Personal Narrative: My Life In L. A.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA had its perks if you liked living in a crowded city with lots of commotion, its downfalls are the many criminal gang activity the streets of L.A are known to have. Growing up in a hostile environment everything I knew and was used to was the gang street life in L.A. Education did not become a priority the possibility of improvement for a better life never crossed my mind. I am the first generation child it was hard to adapt to the American way of living, despite been born here. I only gathered with Hispanic kids who were also the first generation of parents who came from Mexico, Salvador, Guatemala and other places in Latin America. I was never around other ethnicities, not white, Asian, black etc.
Embracing
I was 17 years old at the time I had to go to a new high school, which I did not like but I had no choice considering I was underage. My first day of school it felt unknown like if I had relocate to another Country. In class half of my classmates were white, the rest were Hispanic and Asian. It was completely new to me something I’ve never encountered in my life prior. As well the students looked much older than their age, I wasn’t sure if it was due to their ethnicity or the environment they live in which made them look like grown adults. Quickly I adapted to the environment because it was new and exciting for myself. I believe I needed a new perspective of life that triggered my curiosity into wanting to explore the unknown. Which resulted in improving everything about myself from making education priority, setting values and goals for myself, and taking part of many hobbies like soccer, and volleyball. As far as embracing my ethnicity and culture. Instead of ignoring my culture I started to read about its history and speak to my parents and ask about their life back in Mexico. Asking questions like what was life in Mexico, the history, school, places, the people they all once knew. I wanted to retain as much as information as I could because every piece of information they told me became special and had a great amount of significance. It also helped me practice