Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Maria who lived in Guatemala. Maria’s dream was to move to America, and pursue the American dream by starting her own business.  Her dream came true when she applied and won the Green Card Lottery and moved to the United States for a better life.

However, when she arrived at her new home, she realized that she was not as prepared as she thought she would be. She could not read or write English, she had no job skills, no money, and no friends. So she decided to start from scratch and become an entrepreneur and start her own business. She felt like the only way to survive and thrive in this country was to get help from someone who knows what they are doing.  This is where her journey began as she sought out some assistance with starting her own business.  The more she looked into it, the more she realized that there were others like her who were also struggling to start their own business in this country.

She lived in Anaheim, California, and she heard about North Orange Community Education, part of North Orange County Community College District offering free ESL classes and career certificates.  She wanted to take classes in the English as a Second Language program, and eventually learn more about starting a business. 

Maria enrolled in the ESL class, and was so excited when she got accepted into the Business Pathways program. It was the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. The Business Pathways program at North Orange County Community College District allows students to earn an Associate’s Degree while they study for their business credential. This is perfect for Maria because she is not only studying for a degree, but also learning business skills.  She has learned so much since she began her classes last year and has completed the curriculum for her associate degree in Business Management.  However, the work isn’t over yet for Maria.  In order to receive her certificate and complete her program, she must meet certain milestones. The Business Pathways program offers both in-person and online courses, allowing for flexible scheduling. 

Maria greatly enjoyed studying English in her English as a Second Language class.  Her teacher was Maestro Sersea and he had a lot of experience teaching English Learners. He was kind and funny and Maria became more fluent in her English skills in record time. She also loved that he would help her out if she was having trouble understanding English. She could ask him anything in English and he would always have an answer or explain it in a way that she would understand.

Maria also enjoyed her math class.  Her math teacher, Mr. David, was a very patient teacher who helped her learn English as a Second Language and math. He helped her overcome her fears and was supportive when she needed help.  She really appreciated that she was able to learn both subjects at the same time.  

During the program, Maria discovered that she loves working with students who struggle with learning English as a second language.  She also enjoyed the business classes where she learned about business management and marketing. Maria graduated with a degree in Business Management. She is now enrolled in the Entrepreneurial Program at North Orange County Community College District.  She plans to start her own business by the end of this year.  She is determined to get started on her journey to entrepreneurship, and she hopes that all the hard work and perseverance will pay off and that she will be successful in starting her own business. 

She knew that if she really wanted to start her own business, then she had to have a plan in place. So she did just that, she planned and prepared for her business and started the business of her dreams. Maria came up with the idea of opening her own beauty salon and hair studio. 

She already had the experience of working as a stylist in Guatemala, and she has a natural talent when it comes to cutting and styling hair. She worked at a number of salons, including some of the top salons in Guatemala.  She was always excited to go to work every day and was very dedicated to her job. She learned a lot from her experiences and she always looked forward to going to work every day.  She knew she wanted to open her own business to give her clients more flexibility and convenience when it comes to scheduling appointments. Maria knew she wanted to start her business in Orange County, but she also knew that she needed to work in Orange County first, to get the word out about her business.  

Maria also knew that she would need to find a location to open her business. She thought it would be best to start her business in a location where she could reach her target market. So she chose to start her business in Westminster, California, because she knew that there are a lot of people in the surrounding areas who would be interested in her services. Maria is very excited to be the new owner of the beauty salon and hair studio.  She hopes that her business will do well and that her customers will enjoy their time at her salon. 

She also wants her business to help other aspiring entrepreneurs follow their dreams and succeed in life.  Maria plans to expand her business by offering additional services like manicures and pedicures. She will add more beauty products like moisturizers and shampoos. She is hoping to eventually open up a second location in Huntington Beach, California. Her ultimate goal is to expand her business nationwide.  Her dream is to be able to offer the same level of quality as her current salon and hair studio, while also having the flexibility to work around clients’ schedules and work in locations all over the country. Maria can only see herself getting better and better in her business. She believes that she will grow as a business owner and that she will make many more contacts and have a positive impact on others’ lives. 

Maria’s beauty salon and hair studio became very popular. The clients enjoyed Maria and her staff. Within less than 5 years, Maria had so many happy clients that she eventually opened a second beauty salon and hair studio in Huntington Beach. She now had everything she wanted professionally.  She had saved up enough money and bought her own home in Newport Beach, California. When she wasn’t working, she spent time going out with friends in fancy restaurants and walking together in beautiful Laguna Beach, California. 

She loved living in Newport Beach, California, where she was surrounded by all types of people from all different walks of life. She was able to learn and become friends with many new people and still stayed close to her family and friends back in Guatemala.

Maria’s experience in starting her business really helped her to succeed.  She has an amazing business and she has achieved her dream of becoming successful in business.  Maria’s dream of making a positive impact on other people’s lives also helped her to become a success. 

Maria’s dream of running a beauty salon was not easy, but Maria’s determination to follow her dreams and never give up is what made it possible.  Maria is a great example of hard work and perseverance. She is a very determined and focused person who will do anything to achieve her goals and make her dreams come true. Her hard work has also helped her to be happy.  Maria loves her life.  She is very happy to be able to provide a service for people in need.  Maria hopes that other aspiring entrepreneurs will be inspired by her story to start their own businesses.

Maria’s story is a good example of how one person can accomplish a lot of things if they just have a dream and follow through.  

**Key Takeaways**

– Maria’s dream was to be a successful business owner and run her own beauty salon.

– Maria worked very hard at her dream and never gave up.

– Maria’s determination and focus helped her to achieve her goal of being a successful business owner.

– Maria’s story demonstrates how hard work and perseverance can lead to success in life.

English Learners, what did you think of this story? What did you like, and what did you want to be different? How would you continue this story? Add your insights in the comments section below.