Some stories begin with a suitcase. Mine began with my parents’ dreams.
When I reflect on my life, I always return to the image of a little girl crossing the border into the United States. I did not fully understand what immigration meant, but my parents did. They knew they were leaving behind a part of their lives to give their children the opportunity to build a new one.
Since the 1980s, the United States has been my home. Here I grew up, raised a family, formed friendships that have become part of my life, and met people from every corner of the world. Yet, I have never stopped being Mexican.
Being Latina, Hispanic, Mexican, and an immigrant is not simply a label. It is the essence of who I am. It is the force that drives my work, my commitment to the community, and my desire to build bridges between cultures.
I often joke that my Spanish has a personality of its own. It is not the perfect Spanish taught in textbooks. It is a Spanish that has traveled with me throughout my life. It carries a little of Mexico City, a little of Puebla, words I learned from Puerto Rican and Dominican friends, and expressions I heard for years in the neighborhoods where I grew up and worked. It is a Spanish that reflects my story.
For more than four decades, I have had the privilege of living and working alongside people from many different backgrounds and cultures—Africans, Asians, Caribbeans, Anglo-Americans, and countless others. Those experiences taught me that diversity does not divide us; it enriches us.
Today, when I look at my children and grandchildren, I see the future of our community. Flowing through their veins is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Afro-Mexican, and Anglo-Saxon heritage. They are a beautiful blend of cultures, proving that our roots do not disappear when they come into contact with others—they flourish.
Over the years, I have come to understand that being an immigrant means living between two worlds while never truly leaving either behind. It means missing the land where you were born while learning to love the land that welcomed you. It means preserving traditions, language, flavors, and memories while writing new chapters for future generations.
I owe my parents far more than an opportunity. I owe them the example of hard work, perseverance, empathy, and love for our roots. They taught me never to forget where I came from and that success only has meaning when it is used to help others.
That is why I continue telling stories, supporting my community, and sharing our traditions with my children and grandchildren. Our stories deserve to be heard, and our culture deserves to thrive.
Today, I can say with a heart full of gratitude that I am proudly Latina, proudly Hispanic, proudly Mexican, and proudly an immigrant. If I had the chance to start over, I would choose the same path again and again, because every step shaped me into the woman, I am today.
This article is dedicated to all the women who helped shape my life and the person I have become. It is a tribute to my ancestors, whose strength and resilience continue to guide me.
Thank you, Mom.