Maria and her Dream of Becoming an Entrepreneur in the USA: Creative Stories #4

Once upon a time, a young woman named Maria 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, 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, 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 assistance with starting her own business.  The more she looked into it, the more she realized that others like her were also struggling to start their own business in this country.

She lived in Anaheim, California, and 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 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 studying for their business credentials. This is perfect for Maria because she is studying for a degree and 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.  She must meet certain milestones to receive her certificate and complete her program. The Business Pathways program offers in-person and online courses, allowing flexible scheduling. 

Maria greatly enjoyed studying English in her English as a Second Language class.  Her teacher was Maestro Sersea, and he had much 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 if she had 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 patient and helped her learn English as a Second Language and math. He helped her overcome her fears and was supportive when she needed help.  She appreciated that she was able to learn both subjects at the same time.  

During the program, Maria discovered she loves working with students struggling to learn English as a second language.  She also enjoyed 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 wanted to start her own business, she had to have a plan. 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 beauty salon and hair studio. 

She already had experience working as a stylist in Guatemala and has a natural talent for cutting and styling hair. She worked at several 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 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 scheduling appointments. Maria knew she wanted to start her business in Orange County, but she also knew she needed to work in Orange County first to get the word out about her business.  

Maria also knew 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 many people in the surrounding areas would be interested in her services. Maria is very excited to be the new beauty salon and hair studio owner.  She hopes her business will do well and 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 services like manicures and pedicures. She will add more beauty products like moisturizers and shampoos. She hopes to open a second location in Huntington Beach, California, eventually. Her ultimate goal is to expand her business nationwide.  Her dream is 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 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, make many more contacts, and positively impact others’ lives. 

Maria’s beauty salon and hair studio became very popular. The clients enjoyed Maria and her staff. Within less than five 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 enough money and bought her 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, surrounded by all types of people from all different walks of life. She learned and became friends with many new people and stayed close to her family and friends back in Guatemala.

Maria’s experience in starting her business helped her to succeed.  She has a great business and has achieved her dream of becoming successful in business.  Maria’s dream of positively impacting other people’s lives also helped her 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 very determined and focused and will do anything to achieve her goals and achieve her dreams. 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 other aspiring entrepreneurs will be inspired by her story to start their businesses.

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

**Key Takeaways**

– Maria dreamed of being a successful business owner and running her 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.

Activity: Multiple-Choice Questions

Directions: Please take out a sheet of paper or use your notebook to write your answers. Once you write your answers on your paper, please review the answer key below.

1. Based on the passage, what was Maria’s dream?
   A. To become a successful stylist in Guatemala.
   B. To open her own beauty salon and hair studio.
   C. To move to America and pursue the American dream.
   D. To study English as a Second Language.
2. Which of the following best describes Maria’s initial situation when she arrived in the United States?
   A. Fluent in English with job skills and money.
   B. Unable to read or write English with no job skills, money, or friends.
   C. Prepared with job skills and money, but lacking English proficiency.
   D. Fluent in English with job skills, but lacking money and friends.
3. What motivated Maria to start her own business?
   A. Lack of job opportunities in the United States.
   B. The desire to get help from someone knowledgeable.
   C. The need to survive and thrive in a new country.
   D. The availability of free ESL classes and career certificates.
4. What program did Maria enroll in to pursue her dream of starting a business?
   A. English as a Second Language program.
   B. Business Pathways program.
   C. Entrepreneurial Program.
   D. Associate’s Degree program.
5. How did Maria improve her English skills?
   A. By studying with Maestro Sersea.
   B. By taking math classes.
   C. By attending in-person and online courses.
   D. By enrolling in the Business Pathways program.
6. What subjects did Maria study in the Business Pathways program?
   A. English and math.
   B. Business management and marketing.
   C. ESL and career certificates.
   D. Entrepreneurship and business credential.
7. What did Maria plan to open as her own business?
   A. A beauty salon and hair studio.
   B. A math tutoring center.
   C. An ESL school.
   D. A business management consulting firm.
8. Why did Maria choose Westminster, California as the location for her business?
   A. It was close to her home in Newport Beach.
   B. It had a large population of potential customers.
   C. It offered lower rent for commercial spaces.
   D. It was a popular tourist destination.
9. What additional services did Maria plan to offer in her beauty salon?
   A. Manicures and pedicures.
   B. Massage therapy and facials.
   C. Tattoo and piercing services.
   D. Hair coloring and extensions.
10. What is Maria’s ultimate goal for her business?
    A. To open multiple locations nationwide.
    B. To offer the highest quality services in Orange County.
    C. To expand her services to include spa treatments.
    D. To provide flexible scheduling for clients.
11. How did Maria’s business grow over time?
    A. She opened a second location in Huntington Beach.
    B. She started offering additional services like manicures and pedicures.
    C. She became the owner of a popular beauty salon and hair studio.
    D. She gained a large number of happy and loyal clients.
12. What does Maria’s story demonstrate?
    A. The importance of having a dream and following through.
    B. The challenges of starting a business in a new country.
    C. The benefits of studying English as a Second Language.
    D. The impact of hard work and perseverance on success.
13. What was Maria’s initial motivation for enrolling in the ESL class?
    A. To improve her English skills.
    B. To learn more about starting a business.
    C. To meet other people struggling to start a business.
    D. To study for an associate’s degree in Business Management.
14. Which teacher helped Maria with both English as a Second Language and math?
    A. Maestro Sersea.
    B. Mr. David.
    C. Ms. Maria.
    D. Mrs. Smith.
15. How did Maria feel about her life and career after achieving her dream?
    A. Unhappy and unfulfilled.
    B. Satisfied and content.
    C. Regretful and disappointed.
    D. Ambivalent and uncertain.

Answer Key:

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. B
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. A
11. A
12. A
13. B
14. B
15. B