Being raised in a single parent household, I have faced many challenges pushing me to mature quickly. Since I was born in the United States, I grew up in American culture. I understand the language, music, food, everything. Even though I acted like an American, I still look like a Mexican, with all the Mexican features: brown eyes, brownish-blackish hair, brown skin, dark eyebrows and Spanish speaking. In preschool, a woman would watch over me taking notes on how I would communicate with others. She wrote reports about my habits, toys I played with, and my interactions with peers.

I am proud to be an American citizen, but I am also proud to be Mexican. A big part of my culture that makes me feel like a Mexican are the flea markets. When I was younger my dad would take me to the market, he’d buy me food, clothes, toys for cheap. Everyone was nice, it felt like I was a part of a big family. Why was this such a big deal for me? My mother rarely let me out since she was always working to provide. I didn't know who I was, I was just quiet and wouldn’t speak up. Then my life took a drastic turn when my father walked out, this affected me mentally. I thought to myself, Was I really the worst daughter a father could have? I always respected and cherished him, but even so it still wasn't enough. This was a challenge I faced growing up. Back then, loving my culture was a scar with unforgettable memories.

Life kept going, but I felt like I was left behind. I soon had to overcome the mentality of believing I was the problem. It has taken time to rebuild my self esteem and my values in life. I couldn’t blame myself for what happened and once I was able to comprehend it, I started to love my culture more. Instead of thinking about what I had missed out on, I now appreciate how my experience has shaped me to be a strong independent woman. I have a loving mother which I am very blessed to have. This process helped me embrace who I really am: an outgoing, kind, empathetic and humble person. I now have my own ambitions and goals to graduate and attend a university.

From the ups and downs in my life, it has shown me no matter the hardships I face, it will not take away from who I am. I love my culture and even though my father’s absence affected my view on my culture, I came to the realization that I have many loving people around me. He probably won’t walk me down the aisle one day, but my mom will because she truly is the only parent who really looks out for my well being. That is why if one person has affected you in a way that has changed your view on life, just remember that other people do not define you. Does it stand by your values? Though I miss out on some aspects in life, it's what I make from it that is important.

© Celeste. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.