La Estrella

I believe educators deserve the world. One of my favorite people in the world was a teacher. In life you have to find inspiration and determination through pain; especially when you come from poverty. With a starving stomach, a young lady is going to rewrite her story. See, when you are born on an island with no hope, abandoned by your biological father, mother left for the states and your step father deserted you in your time of need. Determined to succeed, she put a plan together. She always been a dreamer but this time she had to make it a reality. There was no time to waste. She had to persevere through heartbreak and disappointment.

A true rag to riches story.

Melissa’s dream to be a teacher started when she was 8 years old. She said she doesn’t remember being poor. Her parents shielded her from seeing that until they couldn’t anymore. In her teenage years, she saw her step father’s work ethic. You can say he was her first hero. Growing up she remembered she did not want to fall complacent. She did not want to be just another person to succumb to their environment, so she worked hard to get good grades. With her work ethic speaking for itself, she tried to apply for colleges. Denied 2 times, the 3rd time was truly the charm. Melissa said “I did not care where it was, I just wanted my opportunity”. At the time, it was the only good news she had. As her hero left and the rest of her family moved to New York state, she was left alone in Puerto Rico. Alone to finish the goal. This can break some people. Some people would’ve giving up. But this woman has something in her soul not a lot of people have. Courage.

Even when she had to sleep on friends couches. Friends from her church. Even when a “friend” called her in the middle of her busy life as a college student to pack her stuff because she could no longer live with them. Melissa fought poverty, harassment from sick male adults that prey on a young woman. She was discriminated by some of her peers and family members because she was a woman chasing education. Through all the ups and downs, 2 years into college she found love. She found a boyfriend that would turn out to be her husband a few years later. She found some sort of stability. She also found new purpose due to her being pregnant and having her first of two boys. Melissa said “I knew I had to finish it” speaking about her final years in college. “I had to show them but most importantly I had to finish for myself” she said. So she did and her journey continued.

Melissa was teaching in Puerto Rico for minimum wage (the most she ever made was $10,000 in a single year) but her she dreamt of something else. Being stable for her family. Her and her husband tried to start a business in Puerto Rico but it failed miserably. They put their life savings into it and it didn’t amount to anything. So her husband joined the army and she found a job in Texas. They took a leap of faith and headed to The Lone Star State. Melissa Estrella cried to GOD. Prayed everyday. Carried the pain from a broken family and she still made it. Everyone has their own dream. See, being rich is about fulfilling your purpose. She wanted to become a teacher and she did it. A full time teacher in Dallas, Texas. A bilingual speaking latina woman that had all the odds stacked against her. She willed herself time after time. She DESERVES recognition. All teachers do. They are the foundation of this country and often taken for granted. I asked her what’s next? And Melissa responded, “anything I desire. Right now I am enjoying teaching.” I don’t think she noticed what she’s been through until we spoke about her past. Her whole life has been about the next step she had to take to survive. She never looked back and dwelled on it. A true role model.

Her message to all the 17 year old women struggling with their identity: "NEVER let anyone turn off the FIRE that burns inside you. The FIRE is the passion inside you. So use it to be successful in life”.

The Star Teacher…Melissa Estrella