Growing up as a hispanic Guatemalan, I experienced bullying. I know for a lot of people of color they may also be bullied. Mine was personal. Kids would single me not only because of the color of my skin, but as well as for the fact that I am adopted. They look at me weird and say things behind my back. It made me feel like I don't belong here. When former President Trump was elected one of them said, "He's going to send you back to were you came from!" That took me to tears. The fact that someone would say that just hurt me deeply. I don't care what political side you're on, or if you're part of the LGBTQ+ community. I respect you all the time unless you lose my respect. I love everyone for who they are, but when you start saying slurs and telling them they don't belong it really changes someone. It changed me. I started to not care. I let everything just pass by me. I've realized doing this made me miss out on a lot of things in the world. My grandma took me aside and talked to me. She had noticed that I wasn't myself. She helped me realize that I am special. I've overcome people trying to put me down. I try and help them now instead of getting hurt and wanting to fight them. I still get hurt when I'm out with my family and I get stares. Im the odd one out. Im the only person of color in my family. I've learned to embrace who I am, and I want to help others find themselves today. I want to be able to do what I love and help others find themselves. Help them realize they aren't alone and that there are people out there just like them. I want plan on being a dentist and in my spare time I plan to be a volunteer to the youth. I'm not sure in what specific way, but just be open to the city and let people meet up and talk to them. I plan to also donate money to the community in helping people get off the street, and helping people find who they are. I want to inspire people. The biggest inspiration to me our my parents along with my grandma. They love everyone for who they are no matter what. I want to help make everyone know their with.

Growing up I had a hard time believing I was a part of my family because I am adopted. At times, I just felt like I wasn’t good enough. I also faced racism and bullying which made me feel like I never truly belonged in my family. In 2010, after my 7th birthday my mother went into surgery and had a colostomy. When she was admitted into the hospital, my heart sank. I never thought I would have to think about living my life without my mom. While my mom was at the hospital I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle. While I was staying at my aunt and uncle’s house, my aunt came into the room where I was staying and gave me a special blanket that my mom had. It had a horse on both sides, and was white on one side and brown on the other. It was super fuzzy and soft, and just felt like home. She also gave me a letter that my mom had written for me. In the letter my mom told me that everything was going to be alright, that I was a strong young man, and that she loved me. In that moment while I was clenching the blanket I realized that family is where you are loved and where you can be yourself and no one would judge you for who you are. I was a part of this family, I was loved, cared for, safe. I was part of this family whether I believed it or not. During the long process of my mom being in the hospital, I realized how special life was. I was so caught up in myself that I didn’t really stop to think about things. I learned to spend quality time with everyone I encountered. In school, I would make sure everyone was okay and that they were loved. Whenever I hurt someone’s feelings, I’d immediately apologize to them and try to make it up to them. Every year I make new friends and make sure they know they are loved. As time went on and as I entered high school I fell back into the same state that I was in before. I went with the flow and I didn’t really care. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I lost my grandmother and then later that year, I lost my childhood best friend. After losing them both, I stopped and asked myself "What am I doing with myself?" With family and friends on my conscience I now realize I must not fall into the same mistakes and push forward to become the best person I can possibly be. Now finishing my last year of high school I make sure everyone is okay and perusing what they love most.