“Keep the end in mind.”

Yuri Chavez is a 26 year old woman with a 7 year old son and a husband who has worked hard to accomplish her dreams. Although she has had several sets back like having to leave school for two years right after graduating from high school to give her son the attention and the care he needed for the first two years of his life. 

 She also had a tough time with both her parents due to their illnesses, her mother anxiety and her dad diabetes. She has managed to work and continue her education and find different hobbies like doing her makeup, and reading. She has worked hard to accomplish her dream to have a better lifestyle and be able to give her son a better future. 

Transcription:

Xitlaly Canela : Tell me a little bit about your childhood.

Yuri Chavez: Okay well,What I can tell you about my childhood is that I came from both Spanish parents,Both originated from Mexico.I also have a big family I have 1 older sister and 4 smaller siblings..brothers.We have lived in different places due to my father’s work.We have lived from Mexico, Wyoming, Apple Valley, Victorville, Chicago, and Los Angeles among other places.

X.C: Okay um what has been the reason for all the change of states you’ve lived in?

Y:C: Its due to my dad,My dad used to work in a refinery,And since he was young he has always worked but the refinery is a job where in a month you might have work everyday and then out of know where there is no job but my dad wasn’t the type that would be in disability so he would go looking for for that same job in other States and other places so like we were a big family he..he.ha…. a..he is Mexican he has always believed that as a family we should always be together,So he would carry up along with all of us,

X.C: Did moving from State to S-State did that like um have a huge like impact on you?

Y.C: It did,It did have an impact on me because since I was young we have actually struggled or at least I have struggled in school because once I am getting accommodated in a school and i am getting comfortable in it we had to move,So when I am…get getting friends and becoming familiar with..with the place and with the people we had to move out.

X.C: Oh..okay um…..till what grade did or do you study?

Y.C: Well I am currently studying I am still in school,So far I have gotten my associates in natural science. Um from East LA Community College (ELAC) . Um I am currently aw.. um studying for my Tees to get into the RN program right here located in Los Angeles County.

X.C: Um so Yuri, Why did you choose going into um the nursing community?

Y.C: Um I decided to go into the nursing field because since I was young I’ve seen both my parents struggle.My dad since he worked in a refinery he use to work as welding and um I have..my dad’s family has..have diabetes so he was diagnosed by..with diabetes at a young age and he lost his sight so…we started visiting hospitals and doctors.My mom has suffered from anxiety so we have visited doctors and hospitals with her as well and like we were young we were younger I would…we would go with them and then I would see how some nurses were Really!nice to them and how some nurses have..were really mean to them,So it made me see that depending how you treat the person you can s-tell and you can.. they can make you feel better you know, So I understood that.. that was something that I wanted to do because you can help them out you can..you don’t only help doctors help the patent and the family too if you know how to speak to them

X.C: {whispers}mmh okay.

Y.C: With one word you can comfort a lot of people.

X.C: What was the age that you knew that you wanted to go into nursing/ like what was the age you um..that..[chuckles]

Y.C: I decided to …um?

X.C: That you..that you went through those problems like looking at your parents struggle with all those medical problems?

Y.C: Um I think it was when my dad started lo-la-lo losing his sight when-he when I was turning 14, So that when I started seeing all these hospital things, and going to hospitals,and picking my parents from hospitals, and dealing with hospital stuff.So that’s when I decided when I seeing all this all this hospital how we do stuff in hospitals,how we help people, and how they can make a difference,and then so I decided to help to help and be in the nursing community.

X.C: Um so Yuri do you have any kids?

Y.C: Yes I do! I have one.

X.C: What’s his name?

Y.C: His name is [Phone Rings] Jose De Jesus Perez.

X.C: How old is Jose De Jesus Perez?

Y.C: He is 7 years old!

X.C: Um wow he is 8 ( meant to say 7) um oh wow you had him at a really young age.

Y.C: I did!I had my child when I had just turning 19 years old.I felt that at this time I was still young, I was not ready but you know what things come up and I ended up pregnant and there he is I have been there for him and and it’s something that is worth it.

X.C: Um recently you told me that you wanted to become a nurse did this impact you on becoming a nurse um did this really make a huge difference?

Y.C: Um yes it does because in the nursing field it is really demanding you have to study, you have to do work, you have to study for exams,do clinical and all this different stuff but and having a child you don’t only have to deal with a child but you have to also deal with be-because I also need to deal with my husband we got together.So having a child is not only dealing with him but dealing with my husband as well,cleaning the house,washing,helping him with his homework, taking him and bringing him back from school,like my husband work I have to get all my classes and all my work according to the time period that I can.Its ether taking him to school and taking classes before he comes out or get him out and then find somebody that can take care of him then leave to school,come out , help him with his homework,do studies,and then after i am don’t studying and helping him with his homework,shower him get him ready and then do my stuff which is study,do homework,fix my stuff and if it’s not that I have to get my husbands things ready or cook for him and clean so it’s everything timing and then I you have to have everything on schedule to keep up with your things.Its not like oh you don’t have a child you could do whatever you want with your time,now its not only a child but its a husband as well.

X.C: Oh um how have I impacted your life?

