# data[].attributes.headline
This photo shows me and my dad celebrating Mexico Independence on sept 16th. My dad was picking me up from daycare after a long day of working to provide for us. This shows my close relationship with my father to this day. 

# data[].attributes.subject
This photo shows me and my dad celebrating Mexico Independence on sept 16th. My dad was picking me up from daycare after a long day of working to provide for us. This shows my close relationship with my father to this day. 

# data[].attributes.body
This is one when me and cousin were younger. I was a year older then her and we were dressed up to go to another cousins party.

# data[].attributes.body
This was one of my favorite pictures growing up. I chose this because the place this picture was taking in front was my grandparents neighbors home. When I was younger my aunt had owned that house at the time and it was always a second home for me and my sister. I am wearing a dora shirt and apparently from what my mom had told me I loved watching dora. As for my pose, it seemed like I was a very outgoing and loved everything and everyone.

# data[].attributes.headline
This picture shows how this little family became a big family after years and this shows how strong and close I am with my family and my dad 

# data[].attributes.subject
This picture shows how this little family became a big family after years and this shows how strong and close I am with my family and my dad 

# data[].attributes.body
I have always loved this picture of my sisters and I. My mom always said even though we were all one year apart she would often dress us up as triplets. This picture very much represents how strong our bond was then and still is till this day. I love my sisters.

# data[].attributes.headline
This photo was taken back in 2014, I was roughly about 12-13 years old. I can’t exactly pin point the restaurant but I believe it’s wood ranch. As a child, I was always taught to be respectful to friends, family, and my elders. This memory at the time made me really happy, the younger children were of course my siblings and I and the other two amazing women are my grandparents. The older one is my Great Grandma from Greece and the other was my Yiayia.

# data[].attributes.subject
This photo was taken back in 2014, I was roughly about 12-13 years old. I can’t exactly pin point the restaurant but I believe it’s wood ranch. As a child, I was always taught to be respectful to friends, family, and my elders. This memory at the time made me really happy, the younger children were of course my siblings and I and the other two amazing women are my grandparents. The older one is my Great Grandma from Greece and the other was my Yiayia.

# data[].attributes.body
A

# data[].attributes.body
This picture was taken sometime in 2012 and it's of all my siblings and I (I'm on the very right). My siblings/family taught me how to be kind to one another as well as respectful, while also having a great time. Although we may bicker, which we did and still do quite a lot, we still knew how to have fun. This is what taught me that even though we might not be put/be in the best circumstances, if we persevere, we can make a beautiful memory out of it.

# data[].attributes.body
The quality is not the best but anyways this is a picture of my sister and I. I believe I was around 7 at this time, not sure. I chose this picture because at the time, Nintendo 3Ds were new and we were just so invested with ours. If I remember correctly we would always take it with us everywhere we went. I say it was a fun time in my life, didn't have much to worry about. I wasn't lonely, I had my younger sister to play with and talk to.

# data[].attributes.body
This was me from about 4-6 months according to my mother. At the stage in my development I was pretty reactive of my environmental stimuli. I once did an essay on my attachment style in cross-cultural psychology. I would say if I wasn’t already at my dismissive stage than my mom would have been the person I was looking at in a secure stage until maybe she had to go back to work.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture was taken when i was 4 years old. I was with two out of my three older sisters. This was my childhood. I dont remember a moment when I wasn't with my older sisters. They are now my best friends and have such a close relationship with them. As a child I was always happy to be around them and i matured a lot quicker than my friends due to me being around my sisters.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a photo of my sister and I in I believe 2008. When we were this young her and I would spend lots of time together playing games outside or playing board games inside. Having an older sister definitely gave me a positive childhood because I had someone I was able to look up to, ask questions, and spend time with.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of me and my sister when we used to live in the Philippines. I am the younger child that is in the picture while my older sister is the other. It was just my sister and I that stayed in the Philippines with our other relatives while our mom, dad, and brothers went to the USA first. I wanted to share this photo because it shows that even from n age that I do not remember, I was always close with my sister and till now also. It has shown me that my sister has always been right by my side and I know that she will always be there for me when I'm at my toughest stage. It has made me appreciate my sister over the years. Because she is so important to me, I am afraid to disappoint her and show her my weakest but when I broke down, she understood me and told me that I'll be okay, that she'll support me. you can see from this photo that we're very close with each other and that I am happy with her. She gives me the strength to keep going.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture was taken with my dog Daisy. My family always taught me to love her and care for her. I learned to do just so and I soon applied that concept to the people around me so I just naturally became loving and caring towards anyone I came across.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture was taken on Easter of 2003. It really shows that even though I did not fully comprehend what we were doing in that moment, I knew my dad was standing behind a camera, and I was sitting next to my older siblings. so in my little head, the soft smile indicated that I was just happy to be there.

# data[].attributes.body
This is my favorite photo of myself as a child. There is such sweet and playful energy with a touch of "I" have arrived. I loved that rabbit, I would carry it with me everywhere. I would even sit on it when I watched TV. That backyard was magical, we had all kinds of fruit trees growing and bushes alongside the walls. I love the energy of this child is what I connect with. The playfulness of this child is who I resonate with. My child, her confidence and certainty has kept me strong.

