Beverly Yax is a breath of fresh air.
Bursting into class, she greets friends with her laughing brown eyes and mega-watt smile. On this bleak afternoon in January, Bev floods my classroom with her own particular sunlight.
"Here's my best friend - the queen of the ball!" she congratulates her friend Ciara, another lively student in Senior English just crowned Winter Ball queen at our Central Catholic school dance last weekend. "I was so mad at you when you danced with my date," Bev teases Ciara before giggling like the sweet school girl she is.
It is always like this. Bev radiates smiles and warmth and cheer. I never suspect life is anything but untroubled for this adorable girl. She works hard for her nearly flawless grades, competes joyfully with her friends on the cross country team, and is universally adored by all who know her.
Two years ago as a sophomore, however, Beverly's world turns upside down. The girl who comes to school every day with a gleeful smile leads a far from untroubled life. Only days before Christmas, Beverly's mother is arrested at her work place by immigration officials for possessing a false identity. She immediately phones Bev at home and calmly instructs her to call her big brother Abidan who lives and works in Lincoln.
"Mom!" Bev sobs over the phone. "How can you be so calm?"
"Leave it in the hands of God," her mother soothes.
It is almost, Bev believes, as if her mother has known for 18 years that this moment will come.
Long ago when Bev's mother is 16-years-old living in Guatemala with her own widowed mom and 12 siblings, she flees with her 17-year-old boyfriend Benjamin to Los Angeles. Benjamin Yax speaks English and quickly finds a job as an electrician. Juana, however, speaks no English. Nevertheless, she finds work as a maid and diligently saves money to support her large family back in Guatemala.
When she and Benjamin marry, they decide to move to Grand Island to raise their family. Because Juana is an illegal immigrant, she purchases a fake social security number from a woman in California. It's the only way she will be able to find work, and her Guatemalan family is depending on her. The woman, however, tells Juana it will cost 10,000 dollars. For five years, Juana and Benjamin work hard to pay off their debt. Juana never uses the fake social security number for anything except a job application, but the worry of discovery hangs constantly over her.
In Grand Island, Benjamin and Juana raise their three children Abidan, Bev and Bambi. Juana finds a good job at JBS, and Benjamin works for Ziller Tile. The Zillers, all Central Catholic graduates, convince the Yaxes to send their hard working children to GICC. Benjamin and Juana have dreams for their children. Although Ben is a high school graduate, Juana has only a fifth grade education. Their children, the couple is determined, will go to college.
With exceptional sacrifice on their part, they manage to send both Abidan and Beverly to Central Catholic. Abidan is athletic, and Bev is smart. While the kids thrive, Benjamin and Juana's marriage falters. Benjamin begins drinking. Not long after, he is unfaithful to Juana. Then one day as Juana works hard at her job, immigration officials raid the office to arrest her. In a fell swoop, life has fallen apart for the Yax family.
Juana is released on bond, but there is every reason to believe she will be deported. Because her mother is forbidden to work, Bev finds a full time job to help support her family. She pushes away from her good friends and refuses to go to school. Never has she felt more alone.
When she doesn't appear at GICC for two weeks, GICC comes to her. Principal Kristen Klein and Spanish teacher Amy May show up at the door of the Yax family home.
"I'll never forget that day," Bev recalls. "Mrs. Klein talked me into coming back to school. She told me Central Catholic would be there for me and would find a way to help with tuition."
Her friends and teachers, especially religion teachers Deb Houdek and Mary Wiles, support her through the next 14 months.
"They were so good to me," Bev smiles tremulously. "I couldn't have gotten through that time without them." Mrs. Houdek is always there to listen, she says, and it's Miss Wiles who helps Bev with her faith.
"Our family is not Catholic," Bev says, "but in 7th grade, Miss Wiles taught our class the Rosary. It's become my very favorite prayer and makes me feel so close to God." She sighs raggedly. "Once I thought God was against me, but now I know he's always been with me."
