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This is my sister picking out her quinceañera dress. A quinceañera for us is when a young girl goes from 14 to 15 and transitions to a young women. I had a quincenera of my own about 6 years ago. I remember at the time I lived in Ontario,CA in a more predominately white neighborhood at the time of mine. When inviting friends I realized most weren't my friends. They didn't want to go because they thought I was weird for believing I was becoming a woman at a young age. Ever since I was a little girl I have always dreamt of my quinceañera, but now I had felt ashamed to have one. I felt ashamed because of people's opinions on my culture and my belief's. Because I wasn't't the same as them they made me feel as the odd one out. I related to Judith Ortiz's Cofer's "The Story of my Body," highly because I had always tried to dress how my white friends did so I did not stick out. I was hiding my culture to please others, I never felt comfortable in my own skin.

My sister is one of the most confident people in the world. She is proud of who she is and I know she is going to go far in life.

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My mom graduated from college this year with a B.A in Business Administration. I could not be more proud of her than I already am. My mom decided to go back to school at 37 years young and finished in 4 years. Despite working a full-time job to keep a roof over our heads and being a full-time mom. Not only that, but I can proudly say my mom is a part of the 29% of Latinx's that holds a bachelors degree in California. My mom might've not gone the traditional route but she still did it. My grandparents cried at her graduation because they are so proud of their daughter, my grandparents were not able to get an education like she did. But they were so happy that she did, out of my big family my mom was the first to show my other tia's that they can do it too. When she started school too many people told her she couldn't do it all, but she did and she will be graduating with her master's June 2024.

My mom's main reason for going back to school was because she was tired of people overlooking her many years of experience because she did have a college degree. Now with her bachelor's many more doors have opened, but she still sees her field is highly dominated by men. Even with her bachelor's degree her pay is still less than a man.

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When learning about the unjust sterilization of hispanic woman it upset me. I had a talk about it with my grandmother, asked her if she knew about it since I never heard of it before.

To my surprise my grandma told me that her and a few friends actually went to protests in Los Angeles. She told me how scared it had made her because it could've been her.

She made signs and went to protests in Los Angeles, she told me it made her emotional how many women were there standing up for each other. How beautiful it was that it was all people who looked just like her. She said that no one ever stand up for us, we are always defending ourselves and over looked. But she said that day was the first time she ever felt that she was seen, as a hispanic women standing her ground.

This picture is from a trip we took her to in Mexico, my grandma loves dolphins we got to have her swim with them.

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Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has always been celebrated in my family for as long as I can remember. We make an offend as a celebration for our loved ones who have passed, every November 1st to November 2nd, they cross over to our world to say hello and let us know they are watching over us. A table is set up with their pictures, candles, special flowers, as well as bread. There are extras on the table as an offering such as their favorite foods, we put a lot of sugary foods because that is what they like and need.

I don't associate it with religion, as anyone can make an ofrenda to celebrate their loved ones. In my culture and our household family is the most important thing. We associate the day of the dead with our culture. We celebrate our loved ones and use this day as a celebration of their lives, as well as ours that we are living. We remain grateful for all of our family members and the memories we have with each one.

In our house we have our aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. come over for the day. We eat together and spend time together, so our loved ones cross over and are there with us. I am so proud of our culture, it is the most beautiful thing. The connection we have is so special, I love my family.

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We bought our home about 5 years ago. I am so grateful for all of the overtime my parents were working. Growing up low-income, my parents always made sure me and my siblings never knew. Every Christmas, birthday, celebration, we always felt so loved. My dad works in asbestos, he worked doubles every week, my mom worked doubles as well. We used to live in a small apartment but now we live a house we can call ours.

When we bought our home, there was doubts from family and close friends. Even our hired realtor kept making comments about if we would be able to afford it in a year Being a person of color, we have faced the same stereotypes over and over, as well as racism and discrimination of if we are worthy. We were questioned countless if we could would be able to "keep our home" and "make payments". We were told over and over "you should not buy a house right now." My moms response was "its not your house it ours."

To be a homeowner is one of the biggest goals you can accomplish, my parents did just that. Both coming from low income areas, working extra hard, they are the true example of the American Dream. Both coming from immigrant parents who crossed over long ago, everything paid off we are officially home owners in Colton CA.

P.S.: My mom decorates our house how she has always dreamed of since she was a younger girl.