“When I got this job I was a single mother with four kids. I...

“When I got this job I was a single mother with four kids. I worked as a home attendant for the father of the borough president. I told him I wanted a better job. Not for money. But to do something for somebody. To more help the people. He liked me very much, so he called the Board of Education. He said please give her an interview; she is very hard worker. And they said OK. I don’t speak perfect English at the interview. Sometimes they couldn’t understand me. I was spelling words to them. But they hired me. They said they wanted balance, and they give me job of ‘family worker.’ They tell me: talk to the parents, make home visits, make sure about attendance. I was so thankful. I worked so hard. I want to do everything, because I don’t speak the language. I wanted to do more. Anything that needed to be done. I open the door in the morning at 7:45 AM. I give the kids hugs. I give the kids kisses. I say: ‘Rosso is here.’ At night I close the building at 9 PM. I learn everything on the computer. The principal was very happy with me, because she knows that she can call Rosso for anything. I never got tired. You only get tired when you don’t like what you’re doing. I will do anything for the kids. Because I never want them to experience what I experienced. I was all alone when I came to this country. I was nineteen, and I did life by myself: cleaning houses, washing clothes. Everything I sent back to my family in the Dominican Republic. I don’t want that life for nobody. I want to see these kids grow up and be happy. No streets. No jail. I tell them: I never had this opportunity like you do. In this country if you have education, you have everything. I don’t need money; I just want to see them grow up, and be happy, that is my pay. On Valentine’s Day the kids bring me flowers. So many flowers. My office is filled with flowers. I say I don’t need it, but they bring them. They write on the cards: ‘Rosso this, Rosso that. I love you Rosso.’ Sometimes they draw a picture. Sometimes they cry. Everyone is happy. My family is happy, my kids are so proud. Every day my English gets more better. The principal is so happy with me. She says: ‘Just maybe, less kisses on the face.’ But she is so happy.”