Up until I was
sixteen, I had lived and been raised as an only child. My grandmother had taken
me in while Mother was in the USA living the American Dream.
It was a great
childhood, don’t get me wrong. I had all my needs covered, and my grandmother
always corrected me when I misbehaved and when I called her 'Mom'; I grew up
knowing she was my Grandma, but to me, she was MOM. Today, I am who I am
because of how she shaped me to become, and I think she did a pretty good job.
I am responsible, reliable, friendly, hard-worker, and I know when to pick my
battles; life is not to take too seriously. No one comes out alive! She is my
hero.
When I moved to the
USA, my Mother took me in after I had lived with my aunt for a year. Both women
are hard-worker, hilarious, and very strong minded. They have always worked two
jobs if possible, and a side job for extra cash; they're always there for each
other, celebrating our triumphs, and together in the bad times. Sure we have
our rough patches, but so is life. We are Family, we all have our ghosts, but
we're always come out above. These two ladies are my hero.
At sixteen, I had
taken a job cleaning tables and washing dishes at a restaurant where my uncle
worked; he is the brother of my mom's and aunt's. I overheard him once saying
he didn't want me to start that type of job, washing dishes and shit, he didn't
want me to do what he used to do. He wanted me to do something better paid. But
I had no many options, you see, and I wanted to work. I needed the money.
I worked at the
restaurant for a year before I decided that I needed to learn English. My
brothers were getting older, and I needed to be able to communicate with them.
Mother would need help to translate, and I didn't wan to depend on somebody
else to do what I should be doing. So I talked to Manuel, Mother's boyfriend,
to see if he'd be able to back me up in going to school since that would mean
my hours at work would be cut back. He strongly agreed, and I was extremely
happy for it. I went back to my manager, Jesus, to tell him the good news; he
had already told me that I had to go to school. I remember perfectly the day
when he said something about it to me; I had worked a 12 hour shift and he was taking me home when
he asked me how old I was."You're still young and you have your mom here.
Take the opportunity to go to school," and what that being said, he
switched my schedule to the evening and I was set to start the paperwork to go
to high school.
In the years to come
through High School, I hung out with the waiting staff at the restaurant; it
helped me to improve my pronunciation and vocabulary. I knew I had an accent,
so I had to work twice as hard to get it right since it would be difficult to
understand me. At the same time, I was dealing with financial issues, family
issues, and my sexuality; a few things to juggle at the age of seventeen which
I guess would be consider 'normal' in this society. It could had been worse if
I was back in Mexico, I want to look at the situation from that perspective.
Thank God, I had a few people to lean on while I was going through those rough
years. A few names come to mind, Rusty, Joseph, Salena, Kevin, Heather, Laura, Chad, Skyler, Lee, Mandy, Valerie, Flor, Gloria; they all were part of my life at some point
when I was feeling low and they came swooping me back up. In their own way,
they've helped shaped the type of person and friend I am now.
To wrap this up,
when it comes to a HERO, do not dare to tell me who I can call my hero.
Heroes come with
different capes and powers.
Heroes come to help
the ones that need a hand.
Heroes are the ones
to make a difference in someone's life.
In today's society,
we are so involved in our own ego and bullshit that we get blinded and deaf to
other people's struggle; we say we get it, we understand, we see where others come
from, but we turn around and go two steps back. It's frustrating to have to explain
each other why some things are the way they are. And it would be okay if we
agree to disagree, and move on, sincerely learn from each other, and grow
personally to better the future as a society. Where exactly am I going with
this? I go back to Miss Caitlyn Jenner. She has been judged and personally
attacked for being called a hero over other people, soldiers especially. I'm
not here to bash on any one, but to try and make sense why Miss Jenner is
considered a hero: of course she did not save lives like the soldiers have, but
she is doing her part by speaking out for the LGBTQ community, for the youth
coming to terms with their own sexuality in a society where you're attacked
even for smelling different. Miss Jenner is speaking and standing up for the
transgender community and make an impact in those that feel trapped, attacked,
fearful for their lives every time they step into the streets of the country
you all are so proud of, the land of the free that ostracize their own.
Soldiers are fighting for our freedom, so why do we still marginalize others,
especially someone who is helping a minority you continually put down?
Do not dare to tell
me you're ok with gay and transgender people, but you go back to social media
and flood your feeds with subtle pokes and jabs at them. Over and over. I get
it, you don't know any different, you're homophobic, you need to educate yourself,
you need time to get adjusted, and it's all ok; but do yourself a favor, and
while you're doing any of the above, keep your mouth shut. By speaking
non-sense, you're not exercising your freedom of speech, you're just making a
fool of yourself, and becoming into the generation that your grandkids will be
embarrassed in twenty years to come. Don't repeat history, we are better than that!