1.

Mexican
2. Ason
3. Abrother
4. Aworker
5. Adreamer
6. Kind
7. Crazy
8. Notperfect
9. Athinker
10. Human

IAm

Myparentsstory
MartinHernandezBenitezismyfather'sname.HewasbornandmostlyraisedinVeracruz,
Mexico.Whenhewasathisteenageyearshisfather(mygrandfather)died,Ineverreallyhad
thegutstoaskhimhoworwhyhediedbutfromthewayhehastoldmetheshortstoryofhis
fatheritsoundslikehewaskilled.Afterthiseventinhislifehethenwentoutintotheworldby
himselftoworktowardsfindinghimselfabetterplacetolivein.Myfatherisaquietpersonand
astrictlookingonetoo,Buthehasalwaysbeenthehardestworkingandresponsiblepersonthat
Iknow.Hehasalwaystakenituponhimselftogeteverythingdone,whetherit'shouseholdor
automotiveproblems.Mostofthetimeheisusuallyseriouslookingbuthealsohasoneofthe
brightestsmilesI'veseen.MyfatherhasalwaystaughtmemanyimportantthingsthatIcould
definitelyuselateroninmylifeeversinceIwasalittlekid,fromhowtotiethelacesonmy
shoestohowtochangetheoilinthecar.Eventhoughmeandhimhavehadasmallamountof
father,sontimefromhimalwayshavingtobeatworktosupportmybrothersandIwithwhatwe
need,myfatherhasalwayshadaverypositiveinfluenceinmylifeandhasalsobeenahugerole
modelandtaughtmetobemoreresponsibleandindependenttobecomeabetterpersonand
workdaybydayforabetterfutureformyself.
LorenaCardona,ismyMother'sname.MyMotherwasbornandraisedinMichoacan,
MexicoandlivedthereformostofherteenageyearsuntilshewentoverthebordertotheUnited
States.ShethenmovedwithherauntsandunclestoSouthHampton,NewYork,assoonasshe
gottheresheimmediatelyhadtostartworkingtobeabletolivecomfortablyinthisnew,
expensiveenvironment.WhileshewaslivinginNewYorkshemetmyfatherandthey
eventuallygotmarriedandhadmeinSouthHamptonaswell.ShortlyacouplemonthsafterI
wasdelivered,mymother'sfatherbecameveryillandmymomthenplannedtotravelbackto
Mexicotobewithherfathereventhoughsheandmyfatherbeingillegalimmigrantsknewit
wouldn'tbeeasytocomebacktotheU.Siftheywantedto.Sheeventuallydidenduptakingme
andmovingbacktoMichoacanmeanwhilemyfathercontinuedtostayinNewYorktokeep
workingbuthealsoeventuallytraveledbackdownsouthontheroadbyhimselfwithonlya
papermaptohelphimfindhiswaytoMexico.Sadlyaboutatwoyearslateraftermymother
wentbackmygrandfatherpassedawayfromsevereDiabetes.WhenIwasaboutfouryearsold
myparentsdecidedtogetadivorce,afterthisweallmovedbacktotheUnitedStates.Myfather
wasthefirstonetocrosstheborderandgettoColorado,thenmygrandmotherandIfollowed,
andmymotherwasthelastonetomeetusinColoradoSprings.Mywholelifemymotherhas
alwaysbeenahardworker,eventhoughsometimeswedidn'thavewhatwewantedmymother

alwaysmadesurethatwehadeverythingweneeded,wealwayshadclothesonourbacks,aroof
overourheadsandfoodwasalwaysonthetable.Thewaymymomraisedmewasabig
influenceinthepersonIamtoday.ShealwaysmadesurethatIlearnedmymannersandalways
usedthemwhereverIwentandtohaverespectforeverythingandeveryonewhohadrespectfor
me.Myparentshavemademearespectfulandresponsiblehumanbeingandtheybothhave
taughtmethatinthisworldweliveintheonlywaytomakeprogressistoworkashardasyou
canforwhatyoudesirenomatterwhatobstaclesyouhavethrownyourway.

