Alfred Lopez

Alfred Lopez By: Aaron Martinez My grandfather is a big part of my life. His accomplishments in life are an inspiration to me. He was born January 1st 1957, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He was the fourth youngest of nine siblings. Including him there were 7 boys and 2 girls. He lived in Mexico until he was 10 years old. His parents were already immigrated, and worked in California before they moved him to the United States. When he arrived in San Pedro, California (where he lived for the next 12 years), he learned that life in the United States was different from Mexico. The language was different. It was hard for him to understand the teachers and make friends. Since math is the same everywhere, he mostly understood math. Still to this day, math is his strongest subject. He grew up in a large family. The advantages to that was he had older brothers to protect him, walk him to school, help with homework, and teach him about life. A big disadvantage was that he always had to share everything, including his bedroom that he shared with 4 other brothers. However, even with no friends, he always had someone to play with. He and his brothers were able to join a youth group at St. Peter’s church in San Pedro, where they met Father John, who inspired them. They were able to get out of their house but stay out of trouble. In high school, he was speaking English, and Spanish was his 2nd language. The clothes changed and people wore bellbottoms, hip huggers, and guys wore long hair. He played soccer because he wasn’t allowed to play football. His mom wouldn’t sign the waiver because she thought he would get hurt. His biggest fear in high school was getting drafted for the Vietnam War. Luckily, the war ended 2 years before he turned 18. But, his brother, Felipe, was not so lucky. He was drafted, but he made it home. Six months after graduating high school, he found a job building commercial and military ships in the port of Los Angeles. He was making more money than his parents, which had worked 30 years at Star-Kist cannery. He became very involved in his Union. He now works as a union organizer. Here he fights for employee rights. He has also fought for women’s rights for better wages and benefits. In 1979 he moved to Long Beach when he married his wife, my grandmother. They now live in Signal Hill. My grandfather is very proud of his family and is grateful for the chance to have moved to the United Stated. If he had stayed in Mexico he wouldn’t have had all the opportunities he has now.