Race, ethnicity, language, and religion are all factors in how we categorize and divide people, yet distract from the fact that we are all human. I never looked like everyone else. I don’t even resemble the appearance of my own family. Having been born into an interracial family, I’m caught between two cultures, embracing the language, the food, the values, and the practices that each bring. Born of a Filipino mother and Mexican father, I never found that I belonged to specific group. While living near the border, I had made many attempts to mingle with my Latino family. The color of my skin, the shape of my eyes, and the language that I spoke was all that my extended family saw of me. I was ostracized.
However, my grandmother was different.
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I would watch her stand and interact with those around her with confidence yet with an open mind. Regardless of her lack of education and inability to speak English, my grandma carried herself with dignity and held pride in being a United States citizen, recognizing the blessings the country has brought her and her family. I did not speak her same language or share her same features, yet my grandma never failed to extend the same love and compassion to me as she would to her other grandchildren. The communication we couldn’t find through words we found in glances, smiles, and touch.
The same compassion and love she has shown me has allowed me to foster a heart for people, immerse myself into various cultures, and extend respect and compassion to others regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religion. I too have recognized the blessings I have found in this country, and I seek ways in which I may serve others and try to make a difference in their