Embracing My Latina Heritage

There are so many aspects of being Latina that I adore. I have relatives who came here from a variety of countries. My mother's family came to the United States from Nava Coahuila, Mexico, and my father's family came from Nuevo Laredo and Yucatan. I like how I can go to my Spotify playlist and select songs from RBD, Isa TKM, Jennifer Pena, Selena, or Kumbia Kings, then switch to bands like Simple Plan, Paramore, or Demi Lovato. Each of these bands was a part of my childhood, and they evoke a flood of memories.

My First Concert & Spanish Music - Vamos a Bailar

Jennifer Pena Live was my first concert. I recall attending the concert with my mother and her sister. We were high up in the stands, and her lovely voice rang out throughout the stadium. We were all sitting there singing our nalgas and jamming to the music. My father and two younger siblings got to meet her the same day. It's incredible that after the concert, they were walking around the stadium outside and had the opportunity to take a picture with her and get an autograph. We were all envious at the time because Jennifer Pena was a beautiful singer who was well-known throughout Texas.

I distinctly remember chilling in my room with my best friend and dancing to "Vamos al Mundial." We were dancing around the room, having a good time. Music has always been a way for me to express myself in a variety of ways, especially during a period when I was severely depressed. Spanish music has a way of simply expressing how you feel, especially during difficult times. Camila is the one band I can always turn to when I'm feeling down or need something to express my true feelings. They just have a way with words, and their music is extremely soothing to me. "Todo Cambio" is my favorite song.

Spanish Novelas & Dancing

I would watch Spanish novelas such as Pasion De Galvilanes, Al Diablos Con Los Guapos, Rebelde, and ISA TKM. I would sit there admiring each Spanish actor and practicing my Spanish while watching the novelas. In school, I admired my classmates who were able to enroll in and perform in a balie folkloric class. The lovely dresses, their lovely braided hair, and how lovely each of the dancers would be.

My friend and I used to help choreograph quinceanera surprise dances in high school, and I used to make a mix CD for those dances. We'd stay up until midnight editing the mix CD, making sure the music sounded cool and smooth in the transitions. She was a fantastic dancer, and I would assist her when she was stuck for ideas for teaching the dances. It was a lot of fun choreographing these pieces and making sure we had the right music for the dances. Every aspect of it was enjoyed by the children with whom we would work. It was a truly enjoyable experience that brought back many memories, including the song "Rockstar" by Prima J. That song was such a bop!

Mexican Food & The Oooy Goodness

The comdia is the best part of my heritage! The food is absolutely delicious. I can be a picky eater and be hesitant to try new foods from all over the world, but my heritage food is so comforting and delicious. My father makes an incredible dish called Menudo. He does it the best, in my opinion. I'm not sure what he does, but his dish is neither spicy nor watery; it's just perfect. My grandmother's homemade barbacoa is another delectable dish. I learned to cook at a young age, making carne con fiedo, arroz con Pollo, fajitas, enchiladas, and many other dishes. My fiance enjoys my cooking, which I learned from the best (my mom). There are so many amazing Mexican dishes, and you can tell the difference (at least I can) when you eat out at different restaurants. Trust me there is a difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican food.

The Importance of Family

Aside from the music and food, I appreciate how close I am to my family. It can be overwhelming at times because I wasn't always good at setting boundaries. However, my heritage family is very important to me. I was taught that you do everything for your family, including protecting them, and that it is the most important unit in your life. Even though many people do not understand the importance of family to my heritage, I adore my family. Even as a child who must mature at a young age, I have recently learned to let go of the parent side of myself that I had been conditioned to learn because I had been in survival mode for so long. It was difficult to let go because I am so protective of my siblings, but I am learning that I must allow my siblings to grow and try new things. I used to protect them from bullies and not see violence in our lives when I was younger. So it's been difficult for me to take a step back, but I'm proud of my efforts and so proud of my siblings taking on the world.

There are many aspects of my heritage that I admire, but one thing I've learned as a Latina is that we are born to achieve great things and that no matter where we are in life, we can overcome any obstacle. My siblings and I have a strong bond. We've had a few arguments or heated discussions here and there, but we've never gotten to the point of toxicity. We always find a way to talk things over. I have wonderful memories of my siblings when we were younger, and now that they are adults, they are living their lives. My younger brother is graduating from high school this year, and hearing about his plans and where he wants to live makes me happy, but also sad, because we were always together, and now everyone is growing in different directions. It's difficult for me, and I know it's difficult for my siblings, to see us venture out into the world. I've attached a tweet from Twitter that expresses the feeling I'm talking about with my siblings.

My Lovely Siblings