Counting down the list from number 20 to eventual number 1, my heart raced as they called out the names. It was 8th grade and the rankings were out. This may seem like a rather pretentious achievement but when they called out the name “Andrea Campos” as the valedictorian of Copiague middle school. My heart skipped a beat and tears streamed down my face. Hearing my parents brag about me to their friends made me feel like my accomplishment was their achievement as well.
I am Mica Herrin, a struggling college student from a provincial town in the middle of nowhere with a bank account that is composed mostly of some change I found in the fountain, but my lineage is a story that consists of much more. My family is vibrant and diverse, spanning across most of the west coast, the mid west, the south of the United States, as well as into northern Europe. We are a ragtag collection of farmers, intellectuals, artists, and creepy uncles all with our own unique tales of travel, wonder, and woe. My personal story begins in the Mobile Infirmary in Mobile, Alabama on July ninth, 1996. As the second child of Kevin and Darla Herrin, I spent the first three years of life in Mobile, Alabama before continuing my life journey to Dallas, Texas.
There was once a boy living in south McAllen which was often referred to as La Balboa, and a sweet loving young girl living in North McAllen, these two individuals were unaware to the event that would soon be taking place that would change both of their lives forever. These two individuals were my mom and dad mom was usually refers to as La Prieta while dad was called Willi. It was the year 1995 where Willi’s friend Ray and La Prieta’s friend Cristina begged and begged for them to go on double dates with them, both Willi and La Prieta always refused. After begging for so long they finally but reluctantly agreed to go out with them. They weren’t expecting much but to go out and hopefully have some fun along the way, little did they know the
My name is Lilian Rodriguez and I am El Paso, Texas. I will be graduating from UT Austin in a few weeks with a major in Health Promotion. I really enjoy working with children. I am reliable and responsible. I am really outgoing once I feel comfortable with my environment.
As a Cuban-born woman, my expected role in society is clearly defined; my thoughts and personality have a mold into which they must fit. However, a month before my fifth birthday my family made the decision to move to the United States and in doing so liberated me from these expectations and gave me the freedom to explore my own interests and beliefs. Ten years later, they were making preparations for my Quinciañera. Due to my Cuban heritage, my coming of age was set to be commemorated by a very long and very expensive night of food, dance, and family. For the same cost as the down payment on a relatively small house, I would be given the opportunity to put on a show in a dress that restricted my airways and provide food and drink for about
I am Ayana Monroe; I was born on June 20th in 2001 to Tamu and Richard Monroe. I am the eldest of two by ten years, I am a rising junior at Long Reach High School, and I’m currently sixteen years old. I was born and raised in the Columbia, Maryland, but my second home is Richmond, Virginia. The majority of my family (aunts, uncles, grandmothers, cousins) live there and I go there to visit once a month at the least. My grandmother, Mary, the mother of my mother, is from Antigua and has taught me a lot about the culture there.
I choose to interview Gabriela Moreno, my 113 spanish professor. The reason I choose her as opposed to any other professor was because she seemed to be the easiest to talk too out of all the rest. She was also very cooperative to set up an appointment, so I decided to proceed to interview her. In class she is an open person to students about her personal life, so I already know a few details. I know about her is she is extremely passionate about her spanish heritage, she has this concept that young Hispanics fear to speak spanish because they were taught they spoke it incorrectly, and never given to opportunity to learn.
The time I went to the worst place called Vista Maria… “I walked into the doors the doors that took me to Vista Maria. I was scared,and crying. I wanted to rip my head off excuse my language but it's really true. I was at Vista Maria because I was neglected and I had to go to a foster home.
LA Spirit! While i have so many things i’m passionate about the thing that comes to me the most is my city. Los Angeles has been so good to me in the concept of sports. As a young kid growing up in South Central, all i would think about was what LA team was being broadcasted live. This was around 2005 so you could imagine what was around at the time.
I am Jesus Vazquez and my struggles. I believe that my biggest achievements derive from my biggest failures. My struggles as a kid growing up without a father, an unemployed mother, no permanent home, all worked to shape both my character and I. Early on, I realized my hardships, and my struggles would always be a part of me, however it continued to be up to me how I would let them define me. One particular struggle for me growing up was soccer and along with it comes one of my most vivid memories that depict just how I learned to trust in my struggle. As the ball sailed way over the net, I lowered my head and slumped my shoulders as I jogged back to my position.
It’s a dark, gloomy day here in Chicago. Sunday morning, December twentieth, 2051. Five days before Christmas. Another Christmas without my dad. Great.
Alana. One of the first friends that I ever made use to be a girl named Alana. When I first moved into the neighborhood where I currently live now, Alana shouted “hi” to me from across the street and I considered her to be my friend for a while. Most of the time, the friends I made did not last that long. All of my previous friendships only lasted for a few months or a year at most.
By the time I graduate high school, I will already have my college associate degree that I will have earned through my hard work and dedication. Even though I went through a lot at such a young age, it has shaped me in every possible way. I was exposed to a whole different language and culture, but I was able to succeed through my strong desire of success and dedication. I am thankful for every challenge that I had to go through because if it was not for them, I would not be the person I am
One of the most memorable accomplishments in my childhood was marked by graduating the 8th grade in 2012. At that time it did not seem so outstanding until I had experienced my arrival to high school as a freshman. I have had much support throughout my elementary level and it has brought me to what I am now. During the 8th grade, I was introduced to a new school after transferring from my old one. It was a time for regrouping my thoughts and plans for high school.
High school has impacted my life in so many ways. High School taught me so many things, from personal relationships to creating a relationship with my education. As a freshman, I made a huge amount of mistakes and I regret doing foolish things, but I’ve realized, I was only maturing into the young adult I am today. Freshman year, I was out of focus and I was only trying to find myself. I would also prioritize other things and ignore my parent’s advice, where they would tell me to focus in school and give it my full attention.