MyLittleBrothers
MylittlebrotherBryan,wasbornfiveyearsafterIwas,heisthebrotherstuckinthemiddle.He
hasalwaysbeenagoodkidinandoutofschool,hehasalwayskepthisgradesupandhehas
nevergotteninanytroublethatIknowof,buthecouldalsobecomeverylazyattimes,specially
whenitcomestochoresandfromtimetotimehecouldalsohaveashortfuzeandlosehis
temper.Butheismylittlebrotherandeventhoughwehavehadourfightswestillgetalongin
manywayslikeplayingvideogames,orwhenhedecidestohelpmecleanthecar.Myyoungest
brotherAlexisisaveryhappyandhyperkid,hehasalwayslikedtoplayandhehasparticipated
indifferentyouthsportteamsheenjoysbeingoutsideinthestreetwithhisfriendsmuchmore
thanhedoesbeingathomeanyday.Sometimeshecouldalsohaveahardtimelisteningtowhat
meormyparentstellhimtodoorwhenwetellhimwhattimehewillneedtocomebackhome
fromhisfriendshouse.Hehaspreviouslygotteninallotoftroubleinmanyoccasions,fromnot
behavingontheschoolbustothrowingrocksatotherpeoplescars.Eventhoughhecouldtest
mytemperallotoftimeswewillstillgetalongbecausewe'rebrothers.Havingthemasmy
youngersiblingshasinfluencedmeinapositivewaybecausetheybothhavetaughtmeto
becomeaverypatientperson.Ihavelearnedtobecomemorepatientfromallthosetimesthat
theywouldtestmytemper,andeventhoughtherewasmanytimeswhenwewouldallgetin
fightstheyareandwillalwaysbemylittlebrothersandIwillalwaysbethereforthem.

PivotalMomentsinMyLife
ThroughoutmylifeIhaveexperiencedacoupleofdifferentthingsthatIcouldconsiderpivotal
moments.ThefirstmomentthatIexperiencedwaswhenIwasaboutfourorfiveyearsoldand
myparentsgotdivorced.FromwhatIrememberthereasonfortheirdivorcecamefromjust
havingtoomuchconflictandgoingseparateways.Thisimpactedmeinaverybigwaybecause
thishappenedatayoungageanditwashardgettingusedtonothavingbothofmyparentsinthe
housewithme.AlthoughthiswasaveryhardmomentinmylifethatIwentthroughtherewas
alsosomethingsthatIgotoutofitthelasttimethatIspokewithmydadbeforeheleftour

househeexplainedtomewhyeverythingwashappeningandhealsotoldmethatnowIwas
goingtobethemanofthehouseandtomakesurei'malwaystakingcareofmymotherandmy
siblings.AsIcontinuedtogrowwithoutmyfatherinthehouseIbegantobecomemore
independentbecausemymotherhadtobeworkingmoreoftentoprovideforus,soIwouldn't
haveheraroundasmuchandIhadtobecomemoreconsciousaboutwhatIdidaroundthehouse
soIdidn'tmakeanotherproblemshehastodealwith,aswellashelpheroutasmuchasIcould
withmyyoungerbrother.
ThelatestpivotalmomentIhaveexperiencedwaswhenIwasfourteenyearsold,afterI
finishedmyfreshmanyearinHighschoolIhadbecomeaprettydisobedientpersonandIdidnot
havemuchregardtoschoolorformyrelationshipwithmyfamilysomymotherchoseto
straightenmeoutbysendingmetomexicoforaboutayear.Theplaceinwhichmymother
decidedtosendmetowasprettysimilartosomethingyouwouldseeinabootcampbutitwas
actuallyarehabilitationcenter.ThiscenterwaslocatedrightacrosstheUnitedStatesand
MexicoborderinatownnamedElHongo,whichIstillhavenotbeenabletofindonthemapa
moreknownneighboringtowntherewasTecate,Mexicothatwasaboutfifteentotwenty
minutesaway.InthisplaceIprettymuchbecameaverydisciplinedpersonandIlearnedallot
aboutaddictionproblemsandhowtocopewithit.Eventhoughthisplacedidhavesomepretty
unhumaneconditionsIstillbelievethatithashadaverypositiveeffectinmylifeformultiple
reasons.OneofthesereasonsbeingthatIbecameverydisciplinedandIalsolearnedto
appreciateeverythinginmylifesomuchmore.AnotherreasonwasthatfromtheconditionsI
livedininsidethisplacei'mnotthepersontocomplainaboutmuchthingsforexamplefoodthat
peopledon'tfindpleasantandcomplainabout,andthelastreasonbeingthatIhavelearnedto
havelargeamountsofpatiencetowardseverybodyweatheritskeepingasmileonmyfacewhile
beingthreatenedordealingwithsomeonewhoisbeingviolent.

