For my Wesearch product in U.S. history, I chose to research my Grandma Marie Andre Joseph-Pauline(1958-2013). I selected my grandma because Me and my grandma were really close until she passed away. I really looked up to my grandma because of how strong she was as a women. She was very loving when it came to her family. The stories i heard about her when i got older was so interesting to hear. I am also doing this to honor her because of how great she was as a grandma to me. In preperation for this product, I interviewed one of Marie's three children, Marie Andre Jospeh-Pauline(my grandma mother), twice and i researched relevant historical events that affected Marie, like moving to a whole new country without knowing any english and how the American dream changed the dynamic of a household. One new fact I learned about my grandma was how she learned sign language when the only language she knew was french. By her learning sign language she was able to help alot in the medical field. If you look closely at the picture on the left of Marie and Daniel(her ex husband). One interesting thing i learned about my family is that they had a family business in Martinique which was carpentry.

Marie Andre Jospeh-Pauline was born on April 8th,1958 in Fort de France Martinique(67 years ago). She was the thrid born of nine kids. The name "Marie"( which happens to be my grandmas first name)which is the french latin name for Mary. It is derived from french word meaning "star of the sea".Her name was significant to carry on throughout our family due to how much we honor her. My girl cousin is named Annie Marie in memory of my grandma.

Marie was a very strong women. Her and Her husband migrated from Martinique to the United states for a better opportunity. She wanted to chase the American Dream. She came to the United Sates not knowing a lick of English. She was determined enough to take a English and sign language class to be able to know how to maneuver in the United States. She always wanted to go back to school to become a nurse but unfortunately that did not happen. She obtained three jobs in order to be able to put food on the table for her kids. She did the best she could with what she could had. She did eventually obtain the american dream, she a house, a husband and three beautiful kids. She was making a living for her and her kids.

Marie was described as very Hard working, and determined. For example, My grandmas mother house burnt down and was still able to replenish a whole new house. She had went through a divorce and still was able to hold down her kids by herself with a Mans help. She learned sign language, and went back to school to learn english. Her daughter Tania(my mother) has many memorable stories about her starting from the bottoming and making it to the top.

I am not sure how Marie would define the American Dream because she passes on 2.02.2013. However when asking her daughter in which is my mother she told me that Marie was sable to achieve the American Dream that she was looking for. She bought a house, had a two-family home and had a good-paying job. Her daughter did express how Marie came from " a family who wasn't fortunate". Marie's mother and father were not very fortunate but they did what they could to make ends meet. Marie was very ambitious and wanted to go after things that she wasn't granted in her primary years. In the end, I think Marie was able to obtain the American Dream due to all the doors she opened for herself. She was very determined to execute the things that she always dreamed of doing as a kid that was never granted.

Marie's story helped me understand that you can do anything you want to do once you put your mind to it. Dont stop until it's your last fight. Although life might get hard and you feel defeated you must push through My grandma had to give up a lot of things just to make ends meet for her family. For example, she sacrificed a whole relationship just to make sure she and her kids were okay. Also, when her house burned down she had to take on more jobs just to make enough to get somewhere else to live and put food on the table. She was a VERY hard-working woman that I will forever look up to.

May You Rest In Peace!