President’s Message Hard Work Is Where I Come From by Melissa Bobadilla, OTLA Guardian Hard work. OTLA represents dedication to hard work. As trial attorneys, we dedicate ourselves to serving our clients diligently, advocating for justice and supporting each other through our efforts. When I put my name forward to serve as your president, I committed myself to work hard for this organization. I’ve been a hard worker all my life. It’s part of who I am. I grew up in Grandview, Washington, a small farming town nestled west of Richland and southeast of Yakima. Raised by hardworking parents who were farm laborers, me and my eldest sister worked alongside of them. We worked in the orchards, picking cherries, pears and apples. We picked the fruit that was in season. Once the summer harvest was in, my father would leave to Mexico and my mom worked in the warehouses and canneries. My early years were about survival. I have two sisters, one older and one younger. My mom came to the U.S. from Mexico without legal documentation when she was 15 years old. She came here seeking the American dream, a better life for herself. She met my father who was a legal immigrant. He obtained his immigration status via my grandfather through the immigration brasero program. My father commuted back and forth from Mexico. He had two women, my mom and a woman in Mexico. We all knew about this arrangement including my mom. For the longest time, she would not admit it. Finally, she had enough and told him he had to decide between her or “the one in Mexico.” My father made his choice and that was the last time we saw him. I was 10 years old. That was a pivotal time in my life because I felt abandoned. I recall making a promise to myself that I would not do that to my children. I know what it feels like to be scared because your parent is undocumented. I remember being told in school “go home, you wetback, your mom’s not from here.” Hiding in our mobile home, closing the curtains, lying on the floor with the TV very low and not leaving our home when we knew the migra was in town. Other times my mom would call in sick to work because she’d been told “la migra” would be going to the warehouse. My mom’s concern was, “If I’m taken, who is going to watch my girls?” The day my mom received her “papers,” (aka her green card) we were filled with joy. It was liberating. We no longer needed to hide. It took over 20 years for my mom to get her green card. About 10 more for her to become a U.S. citizen. I know what it feels like to have to hide from immigration, even though I was a U.S. citizen. My mom retired as a motel housekeeper. She was one of the best and her bosses knew she was a hard worker. The rooms she maintained were spotless. Securing a full-time, year-round job with benefits was priceless. My mom only has a fifth-grade education. This was “success in America.” Despite only completing fifth grade, she considered this stability and security as the epitome of her dream — a true measure of success. Her daughters have always held immense pride in her accomplishments and my children, in turn, deeply respect their grandmother’s achievements. We never felt any shame in her occupation. My mom never once complained about having to work two jobs or to provide for her girls on her own. She would always say, “I gave birth to you. You’re my responsibility.” I admire her for it. When life gets tough, I always remind myself my life is way easier than what she went through. My mother always wanted for my sisters and me to have a better life, an aspiration I deeply respect and never take for granted. I instill the same values in my children. In our culture, we honor the struggles and sacrifices of our elders by openly discussing their experiences and our own. We reveal our vulnerabilities and dreams, hoping that our children, the next generation, will surpass us and their grandparents. We want them to learn from our mistakes and lead better lives. I hold this responsibility with great seriousness. My life is significantly better because of the efforts of my mom and grandparents. MELISSA BOBADILLA specializes in personal injury law, handling cases ranging from everyday car crashes to catastrophic injuries occurring on or off the job. She has developed a niche in assisting vulnerable clients who have suffered severe injuries or lost loved ones seeking immigration relief. She is a Guardian Club member. Bobadilla is the sole practitioner at Bobadilla Law, PC., 4915 SW Griffith Drive, Ste 200, Beaverton, OR 97005. She can be reached at [email protected] and 503-496-7500. 4 Trial Lawyer | Fall 2024
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