Things that make me

Happy
MyFamily
MakingMoney
Dogs
Spendingtimewithfriends
Familytime

Sad
Losingsomebody
Losingmoney
Beingalone
Beingleftout
stressingout

Gettingsupport
Food
Speed
Cleaningmycar
Rainydays
Roadtrips
Vacations
Helpingout
Camping
Hiking
exercising
Adrenaline
Buyingmyselfthings
Meditating
Peace
Timetomyself
Music
Seeingmyfamilyhappy
Gettingthingsdone
Beingactive
Givingtoothers
Receiving
Relaxing

Stayinghome
Fines
Accidents
Crashing
Havingadirtycar
Carbreakingdown
Seeingtheyouthdie
Beingforgotten
Beinghungry
Forgettingmystuff
waistingmytime
Losingmytemper
Gettingjudged
Droppingmy
belongings
Racism
Inequality
Moneywasted
Seeingfamily
struggle
Seeingpeopleget
donewrong
Selfishpeople

MyStrengths
Ihaven'tbeenabletofindanytalentsinmyselfbutIbelievethatIdohavemanystrengthsin
placesthatpeoplefinddifficult.Oneoftheseexamplesisbeingabletokeepmycool,Ihave
neededtousethischaracteristicmanytimeswhileIhavebeenworkinganddealingwithpeople
whoattendedourevents,gotdrunkanddecidedtostartcausingsomesortofproblem.Another
strengthIbelieveIhaveisbeingabletobeaprettyresponsibleformyage,Ibelievethisbecause
therehasbeenmultipletimeswhereIhaveneededtobetheresponsibleoneeitherwithmy
friendsorformyself,oneoftheseexamplesisbeingthedesignateddriverwhengoingouttoa

partyordraggingmyasstoschooltofinishmywork,andonceIhavemadeadecisionthere'sno
waysomebodycouldchangemymind.

MyWeaknesses
OneoftheplacesthatIbelieveIneedtoworkoninmylifeisnotbeingabletogetmyselfoutof
bedeasily,Iwillpreferbeingathomerelaxingovergettingmythingsdonearoundthehouseor
withthecaranyday,andIamalsoapersonwhowillveryeasilygetdistractedmeanwhileIam
alreadysupposedtobeworkingonsomething.AtimewhenthishappenstomeofteniswhileI
amatschoolandIhaveworkthatneedstobedone,Icouldhaveapaperthatneedstobedonein
acouplehoursandsomethingassimpleasatextmessageorafutureeventcoulddistractmefor
alargeamountoftimeandtheresultmylazinesswouldendupbeingthatIneededtopush
myselfandjusthurrythroughtheassignmentwhichusuallycausedmemessingupallotand
missingmanypiecesthatwereneededinthepaper.ThelastthingthatIbelieveIneedtowork
onisthatItishardformetomanagemytimeeventhoughIhaveeventuallygottentowhereI
neededtoontime.AnexampleofthiswouldbewhenIneededtogetmythingsreadytogoona
worktrip,sometimesIwouldbetakingtoolongfocusingonmakingsureIhaveeverythingthatI
willneedthroughoutthetriptostaywarmthatIwouldforgetthingslikebackupbatteries,
drinkingwater,orpackingalunch.

