Nesto Santiago / Mexico
Being Hispanic: Is paying respect to our forefathers that had to work very hard in the sunny fields to provide for the family, Open those doors of opportunity for us to become somebody in our life and for us to not struggle in our future like they did. I remember working with my dad yard work in the sun when I was young. In the 80’s there were statistics of the Chicanos not graduating...Chicanos, Mexicans were either in gangs, in jail, working in the field, janitors etc. Hispanics were known to be a failure to society. I remember having a lot of pride with my culture being different from the rest of the society with our lowriders cars, bikes and having a different style in clothes. I decided to change my pride. I took part of changing the statistics by graduating high school and left the gang life to prove the society wrong. A lot of Hispanics that year proved the society wrong and I was one who took part of the high percentage from the new statics. I decided after getting my diploma I would proceed with a career and go to College. Now I am blessed with a career as a Community Health Navigator at Dignity Health. Hispanics now have a choice in life to choose what we want to do with it. Nobody owes us anything in life... is wanting to make that right choice and earning the respect. I still honor and respect our fore fathers by not making their dreams and hard work go to waist. Now my kids can carry the Hispanic legacy.