Growing up in Peru may seem exotic, but it taught me to keep to myself, and molded me into a person who looks at things rationally. I had to learn how to protect myself by not giving into the things that the people around me were doing because of the perception that it will make me "cool". I had thought that July 17th was going to be a normal day in the life of a seven year old living in Peru, but instead I had to hear my Aunt cry and pray to God about “why couldn’t have her son just obeyed her rules and not go out at night”. I didn’t fully understand what was going on at the time, but I eventually realized I would never see my cousin again. After this traumatic experience, my family did everything in their power to make sure nothing happened