Y.C: Well you have impacted my life in many positive ways as I can recall I went to your moms baby shower and I spent that beautiful time with before you were born and then..now I have this gift where I am able to help you with your projects,and your stuff and since I have an 8 year old(meant to say 7)son I don’t talk to him about many things that you as a 13 year old has questions for me and I am able to help you take the right decisions and for me that is something positive because if I can make you and talk to you in making the right decisions so you wont make some of the mistakes that I made at such a young age that is something positive in my life because I understand that I am helping you and that I can help you regarding that both you parents English language so if you need questions or help I am always here.

X.C: Oh okay so what have you helped me with

Y.C: Well I have helped you in several stuff for example for school when your parents can’t pick you up or drop you off I’m always taking you and bringing you because I understand like I’m in school and focusing that I want a career I know that,that that is something important and that’s why I take you to school and bring you back because you need to go to school because that is the future of us people today,and then I help you with research papers,projects um reviving your essay or when you need a computer of print something out I’m always there for you and i will always be there so you could get a career and be somebody in life, so life can be a little bit much easier than both your parents had it.[phone rings]Sorry for the interruption it was my child calling me

X.C: It’s okay,so as you were saying what have you help me with?continue on.

Y.C: So I’ve helped you with homework and taking you to the doctor if you need or have any questions you are always able to contact me at my cell phone[chuckles]and um that’s some of several things.

X.C: um what are you what are you planning to do in the future like are you planning to have any babies of something else?

Y.C: Well um I do have one child and would love to have another one but due to my education me and my husband are putting it on hold for a few years more like around one or two the most and I also have this passion for makeup which I might get some individual classes and…for personal use so I could learn different techniques  for make up and and I do want to have more kids and then I do want to be in the RN field but I don’t just want to continue as an RN, I want to get my blachelor’s and if it’s possible to get my masters as an RN.

X.C: Um you said that your trying to do makeup I know you said for you personal interest um  but if someone asked you to do their makeup would you do it or do you have any plans on helping people with there makeup as well?

Y.C: Well it is possible that I try,I might let them know beforehand because it’s not the same when you do your own makeup then when you do others peoples makeup because you already know your face,your eyes, and everything because it’s not the same thing with another person but I can if it’s somebody that really wants me to help them with their make up I can give them tips that I know I can help them out with.

X.C: Um and then you also answered that you would like to have another child in about 1 or 2 years the most is there like a specific gender or a specific name that you would like?

Y.C: Well no not really I would wanna have…well I already have a little boy so I would love to have a little girl so I can have my little pair of children but um if God blesses me with another boy its good to because I would love them just the same,and well it’s alright if I don’t have a girl because I have you as me being your god-mother I have..I am always going to be there for you and am going to always try to protect you in whatever way I can and help you always do and make the right decisions starting from when I became your god-mother to……..like a long[chuckles]time from now but if you can always count on me and if you ever have questions or need help in some way and if I can help you, I will do it.

X.C: Is there any wishes that you have for me in my future like do you have any wishes for me on what to do or you know?

X.C: Um well I would always wish you do well and the best in life but you also have to understand that to have the best things in life you have to work for them so that means every day getting up and going to school it is not easy for me to get up and go to school, take care of my child feed my husband and work[chuckles]

X.C: Sorry for the interruption continue.

Y.C: Well it is never easy it’s never easy but I need to tell you something that I always thought since I could remember I always had this saying that says “always start with the end in mind”.What did that mean to me?That means that meant to me that you have to think how you want to end up what you wanna have how you want to live to know what it takes for you to get there so if you want to live in a better house to drive a better car have a stable..living with your child and your husband you need to know that you have to work for it, nothing is going to be given to you free.

X.C: Um something that you,my father,mother,everyone tells me is stay in school,get yourself a career, and don’t depend on anybody um you say that to me a lot my dad says that to me a lot as well as my mom almost everyone says it to me a lot um

Y.C: Cause we ain’t lying!

X.C: [chuckles]yeah your not lying.Is there like another saying that you say for me or like the one I just said what does it mean to you?in a way.

Y.C: We always say that because we have all struggled one way or another.So your mom tells you go to school get a career because she has to get up every day in the morning go to work as a waitress were she has to deal with people that are rude are mad that don’t get how they get treated she has to treat them good because as a waitress customer is always right you know?Me as trying to get into the nursing field I have done volunteering hours at the California hospital and I have done volunteering hours at San Francis and I have dealt with people who are sick,who are in a bad mood and I have I do understand that because I have..I understand that people that go to the hospital are in their worst mood like there sick, mad, frustrated, and their family members as well so that’s why we all say that you have to go and

have a career because if you have a career and you work for what you want um you have a chance to open um whatever you want to work on and be the BOSS! you know so you can deal with people you can choose where you want.. what field you want to work in you know you don’t depend on like ”I have to go to a job that I don’t like”because I [mumbles] because I don’t have a career you know so that’s why your mom tells you and your dad tells you because they have all struggled in a way or another they have struggled in the work that they do but they still go because they know you need a roof, and they know that you need to eat, and that you need clothes, and school and everything.So the better you go in school, and the better you do, and the more you stay in school that’s a better future for yourself.

X.C: um well Yuri that’s it,those are the only questions I have for you.Thank you so much for letting me interview you and telling me about the stuff that you’ve been through and the things that are from your perspective.

Y.C: Oh your welcome I just have to tell you “keep the end in mind” and continue school.

X.C: Thank you.