1. Since my mother's family has always resided in the state of California, my father's side was the only part of my family to emigrate to the state, but not from another country. It started when my father Anthony Velasco traveled from Chicago, Illinois with my grandparents and his siblings. My father came from a family of 8 children, so my grandparents lived a very frugal life. They had exactly what they needed to survive, but they sometimes struggled to make ends meet. Living expenses were exorbitant and they were unable to enjoy the finer things in life. At the time, my grandfather's job didn't just cover the expenses of their large family. So my grandfather decided to look for a better job opportunity. Luckily, he landed a job in downtown Los Angeles at a newspaper company. My father's experience traveling to the state of California correlates greatly with the wave of immigration we learned about during our course, as his father came seeking the "California Dream" of obtaining land and riches.2. I began to understand over the years how many opportunities the state of California offers and it definitely led me towards realizing my California dream. Despite recent budget cuts, I am extremely grateful to receive financial aid that allows me to continue my education at a higher level. I realized how difficult it was for my father to continue his education due to the financial constraints his family faced. For many others like me, we are fortunate to qualify for grants or even loan options that allow us to pursue our dreams. I can confidently say that my California dream is to achieve... middle of paper ... continually be prepared to embrace diversity within our state in all its aspects. “Beyond racial/ethnic diversity, the state has always been a magnet and home base for those seeking to break the bonds of traditional roles and ways of life” (DeBow 237). California has attracted so many people to the state for the simple reason that it is one of our “fundamental characteristics.” If we want to continue to grow as a state and secure the promises that people believe this state still keeps, we have to do it. Positively, our State values ​​diversity and considers it a plus. Although many accept the growing Latino population in our state, there are still many who are completely opposed to their migration. More people need to be informed of the real facts surrounding this issue, instead of judging based on their mere opinion..