My Religious Beliefs
ThroughoutmylifeIhavealwaysgrownupinaveryreligiousfamily,mostofmyfamilyhas
beenverycatholicforaslongasIcanremember.EventhoughIhavelearnedandpracticedthis
religionmultipletimesIdon'tbelievethatthisismypersonalreligion.Ipersonallydon'thavea
religionIputmyfaithincompletelyyetbutIdobelieveinapowerthat'sgreaterthanmyselfand
allofus,Ialsohaveabelievingthateverythingislivingoffofpositiveandnegativeenergy.
AlthoughIhavenotcommittedmyselftoaspecificreligionIwillalwayshaverespecttowards
everyreligionsomebodycommitsthemselvestojustthewayIwantpeopletorespectmyown
beliefs.

WhatisBeauty?
Ibelievethatbeautyissomethingthatyoucanjustseebutyoucouldalsofeel,somethingthatI
findbeautifulisgettingoutofworkinthemorningsanddrivingmeanwhilethesunisrising,and
Ialsofindbeautyinmanythingsthatpeoplecanbescaredof,oneexamplebeingdogbreedsthat
areconsideredaggressiveorcarsthathaveanexcessiveamountofpower.ThereasonwhyI
havealwaysbelievedthatbeautyissomethingthatisfeltisbecauseeverysinglepersonis

differentandthereisthingsthatwewilllikewithpassionbutsomebodyelsecanhavenointerest
inthatsamething.Therewillbesomethingthatyouwillenjoywithsuchgreatpassionbutyou
couldexplainitallwithdetailtosomebodyelsetryingtogetthemintoitaswellbutiftheydon't
seeitlikeyoudotheywillneverappreciatethebeautythatyoufeel.

What is Friendship?
FriendshiptomeissomethingthatItakeveryseriouslybecausetomeitmeansthatitis
somebodywhowillalwaysbethereforyouwheneveryouhaveaproblemthatyouface.Beinga
frienddoesn'tonlymeanthatyouwillbethereonlythroughthegoodtimesbutthatyouwillnot
leavesomebodybehindwhentheyrunintoaproblemthatcouldpotentiallyendupbeingvery
bad.Ibelievethatfriendshipissomethingthatyouunfortunatelyhavetofindwhenyouarein
yourloneliesttimes,becausethat'swhenyoureallyseewho'slookingoutforyourwellbeing.

Home
Inmyopinionhomedoesn'tnecessarilymeanaplacewhereyouandyourpersonalbelongings
stayat,butitcouldalsobeaplacewhereyoucangoandbecomfortablein,thereismany
examplesofthingsthatpeoplecandothatwillmakethemfeelatpeacewiththemselvesthatis
notwheretheylivesomeexamplesofthisbeingwhenpeoplegoouthikinginthemountainsor
whenpeopletraveltoacertainplacetogettostayatforacoupleweeks,couldbeoutdoorsorin
anotherindoorvacation.Homeisalsosomethingthathastobefelt,becauseifyoucannotcalla
placethatdoesn'tfeelwelcomingtoyouahome.

