This document profiles several individuals who struggled and survived during the colonial era: 1) Catarina de Monte Sinay was a nun in Brazil who invested money from her business ventures to renovate her convent, violating church law but providing support during an economic downturn. 2) Juan de Morga and Gertrudis de Escobar were slaves in Mexico who helped destroy the restrictive colonial social order through their relationship and children. 3) Squanto was the last of the Patuxet tribe who helped facilitate good relations between European colonists and Native Americans through trade and agriculture.