Recently, I felt the need to find out more about my culture, ancestors, and ethnicity. This need comes from my urgency of knowing who I am as a person. I realized that I was lost in this superficial idea of assimilation. Being born in America forces you to adapt to certain traditions as a way to blend into the American society. Self-identity is an issue that many people face in America. While we love the idea of being multi-cultural, we struggle with the concept of belonging. Many young people who, like me, have an immigrant background struggle to understand why we have to label ourselves to be identified. Mexican American people are often referred to Chicanos; this term is used to identify those who were born in America, but are of Mexican descent. I personally chose to use the term Chicano to describe myself as a matter of pride and honor. After watching many documentaries that depicted the struggle of many generations of Chicanos, I was able to understand what it really means to be a Chicano. To be a Chicano is to have the best of both worlds. While we are Americans, we still retain the traditions of our ancestors. "Chicano" is the definition of younger generations who take pride on their Mexican ancestry and integrate it into their American life. For example, while we take in the American tradition of Thanksgiving, we fully embrace Christmas as a holiday that is designated to pay tribute to our ancestors.
In the search to find who I wanted to be, rather than what I was expected to be, I realized that being Chicano has a beautiful meaning. What does it really mean to be a Chicano? It’s not really a question that can be answered in words, but in moments. For example, dancing at your sister’s fifteenth birthday party; enduring those lovely family gatherings where you dance nonstop to cumbias and norteñas; laughing as you sneak another tortilla from the stack in the table; cooking alongside your mother while she tells you stories about her teenage years. These moments are what help build my identity. I came to realize that the answer to my question isn’t outside in society. Instead, they are inside me. I realized that the fear of not being accepted by my friends and society were keeping me from fully embracing my Mexican heritage. I forced myself to hide that aspect of my identity to seem cool and “American.” By accepting the fact that being Mexican is an imperative aspect of who I am helped me realize that being Chicana is what defines me and makes me unique. I have values and morals that derive from my upbringing, and these values are what make me special. So if you are Mexican American, and you are struggling to find your place in this country, just remember that you can make your own definition of America. After all, America is the home of many people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. It just a matter of embracing who you are.
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