Mila's Argumentative Essay

Hundreds of feet pound against the floor, sending it to its near death as it concaves with every step. Sweat rolls down my neck as the music reaches nearly 100 decibels. My hands, aching from the death grip of the boy next to me, are dragged forward to keep up with the swift kolo line that moves through the maze of the slick, sweat-filled dance floor like it is an art form. As the song approaches its twentieth straight minute, I become conscious of the energy surrounding me and realize that these people, this dance, and this culture define me, the people’s favor. The gracious and dear girl, also known as the people’s favor, is the definition of Milena, or Mila for short, and that is me.

Dating back to early Slavic times, the name Mila holds a long legacy and is kept alive through those who preserve their heritage by carrying its attributes with them, in name and in spirit. I am the embodiment of this character of Mila as a first generation Serbian-American, and my Slavic roots have been preserved through a vibrant culture within my home and surrounding Serbian community. Serbia, which is too often confused with Siberia, is in my experience, not relevant in the minds of many Americans.

When I was younger, I dreamed of being Italian or German like many of my friends just so I could fit in.

More recently, however, I have wondered why I ever wanted to be another ethnicity, when mine has always been the underlying core of my nature. Serbian blood, seen very clearly through my protruding veins, runs in all of the people whose spirits and livelihood have shaped my growth throughout North America and Europe. After being surrounded by Serbians that never take anything for granted by working hard and keeping commitments to family, faith, and career, I have instinctively adopted this dedicated mentality, allowing for success in and out of the

classroom.

This mentality is best described as resilience, commitment, and passion for life that seems to be passed down genetically, just like my almond shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips. The exterior gives me a defined look, but the interior is even more distinctive. From my childhood, on the Serbian side, I learned to be tough, ambitious, and competitive as a part of the culture, one that coincides well with that of the United States of America.

Learning these honorable characteristics early on helped me to mature young, value my education, and appreciate my blessings. It is safe to say that without this influence, I would be a wholly different person, probably for the worse. No longer do I repress the Serbian side of me; I gently flaunt it with a cross that I wear around my neck, an icon in my purse, and the sounds of the Serbian music on my Spotify playlist. I am forever indebted to my heritage for lighting a fire in my heart and igniting an insatiable drive that yearns for success in all of my pursuits—from my education to my career to keeping up with the kolo-line.