I have always been told that I am a great child who is capable of absolutely anything. I have never doubted this, but I do realize that there are certain limitations to my potential. I don’t consider those limits in my life journey though.
I was raised in a Hispanic household who was subject to a lot of stereotypical downfalls. Yet I always seemed to be immune to these generalizations. MY cousins on the other had were not. I consider my cousins my sibling since I do not have any of my own and consider why their lives are so radically different than mine. I am the only one to go to college from my immediate family besides my dad.
My cousins were imprisoned. I loved them dearly and always felt anguish when I thought of them in prison. I always told myself that I needed to be an influence for them when they are out of prison and are in being readjusted to society. I did not want them to fall to the same ridiculous and often misappropriated identity of the Hispanic individual.
SO why do I not consider limitations when I am dealing with life? Why is it that I do what I do? It is because I need to be a model when it comes to reshaping the Hispanic identity. It is not about being a “macho” or gangster. It is about being individuals who are willing and able to positively impact their community with their thoughts and aspirations.
As of late my thoughts of going to law school and or increasing my community service commitments stem from the notion that I am not being what I am set to become; rather, I am going to become what I need to be to radically alter the preconceived notion of the Hispanic identity.
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