Gabriela Michel / Mexico
When I think of what the Hispanic community represents as a whole, I think of the obstacles and challenges many had to face and overcome when immigrating to ‘El Norte’ in efforts to create a better life. Grit, resilience and courage deeply describe the hardworking people within the community and their continuous efforts for more.
My dad started his life in Southern California when he was seventeen and my mother was twenty. Through an array of odd jobs, waitressing, maid work, restaurant cook, delivery driver, they were able to create a highly successful construction company and become a High school mathematics teacher, respectively. It all began when my mother started attending night school while my brother and I were in elementary school. She attended community college for a span of eight years. During this time, she learned about art, computer programing, and ultimately decided to pursue Mathematics. She later transferred to UCLA, obtained a B.S. in Mathematics and a concurrent Master’s Degree in Mathematics. After all that time, she wasn’t quite finished and attended CSUN for a Master’s Degree in Education. My mom’s first year teaching was when I was in 8th grade and proved to highly influence my educational paths. Even though my dad never had the opportunity to attend high school in Mexico, he in no way allowed that to limit him. His perseverance to learn English soon after arriving in this country laid the groundwork for the ultimate growth within his business. Their strives to provide for my family and their beliefs that they could accomplish all that came in their path was deeply engraved in me since birth it seems. To this day, I deeply believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind on and I know my parents and the examples they have provided are to thank.
In terms of discrimination, I always felt I experienced a different side of what varying ethnic groups deal with. Often times throughout my life, I have been continually perceived as Caucasian. My light brown hair, hazel eyes and fair skin have placed me in an in between state of being where I didn’t really appear as Mexican, at least in the stereotypical fashion. In some way, I always felt the need to prove my identity, especially in situations when people were surprised I spoke Spanish and assumed I learned in school. Or when hearing that I am Mexican and assume that I am most likely half. This doubt that others have felt in no way changed how I felt about my identity or culture. I’ve always felt a deep love and connection with Mexican culture, regardless of what others may assume and I deeply cherish that about myself and have learned to not let it bother me.
As I grew and pursued higher education, moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley, four days after my High School graduation I came to value myself and my culture more than ever before. Even though there were feelings of complete and utter fear, I was incredibly excited and eager to learn and prove that a Chicana from Pacoima could succeed with the smartest and brightest. All the triumphs my parents overcame and all the lessons and motivation instilled in me, all came to some sort of magical culmination where I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. I moved 350 miles away and knew that it was my time to make my parents, my family, and ultimately, my community proud. As I’ve matured over the years, I’ve learned to accept and love the features that previously caused me to feel as though I needed to prove myself within the Hispanic community. We must learn to look beyond and support others and dilute the mold we often times believe each ethnicity represents. We each have our own struggles, dreams to accomplish and stories to tell that ultimately show how inspirational and full of grit the Hispanic community really is.
My dad started his life in Southern California when he was seventeen and my mother was twenty. Through an array of odd jobs, waitressing, maid work, restaurant cook, delivery driver, they were able to create a highly successful construction company and become a High school mathematics teacher, respectively. It all began when my mother started attending night school while my brother and I were in elementary school. She attended community college for a span of eight years. During this time, she learned about art, computer programing, and ultimately decided to pursue Mathematics. She later transferred to UCLA, obtained a B.S. in Mathematics and a concurrent Master’s Degree in Mathematics. After all that time, she wasn’t quite finished and attended CSUN for a Master’s Degree in Education. My mom’s first year teaching was when I was in 8th grade and proved to highly influence my educational paths. Even though my dad never had the opportunity to attend high school in Mexico, he in no way allowed that to limit him. His perseverance to learn English soon after arriving in this country laid the groundwork for the ultimate growth within his business. Their strives to provide for my family and their beliefs that they could accomplish all that came in their path was deeply engraved in me since birth it seems. To this day, I deeply believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind on and I know my parents and the examples they have provided are to thank.
In terms of discrimination, I always felt I experienced a different side of what varying ethnic groups deal with. Often times throughout my life, I have been continually perceived as Caucasian. My light brown hair, hazel eyes and fair skin have placed me in an in between state of being where I didn’t really appear as Mexican, at least in the stereotypical fashion. In some way, I always felt the need to prove my identity, especially in situations when people were surprised I spoke Spanish and assumed I learned in school. Or when hearing that I am Mexican and assume that I am most likely half. This doubt that others have felt in no way changed how I felt about my identity or culture. I’ve always felt a deep love and connection with Mexican culture, regardless of what others may assume and I deeply cherish that about myself and have learned to not let it bother me.
As I grew and pursued higher education, moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley, four days after my High School graduation I came to value myself and my culture more than ever before. Even though there were feelings of complete and utter fear, I was incredibly excited and eager to learn and prove that a Chicana from Pacoima could succeed with the smartest and brightest. All the triumphs my parents overcame and all the lessons and motivation instilled in me, all came to some sort of magical culmination where I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. I moved 350 miles away and knew that it was my time to make my parents, my family, and ultimately, my community proud. As I’ve matured over the years, I’ve learned to accept and love the features that previously caused me to feel as though I needed to prove myself within the Hispanic community. We must learn to look beyond and support others and dilute the mold we often times believe each ethnicity represents. We each have our own struggles, dreams to accomplish and stories to tell that ultimately show how inspirational and full of grit the Hispanic community really is.