. I would cry night after night begging my parents to get me out because, my boyfriend couldn’t. And it wasn’t until October 23, 2010. That morning will be unforgettable. I woke up at 7:00 am but, they wouldn’t let you out of your cell until 8:00am, I got out walked to the couch and sat down with some of the girls that were there watching music videos. It was a Saturday. I felt very dirty so I decided to take a shower and it was around 11:00am. I got out the shower and headed towards my cell. I walked in, got dressed, washed my mouth and brushed my teeth. Right when I was about to click the button to let them know that I was done and I wanted to go down again, I heard my name come out the speaker, asking me to grab all my belongings, and to get ready because I was leaving.
I was really scared; my heart was beating really fast. I quickly grabbed my stuff, walked out my cell and just when I knew, an officer approached me and told me to follow her. We started walking towards the elevator and I was shaking, very nervous, I had just thought I had lost my case and I was going to prison. But, right when the elevator stopped, I was told to start walking and I remember I was heading towards the front, where I have arrived the first time. The officer at the front desk told me that I needed to get dressed on with my own cloth because I was finally leaving. I couldn’t stop hugging her. I was so excited all I wanted to do was sign my release and walk out before they would make up their mind. I asked her who had came to sign for me, and right away she said my father. My tears scroll down my face of joy.
I knew my father was there to help me no matter what the situation was. I ran out, crying so hard, with so many emotions mixed. I saw my family outside in the parking lot in the back, and right when they saw, they ran to me. I couldn’t believe I was out again; I had my freedom back, and be with my love ones. I was finally out of that horrible place. The only was I was being contacted with my parents was because my aunt Her Melinda from Florida, was sending me money so I could order prepaid phone cards. I had lost much weight. I was starving food so bad. My parents took me to the Chinese buffet in Rifle. My parents in that time were living in Hyrum Utah. We ate had a great time talking about my experiences with my family. I right away went to look for my boyfriend to hug him and tell and tell him how much I had missed him in this long process. I didn’t wasn’t to leave his side at all. I didn’t want anything else to separate us again.
Unfortunly, my parent’s had to leave the next morning because they had a really long drive to go, and besides my brothers couldn’t miss any more school days. So they left. They were just hoping that I had learned my lesson and they didn’t want me to fail again. I had to wait until February 22, 2011 to be sentenced. Finally the day was here. I was really terrified. I wanted to get out of this court room and run away. But thanks to god I had made it safe. When the Judge saw me he right away told me he could see the remorse I had in my face. He sentenced me to two years Supervised Probation, with several requirements. 80 hour Public Service, US’s, 12 days Work Enders and I had to complete my GED/High School.
And you know what. I m very glad and proud of my self to say that I have done the very best of me and that I have completed all the above. After that me and my husband decided that we needed to settle down the right way. In December of 2010, I got pregnant from my first son Damian Jaime Banuelos, who was born in October, and after having my son Damian 1 month in a half later I got pregnant from my second son Joaquin Nicolas Banuelos, who was born in September. My sons are only 11 months apart, but they have been the blessing that we needed. Our life’s has made a 360 degree turn. Being together, supporting one another. Being together in the good and bad times. When ever I fall he picks me up and when he falls I’m their to pick him up. My goals are accomplishing.
And now that I’m going to be done with all of this, I really just want to be with my children, and spent all that lost time, because being a full time student, being a wife, and being a mother hasn’t been easy at all. Me and my husband want to be their for our children. Give them a better example and a better education about life. Love my children every day of my life is all I wan to do. My sons have been that strong reason why I wake up to a better day. I will be done with Probation finally in June, and I will go to Collage. I really want to say that there is nothing impossible in this world that you can not accomplish because you don’t need anything else, but your children, to keep your head up, and when things seem to get hard they will give you that warm hug and everything will be ok. I can say I’ve improve, and I have overcome as a human being and also not only as a women, but as a wife, as a student and most important as a parent. I am the happiest and most proud mother on earth.