I CAN’T COMPLAIN Grecia Cook July 2013

FIRST BREATH My name is Grecia Cook, maden name is Montoya. I was born in El Salvador on the morning of September 29, 1989 My mother was 15 and my father was 30. The marriage didn’t last long, my mother became a single mom. We moved to the United States when I was 2, I don’t remember a thing! After Immigrating here, my mother met her boyfriend. Her boyfriend became to most amazing man, who I now know as the greatest father on this planet. Her boyfreind raised me as his own.

SIBLINGS In August of 1994 my mom and her boyfriend became a married couple. In December 1994 my parents also introduced me to my best friend, my little sister, aka the lazy one of the family lol. In 1998 my parents bought their fist home in West Valley Utah. I felt like I finally was settled in and I belonged to a neighborhood. My dairy was my silliness, and I loved my elementary friends. In September 2001, my mother introduced us to our baby sister. The little one, AKA our little dancer. My little sister was born 3 days after 911 happened. Ill never forget the morning of 911.

TEENAGER Becoming a young women wasn't so easy emotionally. I held my ground, and it kept me sane. I tried to run for 7 grade secretary in junior high, unfortunately I didn’t get voted for. It didn’t ruin my self esteem, but it did discourage me. I never tried again. I became an average student, and I accepted that. I didn’t push myself further. I made it in to High School and in the 11 th grade I became pregnant. I stayed in High School and became part of the Class of 07’ but didn’t go straight to college. A new journey of being a mom began.

17 YR OLD MOM Being a mom and physically being there I was never worried about. Emotionally being there, I was afraid of never hitting me. My baby was born at 8lbs 4oz. by an emergency C-Section. When I saw my son’s face, I couldn’t believe the love that hit me. He is my WORLD! On November 21, 2006 my heart started to live outside my body. I never knew how strong a love could be. The love is so strong that it hurts. The baby daddy, then became my fiancé, and short after that he became my husband. My son is going on 7yrs old and I couldn’t love my family anymore than I do now.

HAPPY ADULT LIFE I am now 23 years old. I love being a mommy, and a wife to my husband. I have worked for the Salt Lake county for 5 years now. My husband is a CDL driver. We are both working towards a good future for our little family. I enjoyed this project and I hope you enjoyed reading the slides I know I am still young, and have so much to learn as an adult. I am always excited to see what is out there to learn, and I appreciate advice from people that have been through life already.