The World I Come From (Autobiographical Narrative)
“Your belief determines your actions, and your actions determine your results, but first you have to believe”- Victor Hansen.
I come from a family of 11 where family, religion and, values come first. I have been taught that life isn’t easy at all, but the outcome of every hard work always pays off, all you have to do is believe. Believe in yourself and believe in your ability to strike for a better life. I was born in California, but I am fully proud to come from Guanajuato, Mexico, where my background lives. When I first came to California, after living four years in Mexico, I was very scared. A four year old girl had to start Kindergarten and she spoke no English, and was afraid to let go of her mom’s hand the first day of school, that girl was me. That’s where my journey began.
I eventually had to get used to the idea that Lindsay was my new hometown, and it has been for the last 13 years. Adapting to a new environment and people was easy for me since I was very small and I wanted to meet new friends and have adventures. My siblings and parents had a harder time adapting to Lindsay because it was harder for them to learn English and get used to everything as well. It took us about 2-3 years to fully adapt to this new environment, culture, people, language, and traditions. I had to assist to a babysitter before attending Kindergarten, she was an older lady of about 60 years old which made me understand that I had to behave well and not take advantage of her age. However, her grandson was a bully to me when I was there, I couldn’t do anything or defend myself because I spoke no English and because it was my babysitter’s grandson. Even though I was just five years old, the idea that I had to learn English well emerged.
Soon after finishing my way through 6th grade, I felt like I knew enough English and was ready to enter to middle school. In middle school everything was different. I met many new people and new ways of learning. There was no bilingual classes which helped me increase my ability to understand full English and be able to speak it well since the only language I speak out of school is spanish. Middle school only lasted for one year and not two how it had to be, after finishing one year there, we had to move back to elementary. Returning to elementary was not pleasant at all, it was my eighth grade year before entering high school and we had to go back and start elementary again. That transition confused us all and separated us from our friends whom we had met back in junior high. After that, came high school.
High school for me was a whole different story. It was the time where I struggled the most, where all I had to do was adapt again, and believe in myself. Homework came in packets and it was seven classes that I had to tackle at the same time if I didn’t want to fall behind. I had to sit at my kitchen table every afternoon and not get up until I finished all my assignments or at least complete part of it. My mom would get mad when I stayed up at midnight trying to complete any assignment, but still always encouraged me to do my best. The support of my mother has been with me since I have use of mind, she’s the only person I look up to and everything I do, every success, and accomplishment has been thanks to her. This part of my journey has almost been completed and the best is yet to come.
Everyday I wake up believing that I can accomplish more than what I did yesterday. I have a great belief towards life and one’s ability to complete whatever your purpose is. I’ve had to take many decisions in life that were maybe not the best but that have taught me great lessons as a result. I am anxious to know what the future has prepared for me and what I can do to be a greater person. Like mentioned before, every work and accomplishment comes with the decision to believe in yourself.