Sara Lucrecia Fajardo was born in Guatemala on November 28, 1963. She grew up in the eastern side of the country with her parents and three brothers. Her native language is Spanish.

Growing up, Fajardo helped her mother with the household chores and managing the convenience store her parents owned and operated. Ever since she was young, she aspired to become a doctor.

A year after older brother, Jose, departed for America in 1985, she followed to live with him in California. She said one of the biggest challenges in coming to this country is learning how to speak perfect English.

Fajardo married a man she had fallen in love with in Guatemala, Roger Calderon, and together they raised Jennifer and Michelle, two daughters from a previous marriage. It was after her marriage to Calderon that life brought Fajardo to Springfield, Missouri.

Her life goals are to succeed as a mother for her daughters, to become a doctor and to become a business-owner in her home country.

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Read all of Fajardo's story and the rest of the Ethnic Life Stories Project stories by clicking here.

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Music is Bach Cello Suite no. 3 by Colin Carr from the Free Music Archive.

Episodes are edited, recorded, mixed, and published by Diana Dudenhoeffer.