In spite of her 40 hour work week at the Field House, Bev manages to stay on top of her nearly 4.0 grade average and even participates in softball and basketball. Her school and friends are the lifeline she needs. Just before her junior year, though, as she and her family wait anxiously for her mother's court date, Bev injures her knee and must have surgery. Because of her mother's illegal status, the family has no Medicaid insurance, and Bev and her father must pay for her surgery.
"St. Francis helped us, but the rest was up to us," she explains. "We have six thousand dollars still to go," she flashes a hopeful smile, "but we're getting there!"
In the meantime, her mother and father have worked on their marriage.
"Find God, and go to AA!" Juana insists of her husband. He does, and only recently is baptized at Centro Vida Christian Church. It's a great day for the Yax family.
In February, Juana's court date is finally scheduled. Bev is terrified, and so am I. She will miss school, she explains, but promises to let me know the results of the hearing. All that day at school I stare at the clock waiting for a text from Bev. During 8th period, at the end of the day, she all at once appears in the doorway of my classroom. We stare at each other, and I wait.
"It's okay!" she sobs. Running to me, she flings her arms around my neck, and the two of us grip each other, oblivious to the stares of my startled 11th grade American Lit students.
It's scary going to the courthouse, Bev tearfully explains. For the first time in her life, she sees hardened criminals all around her. When it's time for her mother to appear before the judge, Bev says, Juana apologizes. She describes to the judge her dilemma of trying to find work in the United States to care for her mother and younger siblings. Then it's Bev's turn to speak to the judge.
"If you take away my mother," Bev pleads, "you take away my family. My little sister would have to go to Guatemala with our mother. We would all be split up."
The judge decides in their favor, and even the prosecutors apologize to the Yax family. "You're a good family," one attorney pumps all their hands. "I'm sorry for all you've endured."
Never has Bev been so happy.
"I don't have a family like everybody else at Central Catholic," she admits. In awe, she sees the way her classmates' parents anticipate their children's every need and smooth their way. Bev, in the meantime, is still working 40 hours a week. Her mother will not be able to work until her immigration status is resolved, and Bev must help pay the family bills and her surgery balance. Nevertheless, she's as happy as she's ever been.
"My family is together," she smiles, her face alight, "and I have the support of this school and my friends. It's all I need."
 |
| Beverly Yax, GICC senior |
Bursting into class, she greets friends with her laughing brown eyes and mega-watt smile. On this bleak afternoon in January, Bev floods my classroom with her own particular sunlight.
"Here's my best friend - the queen of the ball!" she congratulates her friend Ciara, another lively student in Senior English just crowned Winter Ball queen at our Central Catholic school dance last weekend. "I was so mad at you when you danced with my date," Bev teases Ciara before giggling like the sweet school girl she is.
It is always like this. Bev radiates smiles and warmth and cheer. I never suspect life is anything but untroubled for this adorable girl. She works hard for her nearly flawless grades, competes joyfully with her friends on the cross country team, and is universally adored by all who know her.
Two years ago as a sophomore, however, Beverly's world turns upside down. The girl who comes to school every day with a gleeful smile leads a far from untroubled life. Only days before Christmas, Beverly's mother is arrested at her work place by immigration officials for possessing a false identity. She immediately phones Bev at home and calmly instructs her to call her big brother Abidan who lives and works in Lincoln.
"Mom!" Bev sobs over the phone. "How can you be so calm?"
"Leave it in the hands of God," her mother soothes.
It is almost, Bev believes, as if her mother has known for 18 years that this moment will come.
Long ago when Bev's mother is 16-years-old living in Guatemala with her own widowed mom and 12 siblings, she flees with her 17-year-old boyfriend Benjamin to Los Angeles. Benjamin Yax speaks English and quickly finds a job as an electrician. Juana, however, speaks no English. Nevertheless, she finds work as a maid and diligently saves money to support her large family back in Guatemala.
When she and Benjamin marry, they decide to move to Grand Island to raise their family. Because Juana is an illegal immigrant, she purchases a fake social security number from a woman in California. It's the only way she will be able to find work, and her Guatemalan family is depending on her. The woman, however, tells Juana it will cost 10,000 dollars. For five years, Juana and Benjamin work hard to pay off their debt. Juana never uses the fake social security number for anything except a job application, but the worry of discovery hangs constantly over her.
