Interview: A Grandmother’s Wish Remembered, To Improve Everyday

Veronica Patiño is a resilient woman who has gracefully overcome obstacles and trying times to reach her goals and wishes. In 1991, Veronica was only 19 when she finished her studies to become an elementary school teacher and moved to Elijah Georgia from her native country of Mexico.

Veronica recalls that as early as just being barely old enough to have any memories how her grandmother always told her uncles and aunts the importance of having an education. Her grandmother would always remind them the importance of learning everything they could so that they could someday be their own boss. Grandma used to say, “you must own your business even if it’s a small one, buy and own your home even if it’s an old one, become better and improve even if it’s a small improvement every day.”

Veronica continued to explain that she feels that her grandmother was influenced by the little bit of education that she was able to have herself which in fact was not much, only 2 years of primary school and yet, education was paramount in her eyes. Veronica recalls her grandmother was always interested in the political activities that benefitted her community. Whatever she could do to talk to the town mayor or other important businesspeople and express the town’s needs and her ideas for improvement, she did it.

“I was very content living with my grandma. When I was 12 years old, I finished primary school and was sent off to a private school that was 15 hours away from my family, I suffered. Just thinking about being so far away from my precious grandmother made me emotional often. We didn’t want to be separated but it was something we all knew I had to do. I started getting more and more used to it by my second year away. I enjoyed learning new things like agriculture, blacksmithing, livestock, apiculture, cut and confection, baking, beauty culture, and even dance! I think those years were the ones I've liked the most in life. I graduated and my uncles took me to Mexico City to work with them as an auxiliary teacher at their school. I also studied at the Institution for Teachers. When I graduated, I worked as a teacher for a year but discovered I did not like it the way I thought I would and that's when I decided to try the United States.”

Veronica began working as a waitress and a second job at a poultry plant. Then met someone who she fell fast into a romantic relationship with. This relationship turned into an abusive one. She separated as soon as she could after having endured this abuse and giving birth to two children.  She continued to work hard and moved on to meet what she thought to be a healthy relationship six years later with a wonderful man named John. They got married and had a son together making it her third child. She quit her job at the poultry plant and started selling tamales to the workers of the plant to be able to allow herself the flexibility to be with her baby and her other two children. Her marriage with John lasted 13 years and she admits it was a good relationship until John fell in love with someone new and decided to separate. This was hard and painful for her but she had 3 kids now to raise and so she kept on making food and selling to workers out of a van anywhere she could. Finally, one day she wanted to push herself and try something different from her mobile restaurant operation, she rented a small brick and mortar establishment and started selling food out of there. After 4 years of hard work sweat and savings, she was finally able to buy a location known today by the name “El Burrito To Go”.

Her work and her children where her focus and motivation for years. Veronica wasn’t thinking about love or relationships for herself anymore. Lots of years passed until 2014 when she met a man who would change her mind. She decided to give marriage another shot. Veronica finally finds herself happy and in a more mature and evolved place as a mother and businesswoman. Now she wants to dedicate her time mainly to run the finances of her business. She also invests in real estate opportunities as they come up. Through and through it’s amazing to hear Veronica recall her early years and witness where she is today.

We would like to thank Veronica for her time sharing her story with us. Our best wishes to her, her family and The Burrito to Go!

May her grandmothers wishes continue to drive Veronica’s success!

El Burrito To Go
39 Maddox Circle
East Ellijay, GA, GA 30540
(706) 276-6464
www.burrito2go.com