Red is the definition of many things and emotions in people and the humanistic eye. My name is Anabel Perez, female, and I reside in Mission, Texas. I moved here one year and five months ago from Fort Hood, Texas where my husband was stationed in after his arrival from Afghanistan. Weslaco, Texas is my place of birth and my birth date is December 17, 1979 born to Santos Tijerina Espinoza and Jesus Espinoza. My family of childhood consists of four brothers and two sisters whom I love very much. I will be the first child in my family that is going to graduate from college with a degree and that makes my family give more support than ever before.

I got married to a wonderful father and first husband when I was sixteen and had my first-born child too. When the world was planning for their sweet sixteen or graduation, I was carrying for my husband and children and finishing my high school hours to graduate with my class as a normal adult teen. I graduated from PSJA North High School in May 1998 with the support of my ex-husband and two children. Yes, two children whom I love dearly and have made me who I am today. My first child, Jose Raul Garcia, was born in October 16, 1996, Bryan Lee Garcia was born in November 12, 1997, and later we conceived our third handsome boy Shawn Micheal Garcia in February 29, 2000. I later separated from my ex-husband and got married to a second great man, Mario Perez, in November 2001. I gave birth to two of our boys, Ashton Keith Perez born July 20, 2004 and Mario Perez Jr. in November 13, 2007. My husband is my greatest hero amongst many soldiers because of his braveness and hardships that he endured for eighteen months in Afghanistan and arriving home for two months to spend at home with us and having to leave abruptly for four months more in Iraq. He has since retired from the Army and we both are pursuing a degree in the nursing field together because we both believe we are each others back.

Life has showed me that with time and commitment everybody can get to the end of their goal. My dad used to tell us that the only inheritance he would ever give us would be the education that so many of us have taken advantage of. Now at the age of twenty-nine I have come to learn and respect the saying that my father so strongly expressed to us as we were growing up. I decided to go back to college because I wanted for my children to adapt at the fact that education is a necessary factor that we must get addicted to. My three oldest boys father graduated as a registered nurse and seeing how much they look up to them made me yearn for that mutual mood too. I am currently attending South Texas College in McAllen, Texas and started going in January 2008. My goal is to graduate with an associate’s degree in nursing and hopefully get hired in cardiology field to gain experience. I don’t want to stop at this only; consequently, I want to pursue my career further to get a master degree as a physician assistant for a cardiologist. My family has a long history in having chronic heart problems, especially my mom, and I was the one that took care of her after her second open heart surgery; therefore, I have dedicated myself to learn as much as I can no matter what it takes.

My goals consist of reading books when time is available and I have dedicated my time first to my five boys and husband then me. My three oldest boys leave every weekend and when they do I love to decorate my house. I live in a five bedroom, three and a half baths with an in ground pool outside my home and fortunately now I can decorate. Whether it consists of taking out my boys, eating out or in together, or my husband and I going out to Gas Light (night club), we spend time to continue building on our relationship within the seven of us.

My family is important with my career too and I believe that everybody has a chance for success if you believe in yourself. I love my life and will never change anything about my past and present because it is what makes who I am today.