In Grand Island, Benjamin and Juana raise their three children Abidan, Bev and Bambi. Juana finds a good job at JBS, and Benjamin works for Ziller Tile. The Zillers, all Central Catholic graduates, convince the Yaxes to send their hard working children to GICC. Benjamin and Juana have dreams for their children. Although Ben is a high school graduate, Juana has only a fifth grade education. Their children, the couple is determined, will go to college.
With exceptional sacrifice on their part, they manage to send both Abidan and Beverly to Central Catholic. Abidan is athletic, and Bev is smart. While the kids thrive, Benjamin and Juana's marriage falters. Benjamin begins drinking. Not long after, he is unfaithful to Juana. Then one day as Juana works hard at her job, immigration officials raid the office to arrest her. In a fell swoop, life has fallen apart for the Yax family.
Juana is released on bond, but there is every reason to believe she will be deported. Because her mother is forbidden to work, Bev finds a full time job to help support her family. She pushes away from her good friends and refuses to go to school. Never has she felt more alone.
When she doesn't appear at GICC for two weeks, GICC comes to her. Principal Kristen Klein and Spanish teacher Amy May show up at the door of the Yax family home.
"I'll never forget that day," Bev recalls. "Mrs. Klein talked me into coming back to school. She told me Central Catholic would be there for me and would find a way to help with tuition."
Her friends and teachers, especially religion teachers Deb Houdek and Mary Wiles, support her through the next 14 months.
 |
| Bev with friends Ciara Hernandez, left, and Kenna Culler, right. |
"Our family is not Catholic," Bev says, "but in 7th grade, Miss Wiles taught our class the Rosary. It's become my very favorite prayer and makes me feel so close to God." She sighs raggedly. "Once I thought God was against me, but now I know he's always been with me."
In spite of her 40 hour work week at the Field House, Bev manages to stay on top of her nearly 4.0 grade average and even participates in softball and basketball. Her school and friends are the lifeline she needs. Just before her junior year, though, as she and her family wait anxiously for her mother's court date, Bev injures her knee and must have surgery. Because of her mother's illegal status, the family has no Medicaid insurance, and Bev and her father must pay for her surgery.
"St. Francis helped us, but the rest was up to us," she explains. "We have six thousand dollars still to go," she flashes a hopeful smile, "but we're getting there!"
In the meantime, her mother and father have worked on their marriage.
"Find God, and go to AA!" Juana insists of her husband. He does, and only recently is baptized at Centro Vida Christian Church. It's a great day for the Yax family.
In February, Juana's court date is finally scheduled. Bev is terrified, and so am I. She will miss school, she explains, but promises to let me know the results of the hearing. All that day at school I stare at the clock waiting for a text from Bev. During 8th period, at the end of the day, she all at once appears in the doorway of my classroom. We stare at each other, and I wait.
"It's okay!" she sobs. Running to me, she flings her arms around my neck, and the two of us grip each other, oblivious to the stares of my startled 11th grade American Lit students.
It's scary going to the courthouse, Bev tearfully explains. For the first time in her life, she sees hardened criminals all around her. When it's time for her mother to appear before the judge, Bev says, Juana apologizes. She describes to the judge her dilemma of trying to find work in the United States to care for her mother and younger siblings. Then it's Bev's turn to speak to the judge.
"If you take away my mother," Bev pleads, "you take away my family. My little sister would have to go to Guatemala with our mother. We would all be split up."
The judge decides in their favor, and even the prosecutors apologize to the Yax family. "You're a good family," one attorney pumps all their hands. "I'm sorry for all you've endured."
Never has Bev been so happy.
"I don't have a family like everybody else at Central Catholic," she admits. In awe, she sees the way her classmates' parents anticipate their children's every need and smooth their way. Bev, in the meantime, is still working 40 hours a week. Her mother will not be able to work until her immigration status is resolved, and Bev must help pay the family bills and her surgery balance. Nevertheless, she's as happy as she's ever been.
"My family is together," she smiles, her face alight, "and I have the support of this school and my friends. It's all I need."
