Personal Narrative: Exploring My Ethnic Roots

When I was younger, I never felt out of place. I didn't even know what out of place was, I was always just me. When asked where I was from, I would always say America, obviously. I never regarded my Cuban culture and I resented the fact that I didn't look like the blonde, blue-eyed actresses that dominated the media. As I got older I started appreciating my Hispanic roots more, but I still didn't feel like I truly belonged anywhere.

I believe the term, hispanic, itself does not define who I am. I define who I am and who I want to become. However, I do come from a Mexican heritage. Coming from a Mexican heritage has influenced and deeply impacted my life. My heritage has taught me a lot. I have learned growing up to value my identity, values, faith, and family.

Being a child of immigrant parents is not easy. You are constantly living in the fear that one day you’ll wake up and you parents won’t be there with you anymore. Specially now that we have a new president, things are getting more challenging. But don’t get me wrong, I live a happy life. I am proud to call myself a Latina. Being a child of immigrant parents has taught me so much. For example, being able to work hard for what you want. At school, I always strive to get A’s. My parent’s have taught me to never settle for anything less than a B. They know that in order for me to go to college and be successful, I not only have to get good grades but work hard to get there. I love a good challenge. Sometimes it’s not about the obstacles you face,

My father is someone who I strongly admire not because he is my father, but because of his story. Just like other immigrants, he came to the United States for an opportunity and a better lifestyle for his future family. The opportunity of becoming a United States citizen came true, while other immigrants do not have a citizenship, it is unlikely for them to succeed and find a job within the United States.

This article discusses Ethan Couch being deported back to the United States after him and his mother left to Mexico. Ethan Couch, while intoxicated, caused a crash that ultimately killed four people in the other car, however, in a juvenile court he used an affluenza defense that left him with only 10 years of probation, including the restriction of alcoholic consumptions. After a video later showed up of Couch drinking at a party, him and his mother left to Mexico to evade the investigation. Recently, the Mexican authorities were trying to lift the injunction that has, so far, let the teenager stay in the country and trying to get him deported back to the United States. Although Couch is fighting the deportation, if he does come back he will

About 20 years ago my parents came to the United States from Mexico in order to give their children a better life. As I near the end of my high school career I realize now that what they wanted for my siblings and I was a fresh start from poverty and the opportunity to a higher education.

Did you know theres so many violent cases where Border Patrol agents or BPA for short, don't even get charged for the awful things they do to migrants. The problem that we need to fix is how Border Patrol agents treat migrants or deal with them. We need to stop Border Patrol brutality because out there are being beat or ending up with injuries because of these abusive agents.

In this paper, I analyzed and used various scholarly sources as my evidence to help demonstrate how Mexican immigrants have been an important economic group to Los Angeles. My mythological approach to this project has mainly included using academic books and a peer-reviewed journal article to help reinforce my thesis. The books I used were Latino Los Angeles, Steel Barrio, and Latino Metropolis. In these books, the authors have either discussed the patterns of Mexican immigration, how Mexicans have had a huge role in contributing to the Los Angeles economy, and the various types of job sectors Mexicans have worked in. One book, Steel Barrio focuses on the steel industry in Chicago, Illinois. Nevertheless, this book can

As a child I would always see my parents work hard for every dollar they made. When I reached my teenage years I realized that it was because they were immigrants to this country and took whatever job opportunity they could find. I also came to realize that I was an immigrant, and that life was tougher for not having the proper documentation. This year I fell into the biggest hole of my life. I learned that I was not going to get financial aid because of my legal status and my mother was also diagnosed with a tumer last month. I fell into a depression thinking I was not going to be able to go to college. My mother also could not get her surgery until she had insurance which she could not get because of her legal status. As I laid crying I came

From my family, my parents, my sister and a few uncles are undocumented. The majority of my uncles got lucky when they came to the U.S. because when they came around the late or early 1980s they were granted residency. On the other hand, if my dad would have come earlier maybe he would have become a citizen as well. My dad came to the U.S. earlier than my mother and sister. When he got help and collected the money to crossed the border, all my uncles lived in the same apartment at South Gate. My dad worked in a bakery in South Gate for a few years and two years later my mom and my sister came to the U.S. The fact that I come from an immigrant family, I am aware of the struggles that many immigrants face. Someone who is undocumented faces different

Life as a Native American sucks. I realized this when I was a little kid. I’ve come to accept that what other people label or describes us as are true. I’m not happy to admit this they are right. My people don’t do anything to prove these people’s claims, or better known as stereotypes, about Native Americans wrong. Instead they do the complete opposite and just give these people all the reasons why they are right about how Native Americans are. I realized how my people being called as alcoholic, poor, and uneducated are all sadly true. For example, on New Year’s eve, my family had a big party which was suppose to be fun. It was suppose to be a good get-together family party, but as expected it wasn’t like that at all. My two uncles, named Adolph and Arnold, got into a very bloody fistfight with each other due to all of the drinking that they had. As a

It is difficult to calculate how greatly the status of being undocumented has impacted my life. I was ten years old when my family and I immigrated to the United States. My parents have worked multiple jobs so my siblings and I could have a chance at a better future than they did. Even after thirteen years in the U.S. – I still overhear my parents’ conversations about deportations. Like many other undocumented immigrants, I was living in the shadows and living in constant fear of deportation. I was afraid, but thought that if I studied hard enough, I could become an exception. As a result, my strong work ethic became a personal quality that is important to me.

We are often told that it’s ok to be different. My younger version would definitely agree. Growing up Indian, I had the benefit of teachers repeating instructions a bit louder and slower. I never worried about getting injured on the baseball field, because I got to sit on the bench. My parents never had to worry about driving me to sleepovers, though I was seemingly friends with everyone in school.

Ten years ago, I immigrated to the United States and ever since I have been an undocumented immigrant. Due to my legal status in the United States, I felt like I was restricted from certain situations and possessions and would never be able to succeed. I was not living the normal life of a seven-year-old. Instead, I had to learn to cope and adapt to a whole new culture. Even though the drastic change at such a young age was a challenge, it has shaped who I am today.

The world is filled with people, and like snowflakes, each person is not the same as another. Each person identifies with different aspects of their lives to create their own personal identities. I personally identify with my Italian side of my family to help form who I am today. I have found myself connecting with this side more so than the other parts of my identity. It affects how I live my life by becoming the center to the culture surrounding me. However, my ethnic identity as an Italian American also influences how I live when it comes to my religion, and how my religion affects my life alongside my ethnicity. I will expand on this issue on how I express my ethnic and religious identity in regards to each other.