Being Latinx

My name is Tamara Salmeron. I’m a junior at Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School and I’m Latinx. I was raised In Tecate, Baja California, a small town in northern Mexico, but I moved to Los Angeles in 2018. My Mexican roots play an important role in my life and Tecate made me who I am today. From the curls of my hair to the color of my skin, there isn’t one day I don’t feel proud of who I am and where I come from.

I grew up in a family that was always together, and Sunday meals at my grandma's house were a tradition. I have to admit that moving to LA and leaving my whole life was not easy, but it made me grow up quickly. My family is my inspiration and the values they instilled in me make me stand out. In my home town, I learned the value of hard work, and the pleasure that comes from getting things done, both of which help me to do my best every day. 

My parents took me to this country to have a better future. They work hard every single day for me and my brother, which is why I always do my best at school. I want to give them a great future, where they won't have to work and can take pleasure in all they have done for their children and community. And, that's what being Latinx means to me - to love your people where you come from. All those mornings at my grandma's house eating arroz con leche for breakfast, surrounded by my primas, my tía, and my abuelita filled me with love and passion. I could not be more grateful for being Mexican.