Against the Odds

About the Book

AGAINST THE ODDS underscores a powerhouse of obstacles, diffi culties and struggles of an uprooted family life from a quiet simple farm life to a humble nomad-like existence as a result of the Great Depression. In addition to a low economy, prejudice, racism and bigotry made it much more diffi cult to survive and succeed in an adaptive way of life; a life which became a two-fold process. One side consisted of constant moving from fi eld to fi eld searching for work. The second phase consisted of trying to keep up with school work and formal education in limited or short sessions. Both phases offered learning opportunities in that migrating offered vital educational experiences while formal education reinforced a different type of discipline. The different types of experiences complemented each other and allowed paramount importance if handled effectively for eventual success.

About the Author

Inspired by her family, and despite underscored diffi culties and struggles of an uprooted family life, not only did Celia Castillo obtain a Masters Degree in English and English as a second language, she paralleled her career experiences and took an interest in wanting to help “clarify” thoughts or typecasts that have fl ourished since the Great Depression. In this book she has taken the time to extract life experiences in hopes of not only touching those who can relate, but also to parlay educational ideologies for those wanting to understand life as it was as a migrant worker during the historical era. And while this passage is a dream come true, her dedication is to those family members who once inspired her to begin the memorable journey, and to those left behind, in hopes that they will embrace their own family history from within, and enlighten offspring of future generations.