I Bryan Gonzalez was born in Bronx, N.Y, and raised on Coram Long Island, in a small town called Gordon Heights. My family is a middle class family consisting of six. I am of African American & Puerto Rican ancestry. My father Immigrated to America in the early 1940's from Puerto Rico, while my mother was born in Bronx, New York and is of African-American and Bajan Parents. I grew up in a small community called Gordon Heights, which is located in Suffolk County, New York. Growing up in Gordon Heights, was a unique and rewarding experience, and is a community with a rich history since its early beginnings in 1920. Gordon Heights was promoted as a place that would be a solid, close-knit community of small farms for African American families. Land was offered as low as $10 down and $10 monthly or $10 weekly. Gordon Heights is a predominantly African-American neighborhood, surrounded by larger towns in Suffolk County, which were mainly comprised of families of Italian, Jewish, Irish, and German descent. …show more content…
My parents always made sure to my siblings in touch with our African and Puerto-Rican roots. Although we spent a lot of time outside of attending school on long Island was a blessing and also prepared me for the outside world in a sense. Long Island is where I learned to develop relationships with people of all races, which served as a constant reminder we are a country of many nationalities. In my senior year of high school, I join a program called "The International Youth Leadership Institute" which sponsored by Teachers College and Columbia University. Through this program, it afforded me the opportunity to travel outside the United States. In 1991 I was blessed with the opportunity along with 20 high school students from across the five boroughs, to travel to Senegal, West
Now that I live in Long Island I look at everything different and I see how much I changed as a person. Living in Long Island and living in Brooklyn is so much different because of the different atmosphere the different people and the things I did before vs the things I do now. Honestly I think living in Long Island changed me because when I moved here I started experiencing things and trying new things. Before I came to Long Island I was this shy innocent girl who was scared to make new friends but that all changed once I entered elementary school. When I entered elementary school I was eleven years old.
Growing up, the biggest challenge I faced was being a first generation Latina student. My family came from an extremely rural neighborhood in Guanajuato, Mexico called La Sandia. Both my parents achieved up to 5th-grade education in their hometowns. They decided to sacrifice their lives in Mexico to provide a better life for their family and then decided to migrate to the U.S to achieve what many people consider the American dream.
Lin-Manuel Miranda was born January 16, 1980, to Puerto Rican parents in the Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, New York. He grew up as a cultural outsider with a deep understanding of his
Although having a Mexican mother and an American father was not always socially acceptable, growing up with a different food taste, having a close-knit family, as well as regularly getting disciplined shaped how I am as a person today. I was dipped into a very different childhood most children did not grow up into.
Later that year, I was accepted into Spanish Honors Society, a volunteer based program to help out the Spanish communities near my school along with volunteering to help raise money for organizations that help less developed countries. One particular project that I helped raise money for through Spanish Honors Society, was Project Running Waters. The money raised for this event was donated to help people living in Guatemala receive fresh water through pipe systems that would be built. We raised over one thousand dollars to donate to this cause. Knowing that I can positively impact individuals in my community and in other countries makes me feel like I have grown maturely and am able to understand what needs to be done to make a difference to
...going to elementary school, along with my father studying and receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. At the age of 8, my family moved to Dallas, Texas because my father got a job there. My little brother started kindergarten, and we lived there for 2 years, and moved again to Montreal, Canada, when I was going into 5th grade. I had to take one French class because it was the second language of Quebec, a state in Canada where Montreal was located in. But it was fascinating to learn a new language other than my mother language and English. I spent 2 years in Montreal, and then finally in 7th grade, I moved to Denver, Colorado. I had to move from different places and schools, which partially was a disruption to my education and partially not because I learned the different cultures that exists in just two different countries, located in the same continent.
My Hawaiian family is awesome because they have the Aloha Spirit, our way of life. Everyone helps one another because we are “Ohana,” which in Hawaiian means “family.” I have so many multicultural adopted aunties and uncles with diverse nationalities that have influenced me; I honestly feel like a person that comes from many ethnic backgrounds. Life away from the tight-knit community of the “Big Island” has been a difficult adjustment. The warm smiles and caring mentality is a contagious philosophy and would change anyone lucky enough to observe the Aloha Spirit. One culture shock for me was driving on the mainland. Here, people cut me off and give a rude gesture, while in Hawaii, people would let me in and the gesture would be the “shaka” sign also known as “hang loose,” and I would return the action. The exchange was a “thanks bra” and “no worries,” similar to “thank you” and “you’re welcome.” These days I try to keep that same spirit when I drive in North Carolina; however, many times I am challenged to remember my roots.
As I grew older, between the transition of a child to a teenager, I learned more about my family, its culture and background, and even some back story about how they came to the United States to the first place. Back at home, my parents are certainly not home for long and everyday we weren't
Lopez is a great example of a Latino that did not have an easy start. Lopez was born, and raised in Mission Hills, California. His father abandoned him when he was two years old. His father took his baby clothes, and
My leadership and group problem solving skills have also been strengthened by my trip. When faced with decisions I feel I can look at both perspectives. My ideas seem to reflect a broader dimension by having experienced a different culture. On my next journey to Italy I believe I can promote a better understanding of Americans.
As global citizens, whatever happens to one happens to us all; as such, we should avoid isolating ourselves. Aware of the many paths to choose from in this field, including non-profits and think tanks, I will seek to pursue work for an international organization like United Nations to help it gain more access of knowledge from the most prestige minds in the world. At Tennessee Tech University, my undergraduate program should be described as rewarding and fruitful. Working at the International Education Office at TTU for the past two years has helped me develop the notion of respect for other cultures and traditions more since we receive multinational students and scholars quarterly. Furthermore, many of the international students I have met have become my friends for
This program exposed me to Asian cultures in a way I had never thought possible. Living in an Asian country, even for only a week, and being mixed with students from around the world brought me face to face with cultures I had never before truly experienced.
If I had never become an ambassador as Bloomfield High School Miss Nashdoi, I wouldn’t be able to feel comfortable being out of my comfort zone. It taught me to be away from my parents for a week by traveling to different places and being on my own without the help from my parents. Learning to interact with children to elderly people. Being able to consider what life must offer with accepting opportunities that are given. It became my first time becoming an ambassador for my high school and my community. I have met many people and they have become part of my life as they are my own family and made me feel accomplished that I inspire my own family to want to become a better person for
After witnessing the misery and horrific destruction in the Dominican Republic, I realized that it’s going to be a long path to a recovery in developing countries around the world. This opportunity has substantially shaped me and it’s an experience I will remember for a lifetime. This trip has ultimately led me to pursue my aspiration of becoming a social worker and study abroad in your outstanding program. I am fully aware that to be inclined as a social worker it takes leadership skills to advise people in solving and coping with their problems. I want to continue to travel to developing countries because I believe that one person can make a difference in a community, no matter how big or small the situation is, there will always be a solution. Continuing my education will allow me to make a difference and help the people in my own
The location of my birth, where I grew up, and where I currently reside has molded me into the person that I am today. I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan and lived in Madison Heights, Michigan until I was 4 years old. My family then moved to Warren, Michigan where I have resided for 16 years. In my childhood home, we spoke English. Likewise, in my current home, we speak