Growing up Hispanic

Growing up, I was always aware of my culture. While the rest of the kids at my lunch table had Lunchables and juice boxes, I had last nights left overs and agua fresca.

I have to admit that at times I felt ashamed. I felt like I could never really fit in in my mostly white school. When I was finally feeling like I was fitting, we moved. It was only a few miles north, a 15 minute drive, but to 9 year old me, it felt I was on the other side of the state.

I was in 7th grade when it finally clicked. If I denied my heritage, my culture, then I was forgetting about part of who I am.

Now I'm 18 and when people ask me what my name is, I say it proud. When they ask me I proudly tell them that even though I was born in the United States and for most of my life went to a mostly white school, that I AM MEXICAN.

I just hope that someday, people won't find it funny to make a wetback joke, just like it isn't funny to make slavery jokes, or holocaust jokes.

This country is made up of immigrant, and legal status doesn't change that the U.S. is supposed to be the land of opportunity.