I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, with my older brother by our Mexican parents. Growing up, I have always lived with other family members who were not my parents or brother, so family became an essential part of my life.
Being brought up by semiconservative immigrants led me not to have many experiences as a kid, so when I got to high school, it became hard for me to express myself and participate in class. This would eventually lead to me having trouble speaking out loud in class and with teachers.
Throughout high school, I participated in extracurricular activities like book club, yearbook, and National Honors Society; participating in these different activities helped me be a bit more open and willing to participate in class. Once during yearbook club, I had to inform the yearbook supervisor that there were some errors with names and pictures. I knew that I had to talk to her even though I previously never had. After talking to her, I realized that there are going to be many moments where it is necessary for me to speak and participate in class.
I am aware that if I want to be successful and fully take advantage of college, I have to be willing to get out of my comfort zone and strive to be a better student. Even though it might be hard to do so and take time, it is something that I will continue to strive for and get better.
