Presents a portrayal of a year in the life of the Ortiz family--hard working Dominican immigrants who live frugally in Brooklyn and dream of retiring one day in their native country. Their American-born daughters have different ideas and aspirations. The eldest, Monica, is 21 and an achiever who attends an Ivy League college. She has an American boyfriend and has separated herself from the Dominican community, although she maintains close family ties. Aida, 16, is a middle child, finding her way between the world of the streets and the ambitions of her parents. The youngest daughter Mayra, 14, is a self-proclaimed "ghetto" kid. She is failing in school and mainly wants to hang out with her friends. Their mother struggles to do right by each of them.