Personal Narrative: My Mexican-American Heritage

I was born into a home, to parents who fostered a deep appreciation for culture, not just my own but all cultures. They taught me that every people and ethnicity contributes something beautiful to the human experience through their music, wisdom, humor, food, architecture, knowledge, and humanity. Perhaps their love of all cultures made me appreciate my own so profoundly. I am of Mexican-American heritage, and I carry with me the values of a proud, gentle, hard-working, passionate people.
My great-great grandmother came to the United States in 1915, leaving home and family, fleeing the turmoil of the Mexican revolution for the safety of Texas. She was 19, a widow, alone, and expecting a child-my great-grandmother. I marvel at the courage,

depth of determination and vision that compelled her to leave Mexico; I wish I could have known her. She was just a year older than I am now, but I believe her blood runs through my veins, along with it the unflinching resolve in the face of opposition, a passion for family, and a steady determination to succeed. I grew up hearing her story and after each re-telling, I always felt a need to do my very best in homage to her, her example, and her sacrifice.
As a Mexican-American teenager growing up in middle Tennessee, I realize that I represent more than just myself. My grandfather (the second Mexican-American accepted to Sam Houston State University) used to say that when people meet us, they assess not only us, but the groups we represent; he said I had the responsibility of being an ambassador of sorts. He encouraged me to bear that in mind in all my actions and interactions. I never saw it as a burden but rather an honor.
Most of my friends had never had a Hispanic friend until me; they had never known much about my culture (except for Mexican food, of course). They found that we share the same taste in pop-culture and music; they also saw similarities in habits, fears, hopes, and even political views. There are more things that bind us than separate us. These similarities foster acceptance and lay the groundwork for the true embracing of diversity. However, the subtle differences my friends often note have to do with family interaction. They often comment on the closeness of my relationships to my mother and sister, expressing a wish for that type of closeness in their own families. This marked approach to family is part of my heritage. It provides a strong base from which I will move out into the world and make my mark.
In the fall I will be a college freshman. I hope to represent my ethnic group genuinely so that people will see the beauty of my culture. I hope that through knowing me, my fellow classmates can develop an appreciation for the differences that make the American people unique in the history of the world. And I hope that along with me, they will see and embrace the view of President Jimmy Carter who said, “We are no longer a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic.”