# data[].attributes.body
This photo of my brother and I brings back so many memories that are worth cherishing. In the early 2000s, cell phones weren't too imputed with effort rather than calling and texting, considering it an old-school device. My mom would always take photos on her camera of moments to look back on than her cellphone. Even though there is an eight year gap between my brother and I, we have always been close, since he is my only sibling. As the years have passed, I have felt like his second mom. There are times where he comes to me first regarding school or even personal things instead of my mom. I vividly remember us wearing not just my dad’s hats, but wearing his shoes and clothes. Once we had the outfit we would act like we were him. My parents have taught me to become independent and become a role model for my younger brother.

# data[].attributes.body
This photo brings back a lot of great memories when my siblings and I were still living in the Philippines. I was the boy on the right holding a toy gun. That's my dad holding my two sisters, and my older brother smiling at the back. I chose this portrait because it made me remember how simple and fun my childhood was, and how each of them has made a strong impact in my life.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose this photo of my childhood because it brings back memories when me and my family would go to the desert to go ride dirt bikes, quads, and buggies. This picture also represents more than that, it represents how my parents where trying to raise me to be strong and tough. If i crashed they told me to get back up and try again. My parents always want me to succeed and kept trying no matter the circumstances. To always keep my head up and to always have fun. That is another thing that they taught me, is to have fun, or to find the fun in what you are doing.

# data[].attributes.body
How my family influenced my behavior was by having me around my cousins and grandparents because I was the happiest around them, especially my grandparents. They let me be ME when I was around them , they taught me how to love and be respectful since I was small. Til this day, im super family oriented and although my grandpa is no longer here, my grandparents are still my world.

# data[].attributes.body
In a sense this is a bold, though unusual look for me.  I think I'm proud, and happy.  It's the look of a young person.  I'm holding up my Donald Duck transistor radio that I scanned frequencies with as I dropped off to sleep.  In the 1970's everything was analogue.  It gave me a connection that seemed very personal, and different to the outside world, as I tuned the very limited receiver to hear what was going on outside my room.  This was taken in our living room in Costa Mesa; my mom was a teacher for AUHSD.  We lived paycheck to paycheck but on top of that it took 5 days for the checks to go through the bank.  We ate a lot of staple type foods for health, and eating right when things are tight.  Nobody was really around to do anything with I can tell you because we spent the whole, entire day outside.  I had the BEST best friend who lived across the street, a park and school, with playgrounds at the end of my block.  My friends house backed up to the school so it was a major feature.  When it got boring, or hot, we could play inside; build a model, play the haunted house record in the dark hallway, or have lightsaber fights in the long, narrow mirrored bathroom.  My older brother was always reading, and kept to himself but now he's an amazing success in life so totally a cool brother (now).  My mom dated and then married with black men after my parents divorced when I was two.  I love my stepdad.  My biological father lived and visited us from a few cities over twice a week (or Wed and we'd spend weekends there).   We had issues with racial bias in our community and within our recently transplanted family who were first generation Californians from Oklahoma and Iowa.  It took a long time because of civic jobs for that ardor to cool, and it took a toll on my psyche (but that wasn't the only intergenerational transmission of dysfunction), so I've moved on.  My matriarchal grandparents (Iowa) ended up loving my stepdad too.  My dad was always cool on the surface about race; but it is never easy as a kid feeling accepted , for all of your other relationships where you love other people, by the people you love.

Back in the day, Costa Mesa was not at all diverse. We lived on a safe street, and I focused on myself, and mainly on just being a kid for those long 70's summers. If I could go back--that's where I'd go!

# data[].attributes.body
This photo is of me and my little sister that my mom took on Halloween. I was always a very happy child and constantly smiling. My family taught me how to love and care for others and in this photo, I'm exhibiting what they taught me. My sister to this day is my best friend, and I'm forever grateful for my parents and how they raised me.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of my sis and I (I'm the baby wearing pink) that my mom took of us when I was very young. I would say that during that time, my family members influenced my behavior by taking care of me and letting me do whatever I wanted to do during that time. Additionally, my sister is very special for me since she is one of the people in my life that has been there with me during my ups and downs, in addition to that, we like pretty much the same things and I would say that it feels like we're the same age, even though, she is the oldest one. Moreover, she is like a role model for me since she has always encourage me to keep on trying and never giving up. On the other hand, my parents taught me to work hard for what I want and not let anyone tell me that I couldn't do something.

# data[].attributes.body
This was the last picture and last memory of my great grand mother Mai Mai. I remember all of the family yelling to get together “only the GIRLS” I remember the fun when we all got together like this. Unfortunately we no longer have big gatherings unless it’s a funeral or wedding. My whole family is a matriarchy. It is ran by women, very strong headed women. I thankfully fell into that strong headed club. They all have taught me to not relay on a man. They are the women who have taught me to fight for what is right for my family. Stay strong through the thick and thin of the world. With all of that being said I have raised my two kids alone with very little help and successfully am going to school( later in life) to model for my two girls that it’s never too late to start over. All of this strength started with Grandma (who i was named after) comming over from the philipines and bringing everyone over with her.

