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This is when I was born. I started to develop a bond with my parents and my brothers. I was the first girl born after 3 boys and a girl. My older sister passed away as a baby from an ear infection. My parents were poor and couldn't afford a doctor. They became very protective of me because of this. I developed a very strong and loving relationship with my family.
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I grew up in a single family home with ten members in my family. I was raised with my siblings in the city, but lived in the country for a few years. We never lived in an apartment growing up. My parents were very private and enjoyed the freedom of providing us with a big home. This could have had an impact on my perspective of others who grew up in an apartment. I am very uncomfortable when my husband's family comes over and they want access to our home even when we're not home.
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My fourth grade teacher is the reason that I am in education and will continue with my education until I earn my PhD. I was a shy and withdrawn student in grade school because of my language barrier. My teacher embarrassed me by asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told him that I wanted to be a teacher, and he asked me "how do you plan to be a teacher if you can't even speak up?" He is my energy that fuels my desire to show him that I can and I will.
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My great grandma was an Indian and she lived in Mexico. I learned that women within her tribe were very strong and independent. I feel that I acquired her customs and behaviors because of my stubbornness to do things on my own and on my terms. I admired her and loved to listen to her stories. She apparently had many husbands, but died of old age alone. My mom and I would love to go visit her and take her KFC chicken. I still remember that her favorite item on the menu was cole slaw.
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My son was born and I was a student in High School. This timeline describes how much my environment influenced who I am today. These years were very impactful in helping to shape who I was, who I wanted to be, and how I was going to get there. Although I was a teenage mom, his birth made me a strong and independent person. This event is when I knew that I wanted to go to college, and surround myself with educated and knowledgeable people.
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I was a senior in high school and was a teenage mom. My senior year was a blur because of my struggles at home. The majority of my senior year I went to school with a bruised face. I knew that the love that my parents showed me as I was growing up was nothing like the relationship that I was in. The struggles during this time led me to become an advocate for battered women and a volunteer with the police department in support of advocacy groups for women and children.
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This is when my daughter was born. I had become complacent in my role as a mom and a wife. My husband was the primary wage earner and I stayed home to care for our children. He did not support my desire to continue with my education. My interaction with people was scarce since we lived out in the country and rarely interacted with others. We lived on a ranch that was owned by an older gentleman. This is when I first felt discrimination and injustice towards minorities.
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This is when my father passed away. I fell into a depression and didn't know it. I lost myself and didn't have a circle of friends to turn to. I was divorced within a month. My strong family ties had been lost and I found myself alone. I was brought up to believe that we didn't ask for help, and we just figured things out. This was the hardest emotional event of my life. I just knew that I had to be strong because that is what was expected of me.
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My values and behaviors led me to take a risk in life and start a new beginning in a new city after living in San Angelo for almost 30 years. Although my experiences with people who are White have been memorable, I'm very comfortable associating with others different than myself. I moved to Round Rock, Texas to start over and to challenge myself in a highly competitive environment. I have learned that my upbringing is unique to me, and I appreciate the differences in others.
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I married the love of my life. He is exactly what I envisioned in a husband and a partner. As I was growing up, my family showed that they cared for each other by doing things for each other. Some actions of caring were to cook or visit each other, especially our older family members. We showed respect and kindness by addressing our older family members by "Don" or "Dona." This was always a sign of respect and a symbol that you were raised with good values.
