The passage discusses the author's mother Yaqueline Roman's early work experiences after immigrating to the United States from Mexico in 1995. Her first job was as a cashier at a dollar store paying $3.30 an hour. She then worked in two different factory jobs, first sharpening irons for $4.00 an hour from 1994 to 1997, then packing cookies for $4.75 an hour from 1997 to 1998. From 2000 to 2003, she earned $5.15 an hour working through a temporary agency in Chicago that took 20 dollars a week from her pay. The passage focuses on highlighting the author's mother's life and experiences as an immigrant worker.