Characteristics of A Good Parent

Ibelievethataparenthastohavemanycharacteristicstobeagoodparentbuttherearecertainly
afewspecificonesthatcomeinhandymorethantheothersdoincertainsituations.Thefirst
characteristicthatIbelieveiscriticalwhenitcomestobeingagoodparenthastobe,beinga
matureperson.Ibelievethatthisisveryimportantbecauseyouneedtobeveryresponsibleof
theactionsthatyoutakebecausenowtheoutcomewon'tjustbeaffectyoubutyourfamilyakid
cannottakecareofanotherchild.ThesecondcharacteristicthatIbelievetobecriticalistobea
hardworkingperson.WhenIsaythisi'mnotsayingthatIbelievesomeonehastobeaperson
thatisalwaysatworkbutsomebodywhocanalsoworkontheirfamilyanexamplei'lluseto
explainwhatImeanbythisisis,somebodythatisadadshouldworkontheircareerandon
workingtomaketimeforhisfamily.ThethirdandmostimportantcharacteristicthatIbelievea
goodparenthasistohavelargeamountsofpatience.Agoodparentneedsthisbecause
personallyasabrotherIhavealreadyneededallotofpatienceandIcouldnotimaginewhatI
woulddoifIbecameaparentmyselfsinceIhaveseenwhatmymotherhadtogothroughwhen
shehadmyyoungersiblings

MyFutureFocus
IbelievethatforthewellbeingofmyfutureIwillneedfocusmyselfongettingintocollegeand
pursuingacareer.IwanttodothisformyfuturehappinessbecauseIreallydon'twanttosee
myselfworkinglabormyentirelife,maybeacoupleyearsofworkinglaborwillmakemeagood
amountofmoneybutIeventuallywanttogetmyselftosomewherewhereIcansitinfrontof
mycomputerandmakecallswhilemakingmymoneydoingthat.ThemainreasonwhyIwantto
getmyselftothatspotpersonallybecausemyentirelifegrowingupIhaveseenmyfatherbeing
forcedtoworklaborformostofhislifesincehecrossedtheUnitedStatesborder,andIoften
worryabouthowhewillmakeitwhenthetimewhenhehasbecometooldtobeworkingthat
typeoflaborthathasbeentheonlywaythathehasbeenabletomakehismoney.Sofrommy
worriesaboutthisIdon'twanttowaituntilit'stoolateformetofindafieldinwhichIcanmake
enoughtoprovideforhimandtherestofmyfamilytoliveacomfortablelife.Anotherreason
whyIwanttofocusmyselfongettingagoodcareeristhatwhenIfinallydecidetosettledown
andbuildmyownfamilyIwillobviouslyneedallotofmoneytosupportalittleoneandthe
expensesthatcomewiththat.

Success
Inmyopinionsuccessmeansthatyouhavefinallymadeittoaspotwhereyoufeelveryhappy
withyourselfandarealsoinacomfortablesituation.Beingsuccessfultomemeansthatyou
havepushedashardasyoucouldtogetthroughtheobstaclesthrownatyouthroughouttheroad
togetsomethingthatyouhavebeenwantingforyourself,andnomatterhowmanytimesyou
weredoubtedbyothersorbyyourselfyoudidn'tletthatstopyou.Somebodywhoissuccessful
isnotsomebodywhohaslotsofmoneyandthingsbecauseithasbeenhandedtothem,orthat
hasusedothersasstepstogetthemselvesuptowheretheywanttobe,withoutregardtothose
whocontributedtotheirsuccess.AlargeamountofpeoplewhichIconsidertobevery
successfuldon'tnecessarilyhaveanexcessiveamountofmoneytobewavingaroundmuchlike
otherpeoplewhichmightbelookedatasasuccessfulperson,butwhattheydohaveisan
excessiveamountofhappinessthatcomesfromdoingwhattheylovetodomost.Oneexample
ofthisbeingfriendsthatIhavelivinginmexicothatdon'thaveaplacethattheycouldcalltheir
ownbutlivewithacommunityofpeoplewhohelpthepublicthatchoosesthehelp,fight
addictioneventhoughtheydonotliveinanythingevennearglamoroustheydoliveina
communityinwhichtheyfeelathomeandtheyfeelhappytolivein.

Everything I am Grateful for

MyMother
MyFather
Myyoungersiblings
MyCar
Food
Television
Mybelongings
Medicine
Phones
Videogames

Myuncles
Myaunts
Mycuzens
Mygrandma
Money
Cartoons
Electricity
Dogs
Seatbelts
Guns

Teachers
Myjob
Freedom
Braces
Music
shoes
Glasses
Coffee
Support
Love