Friend

1. Who is the most influential person in your life and why?

Both of my parents definitely. I grew up the youngest of 5 siblings I was raised in a one bedroom house with 8 family members. My parents came to this country with nothing but clothes on their backs and hopes in their souls. In hopes that my siblings and I would have a better chance at success, they wanted a better life for us. We sure as hell got that.  My parents had a life of labor and a minimum wage their entire life they worked hard in order for us to get a shot at having a higher education and climbing up the social economic ladder. Why I look up to them is their work ethic. Both of my parents were willing to starve so I can have a box a pizza that’s a metaphor. 5 children one grandson and for 25 years they saved to put all of us first and no matter how hard things got we were together. To me they’re an example of the American dream not knowing English speaking Spanish, working hard to purchase a property with no white collar job, and eventually they saved up and bought their first home.  Two years later being able to buy another property was incredible. They faced discrimination, language barriers, but the greatest challenge was setting aside personal happiness to give us a better life. That just shows how much they truly show they care about us.

2. What is the last thing you read, heard, saw or encountered that made you reconsider your values or beliefs? Describe that moment and what you thought.  

What’s truly hurting my beliefs and values is one party in general, the Republican Party. It’s upsetting me that they are promoting so much hatred. We have a major party with millions of supporters that are basically spreading hatred towards immigrants. I definitely feel conflicted. Their hatred toward the Muslim community, hatred towards nature, and multi minorities in general is really conflicting with my beliefs.  A major party promoting such hatred has made me question my love for politics. Do I really want to become part of this system? One day I want to serve as a public servant or politician so it affects me personally that people are celebrating or rallying to support hatred. It made this fire in me to question my beliefs and to ultimately make a difference to stop this systematic hatred. 

3. What or who is the most important thing in your life and why? 

My future is the most important thing in my life I think about it every single day. It’s so important because I know that everything that I do now will ultimately shape it. One day I plan to climb the social economic ladder to carry on the torch that my parents passed on to me. The way that my parents passed down the torch to me I want to pass down the same torch to my children with an even hotter and brighter future.

Friend

1. Who is the most influential person in your life and why?

My mom is the most influential, because just seeing the struggle she goes through makes me realize that with any issue I come across there will always be better days. She gives me strength to keep on going. She motivates me to keep on going in life no matter how hard things get. 

2. What is the last thing you read, heard, saw or encountered that made you reconsider your values or beliefs? Describe that moment and what you thought.  

 I attended a personal building exercise and that really opened my eyes.  I learned that anything is a matter of choice and it basically all depends on you. It has to do a lot with your responsibility, and how that really affects if you do things or not. It made a big change in my life and it gave me a different perspective on life.

3. What or who is the most important thing in your life and why? 

My happiness is the most important thing in my life because everyone deserves to be happy no matter what. Whatever situation you’re in you deserve happiness.