I am

I am loud
But I am not obnoxious.
I am strong
And I come from raizes fuertes.

My journey has been beautiful.

That’s why I am who I am.

I take great pride in my resilience

But I wish I was more vulnerable.

For whatever reason, I have never

Been afraid of success and always afraid of failure.

I am aware of the struggles mi gente endures

But I don’t know much about how to make it better.

I am not like you, I am my own theory.

I struggle with not being in control and asking for help.

I cringe at the sound of the words, “Speak English. You’re in amerika.”

I question the ideologies on which this country was founded.

I am not comfortable in White spaces.

I worry about whether I will be successful.

I am affected by society’s unwillingness to be compassionate.

I am afraid of failing more than once.

But I still wake up every morning

Because I love myself and my support network.

I appreciate the love that I receive on a daily basis;

Love that people wish for and I sometimes take for granted.

I value realness and rawness.

And I search for comfort and empowerment.

I am a product of my culture.

I am an educated muxer, Mexicana, Chingona, y poderosa.

My existence is resistance.