By Sandra Iruegas

Success is defined as a the favorable or prosperous culmination of attempts or endeavors; the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like; a successful performance or achievement; a person or thing that is successful; outcome.
Levels of success are different for everyone. For some a simple home with healthy children is all the success needed in the world. For others, their financial situation or status measures success. The overcoming of a terrible loss or the defeat of disease can also be a success.
How can one achieve success? Success can be reached through hard work, discipline, and determination. One can be a successful mother, daughter, son, or wife. Or one can be a successful lawyer, doctor, rancher, or janitor. One's level of success is personal and dependent on the person.
Hearing a success story is always inspiring and encouraging. Here are the success stories of a few Laredoans.
Jennifer Vela, 18 is a Nixon High School graduate, who measures her success by the accomplishment of graduating from high school. Vela was Student Council president and captain of the Nixon girls' soccer team. She will continue her education at Texas A&M International University in the fall and wants to become a registered nurse. She wants a master's in science as well, to keep her options open.
Vela said she owes the success of finishing school to her parents, who have always been encouraging and have taught her to be independent. When a class was difficult for her she always took it upon herself to study harder to maintain good grades. "High school is one big learning experience and you are the only one that can turn it into a positive or negative one," she said.
Her advice to high school students is to take part in clubs and organizations, because by doing so they can make friends and learn something from the experience. She feels that the friends people choose in high school have a strong influence.
As a freshman, Vela felt graduation was a long road ahead. As a senior, with graduation just around the corner, she felt saddened that this journey had come to an end. Her new life as a college student will soon begin, and with that, more determination and hard work to become a successful working woman.
Pablo Cortez, 57 has been a firefighter for 21 years. He measures success by dedication to getting ahead. Cortez left high school before graduating, but he realized he had to continue his education and went on to receive his GED and to attain some college credits as well. While working part-time jobs to sustain a family -- his wife and two children -- he heard of openings for firefighters. He gave the required test a shot and placed 11th, which put him on a waiting list. In 1979 he was called in, and with hard work over years he went from rookie to captain.
Cortez recalled the successful rescue of two fellow firefighters who were trapped in a burning apartment in Del Mar. The roof caved in and part of it fell on the water hose, causing the water pressure to dwindle. Several firefighters worked together to get the two men out alive. The rescue was a success.
"The number one satisfaction of my career is the gratitude of the people," said Cortez. "It is rewarding knowing that our efforts have made a difference." Cortez' determination has turned into a successful career that allows him the satisfaction of more success stories along the way.
Enrique Ortega, 24, a truck driver, measures his success by just being alive and feeling well. Ortega battled with and defeated leukemia, struggling with the disease for five years. He underwent treatment at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. His treatment consisted of medication, radiation, and three months of chemotherapy. He also overcame a bone marrow transplant, which was provided by his brother Abeu Ortega, 22, who also had leukemia for six years.
"I felt like it was the end of the world for me, I felt so down," said Ortega about his state of mind when he was at his worst point. He suffered a relapse and with that came more discouragement. With treatment and the support of family and friends Ortega defeated leukemia. He has been in complete remission for five years and feels many things have changed in his life since his battle. "I feel that I have to keep on going with my life. I will never forget what I had to go through to be here," he said.
Restaurant owner Elizabeth Montemayor, 48, measures her success through the realization of her dream come true, a business of her own. Montemayor left her six-year job in sales at Paul Young to pursue her dream. Along with the help and support of her partner, now husband, Ray Perez, they worked rigorously to turn a former rental home property into Tres Salsas, the family-owned and operated restaurant located at 2414 Market St.
Tres Salsas began with five tables and no help in the kitchen; it has expanded to 14 tables and two cooks, and plans to undergo further expansion outdoors. Perez' greatest satisfaction is "being able to work for myself, not for anyone else," he said.
Elizabeth and Ray put in long hours after their daytime jobs to prepare the house for its new incarnation. They are proud that the growth of their restaurant is the result of their efforts. The outcome of a dream turned into reality, Tres Salsas, is Montemayor's success.