The family of U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and his brother U.S. Rep. John Salazar, in fact, had humble beginnings in their native Colorado. And it wasn’t simply a matter of no toys for Christmas. They recall walking to school in shoes that didn’t match because that’s all they had. But they now credit those experiences with helping them become the adults they are today.

Congressman Raúl Grijalva grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He recalls a story to his daughter Marisa of an important life lesson imparted on him when he was a child going to school. When he was given an award, he didn’t mention it to his mother, who couldn’t speak English. Months later, when it became clear that she knew that there was an awards ceremony that she didn’t go to, she taught him to never be ashamed of who he was.

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