Gloria is an 11-year-old fifth grader known for her academic excellence and her ambition to become a teacher to better her family and community. Because her parents’ small house is overcrowded and uninhabitable, she lives with her paternal grandparents. Her peasant farming parents face severe financial challenges, and although both her parents and grandparents support her, limited resources are a constant struggle. With her aged father exhausted from years of work and unable to adequately provide for her siblings, Gloria’s journey is difficult but her determination to succeed in school stands strong.
