Personal Experience: Moving To The United States

I was born in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, a small city in the northern part of Mexico located about four hours from the United States border. Although I was born in Mexico, it is hard for me to consider it my home, since I moved to the United States when I was only three years old. When I was little, I didn't notice the differences between my family and the other families living in the United States. To me everyone was the same, even if we looked different on the outside. It was not until I began the first grade that I began to notice just how different I was from other kids.

Through Pre-K and Kindergarden I attended a school in which the majority of the students were Hispanic. When I started first grade I was transferred to a school for "gifted and talented" children because my teachers believed that it would better suit my needs. At my new school I was the only Hispanic person in my class. Whenever I said words like "chair" or "chocolate" my peers would tease me because I would mispronounce the words and they would come out as "shair" and "shocolate" instead. I quickly grew self conscious and started practicing saying "ch" words all night after school, so I would not be ridiculed the next day. Later, my classmates found out I could speak Spanish and it became impossible for me to go through the day without a request for me to display my Spanish-speaking abilities. I now understand that my classmates acted the way they did out of curiosity and were in no way trying to offend me, but at the time I just …show more content…
Half of my relatives live in a different country. I grew up eating enchiladas and tamales, instead of chicken nuggets like most American children. I am connected with people I have never met and am able to form friendships with them all based on our shared language and ancestry. I have one of the most beautiful cultures and was brought up with great values. I am Hispanic and I am unique. I will never be ashamed of my