# data[].attributes.body
How my family influenced my behavior at this time was letting yourself be silly. I was taught manners at an early age and proper dinner etiquette, but I was taught a time to act silly and a time to be respectful as well. And especially at such an early age with being in sports it also encouraged me to become social and know when to use those social traits.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose this picture because it makes me think about how grateful I am to be supported by my parents when it comes to my schooling through out the years. They have been there since day one and lifted my spirts when all I wanted to do is forget about school and give up on my dream to become a technician. By the looks of this picture I was probably mad about being at school but I look back at where I started and where I am now and it really motivates me to keep growing both academically and as a person.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose this photo because my school pictures remind me of how much pride my mom took in ensuring I looked my best in them. I have three brothers, so being her only girl, she cherished dressing me up. Coincidentally, I now have three sons and one daughter, my youngest, whom I miss being small enough to dress up. She is 12 years old now and styles herself, but I can truly understand how my mother felt.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a photo of me and one of my little brothers. This was the first professional photo my mother had taken of us, she had just left our father. My two youngest brothers were born way after this picture! I remember this time being very confusing, but I LOVED Blues Clues and was so thrilled to be dressed up and taking pictures with my brother. I was very nervous, my mother was accompanied by her new husband and the transition was very quick. I remember my little brother being uncomfortable and feeling out of place myself, while also feeling excited to take a picture with a Blues Clues backdrop. This photo is so conflicting for me - i am very embarrassed and sad to say that my father was abusive and we lived in poverty. My mother was young, i believe she had to have been 22 or 23 around this time. But we had a positive shift into a household where we had all we needed and were finally safe. It's a reminder of a confusing time that was difficult in the moment, but ended up being the best thing for us. I wonder if my mom noticed the sauce splatters on it before she sent this to me!

# data[].attributes.body
I chose this picture because it was on of the first photos of my sister and I. My younger sister changed the dynamic in our family. I was the only child and after she was born I became the person that she would have to look up to. As I have grown having younger siblings has made me more gentle and open minded. I admire their individuality and their enthusiasm that can make the mundane fun.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of me when I was like four. What this picture says about me is that I loved princesses so much. It was my favorite thing. I had princess tea cups, and drawers of barbie. I think this shows how great my childhood was. It felt innocent, and loving. I was always so grateful for my parents because they did everything they could to keep me away from anything bad and have a normal as can be childhood experience. This was also the time where we struggled financially so for them to still keep the magic alive was amazing and a beautiful feeling.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a photo of me, my dad, and my sisters who are twins. This is the only picture that we have with each other. Me and my sisters were never able to be around each other because we had different moms and they had their differences because of the choices my dad made. We also couldn’t be with our dad because of his circumstances. I cherish this photo because I always wondered what life would be like if I grew up with my whole family. Now both of my sisters have kids and I haven’t been able to spend enough time with them because our lives are so separated.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of my uncle and my aunt being pregnant and my cousin and siblings all touching her belly because she was having twin girls and in here I was positive because we were all so happy so happy to have 2 more girls in the family and literal twins. To this day they are almost 10 years old and this picture was always my favorite memory. We never imagined having twins in our little family because only my grandma has twin brothers. No one expected it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
I am the one to the left I think... (I'm a twin) LOL

# data[].attributes.body
I chose this picture because my brother is part of my family who helped shape me into the person I am today. My brother passed away when I was nine years old and even though I don't remember much, I do remember things he did for me and my twin. My brother used to care for me, he would be the one to have my back with our parents, and on occasion, he would treat us with good food. I grew up in a Mexican household family and it was customary to hear "ay comida en la casa" meaning there is leftover food in the fridge, and you have to eat it. So, when he would treat us, it would be one of the greatest memories that lives in my head. Caring for me as a kid helped me become this person who loves kids, and to hope that one day I will be a good mother. It also influenced me to show those characteristics to my baby sister. I make sure she is taken care of, that I look after her, and I always make sure she has everything she needs or wants and by doing so we have created such a good bond that is a reward. I hear her constantly telling me almost every day, "You're the best sister, I love you" and even though she is five years old and doesn't fully understand what this means, to me it's something that warms my heart.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Technically not a baby but I was pretty young :D

# data[].attributes.body
At the time of this photo my family was struggling a lot. My mom had told me that that day we had not had any food and she was so stressed out and worried for us. Yet here we were smiling and celebrating my brother graduating from a certain grade that I can't remember. Seeing us so happy for something so small brought my mom happiness. My mom is someone who is amazing and who worked so hard to take care of us. My siblings and I always tried to be happy and to look at the positive side.

# data[].attributes.headline
Baby Picture: I choose this picture because it is a picture of my big sister, mother and me.  My attitude is a positive one because it shows that at an early age how much I admired her.

# data[].attributes.subject
Baby Picture: I choose this picture because it is a picture of my big sister, mother and me.  My attitude is a positive one because it shows that at an early age how much I admired her.