When I was young, my parents brought me to a nation I knew nothing about. My culture was stripped away from me at a young age, and I was assimilated to American culture. Growing up, I’ve always felt that I didn’t belong among my American friends. Their favorite foods were “chicken pot pie” while mine was “pollo con tajadas”.
The cultural barrier I had with my American friends felt like an invisible border I could never really cross. I’m relieved to say that I don’t recall the memories and details of coming to the United States. All I know is that it wasn’t easy, but it still hurts to know that my mother and father remember every bit of it: the challenges, the fear, and the sacrifices.
My parents are very strong people: they had to endure the fact that they had nothing in America at a young age. But they wanted my sisters and me to have a better future knowing they had to start from scratch.
My parents have overcome many hardships. We used to live in my tia Suyapa’s house on Franklin Ave. with a lot of people that have recently come to the United States as well. We barely had space in the room; the room could only fit a twin- sized bed for three people, but we were so grateful for at least having a roof above our heads. Now, my parents have a whole house, after working so hard and working long nights. It took a while, but my parents now pay their own bills.
My mother, who used to clean up after people in a mall, is now a well respected supervisor that takes pride in her job. She was the only woman who applied to become a supervisor, breaking barriers with her courage. My mother is a remarkable person who places her children above anything else, no matter what kind of sacrifices she has to make.
My father used to work at a gas station pumping gas for people; he was treated unfairly and didn’t get paid hoping he’d get at least a penny. However, he never complained about it because he always had faith in himself. After all he’s been through, he is in a better position in his job. I always remember those days when my dad would come home with his orange construction t-shirt full of dirt and holes. Even though he was dirty, I would always be happy to see him and attempt to hug him, but he would always say “Amor, don’t hug me because I’m full of dirt, when I shower you will be able to hug me all you want.” But I always hugged him anyway.
The memory is vivid, even though I was so young. It was late, and the night felt heavier than usual as we stood in a dim, empty bus station, waiting. I clung to my mother’s hand, the only warmth in a place that felt like an icebox. She squeezed my hand tightly, glancing around as if every shadow held something to fear, but her face was calm. It’s strange –I don’t remember the exact city or what country we were in, but I remember the silence, the way it echoed around us, punctuated only by the hum of a flickering overhead light. I could feel my mother’s heart pounding through her grip, but she didn’t let go. My parents’ resilience and dedication have shown me the value of hard work, family, and the importance of embracing both my heritage and the culture around me. Their journey is woven into mine, and I carry their strength and sacrifices with me as I forge my own path.
In that moment, I understood that her strength was something fierce and unbreakable, something that held us both together in a place where we had nothing. She didn’t say much, but the way she carried herself was enough to tell me we’d make it through, whatever “it” was. I held on to her faith as much as I held on to her hand, finding a strange comfort in knowing that as long as we were together, I was safe.
Looking back now, I realize how much that night shaped me. It was a quiet lesson in resilience, in finding courage even when everything feels uncertain. I learned that facing difficulties isn’t about immediately finding solutions; it’s about moving forward in ambiguity. I now realize that life often hands us moments like that: moments that feel uncertain, uncomfortable, or even a little scary. And, like my mother showed me, sometimes all you can do is hold on tight and trust you’ll get through it. Life may not come with a roadmap, but if you have people by your side and a little faith, you’ll eventually find your way even if it’s just to the next bus stop. Besides, the journey wouldn’t be half as interesting if we knew exactly where we were headed.
