“Exactly my point.”
Pablo laughed and put his arm around Abuela. “Come inside, boys. Let’s talk.”
“If I can afford it. Got accepted, but the financial aid package isn’t enough.”
“What if money wasn’t an issue?” he asked.
I looked at Abuela Rosa. She was smiling.
Pablo laid it out simple. He’d made his money in commercial real estate across South Texas. He’d pay for Rice, all of it. Books, housing, everything. The only condition was that I had to promise to remember where I came from and who believed in me when it mattered.
And one more thing, Abuela said, “At graduation, you tell the truth about all of it.”
Damian waited in the car. When I got back in, he took one look at my face and said, “Well, I’m going to Rice full ride.”
“Your grandma’s boyfriend is paying?”
“Yeah, your grandma is cooler than both of us combined.”
The principal droned through opening remarks. The choir sang. The class president gave a speech about journeys that didn’t mean anything.
Then they called my name.
I walked to that podium and looked out at 2,000 faces. Somewhere in Bourne, my family was popping a confetti cannon to find out if Valentina was having a boy or a girl. I set my prepared speech aside. I wrote something, but I’m going to talk about something else instead.
The stadium went dead quiet.
“My parents aren’t here. When I asked them to come, my mother told me smart kids don’t need their families there. My father told me I’d be fine on my own, like always.”
Someone in the crowd said, “Wow,” loud enough to echo.
But to everyone who did show up today, thank you.
“To my Abuela in the third row, you’re the reason I’m standing here. You’re the reason I believe I’m worth showing up for.”
The applause started small and built until the whole stadium was on their feet.
Afterward, Abuela Rosa hugged me so tight I thought my ribs would crack.
“Your mother is going to lose her mind when she hears about this,” she said, grinning through tears.
Damian appeared, still wearing those sunglasses.
“That was the most savage thing I’ve ever witnessed. I’m so proud.”
We went to lunch, and Pablo paid. Afterward, I tried to avoid thinking about my family, but the truth was, they were already a distant memory.
By the time I graduated from Rice, I had already made up my mind. I wasn’t going to chase their approval anymore. They didn’t show up for me when it mattered, so why should I keep trying to make them proud?
I kept my head down, focusing on my studies and the projects I had lined up. The work at Rice was tough, but I thrived. It wasn’t just about the degree—it was about proving to myself that I could do it, no matter who was watching.
Damian and I stayed in touch, of course. He was the only real friend I had left after everything. We’d hang out on weekends, grab tacos from the food truck, or spend hours talking about what we wanted to do with our lives. He was still my best friend, and he was there through all the long nights when I’d come home from class, exhausted, but proud of what I was building.
The summer after graduation, things took off. I got an internship with a structural engineering firm in Houston, and from there, things only got better. My salary wasn’t much at first, but I didn’t care. I was working hard, gaining experience, and learning everything I could.
Then, one day, I got a call from Pablo. I was sitting at my tiny desk in my cramped apartment when his number popped up on my phone.
“Miho, how’s it going?” His voice was warm and steady, just like I remembered.
“Good. Really good, actually. The internship is paying off, and I’m learning a lot.”
“That’s great to hear. Listen, I’ve been watching you, and I think you’re ready for the next step.”
I sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”
“I’m investing in a commercial development in the Galleria area. I want you to come on board. Help me assess the structure, find any issues with the plans. You’ve got a sharp eye, and I trust you.”
I didn’t even think twice. I said yes right away.
That project turned into my big break. I dove into the work headfirst, using everything I’d learned to prove I was more than just a kid from a broken family. I found solutions to problems that others missed, and my work caught the attention of some key investors.
Within three years, I’d launched my own consulting firm—Valdez Engineering Consultants. It started small, but every job I took on made me more confident. My firm grew, and soon enough, I had a team working alongside me. I knew I was on the right path. I had the kind of life my family never understood, and I was proud of it.
But then the phone calls came again. First, it was my mom. Then Valentina. They all came when they needed something, and I was ready to say no.
I’d built my success without them, and I wasn’t going to let them back Continue reading…
