Let me tell you something, labels don't work for me. I'm not a typical Hispanic; I'm not a typical woman; I'm not straight or gay; I'm not a normal human.
This sounds a little bit strange, doesn't it? Like, what the hell is she talking about...
This is my problem; why is it so important for us to define ourselves. We certainty don't do it for our own pleasure, but to establish our place in society. Where we belong. Which group of people we "relate" to. My question is WHY?
I am not saying that I'm not proud to be Hispanic or a woman. Of course I am. But the thing is, I have never felt the need to label myself because that's not how I was raised. I am anything I want to be. I am whatever makes me happy. This is how I've always lived my life. Back when I was growing up in El Salvador, I used to be the only girl on all-male soccer teams. The ONLY girl. Girls, don't really play competitive soccer in Latin American countries. I never felt out of place, though. I was kicked, hit with the ball and treated like another boy on the team. It was never weird for me. I was doing what I loved and I wasn't going to let the "norm" of no female soccer players ruin my happiness. When I had cancer, I was told that I would have millions of problems growing up, and yet I'm not sure if I ever had any of those problems because I wasn't going to let cancer ruin my happiness. When I arrived in America, I was expected to spend two to three years in ESL (English as Second Language) classes in high school, yet I exited the program in one short year and by my third year in America, I was already in Advance Placement classes. In high school, I was overweight, and yet I was the ONLY girl on the soccer team who received a scholarship to play for a college soccer team. Now, with average grades, but a killer resume, I have been offered a spot to complete my master's degree at NYU, Penn State and Padova University, which is the second best university in Italy.
I am not telling you all this to rub it in your face. I already know I'm the shit, so I don't need people to approve of that. I am telling you because I want to show you that being a GIRL or HISPANIC or [simply] a MINORITY or FAT or SHORT, hasn't stopped me from achieving my goals. I get whatever I want in life because I'm determined. I find a way, and you can put me behind, in front or miles away from the race, but I can assure you that I will always finish it. Also, I am like super competitive, so I will most likely finish the race first...
Have I ever experienced racism? Yes, once or twice. Actually, maybe more than that, but the thing is, I couldn't care less what people thought of me. My mom taught me an easy, yet effective way to determine whether or not I should care about someone's opinion of me. Ready...
Does he or she pay your college tuition?
Does he or she feed you?
Does he or she buy your clothes?
Does he or she pay for you to have a roof over your head?
If the overall response is NO, then you should not give a crap about what that person thinks of you. Simple.
As I get older, I realize that I will not please everyone around me. Minorities think I want to be white. Whites think I'm too dark to be in their group. Hispanics dislike the fact that I try to speak a well educated English. Tall people laugh at me because I'm so short. Girls think I'm not girly enough and therefore I'm a lesbian. Lesbians don't like me, surprisingly (I really don't get this one Haha!). I have learned that everyone will make up their own opinions about me even before they get to know me, so it is really a loss cause. So, while people spend their time criticizing my way of living, I am already working towards my next goal. Short and simple.
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