Collective Me

The purpose of this assignment is to identify your “collective me” that has shaped your social identity. Choose 5 items that represent your social identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, social class, nationality, age, size) that have influenced your worldview or behavior. These items might include photographs, pieces of art, jewelry, piece of clothing, or anything you believe has significant influence on how you perceive and behave in the world.

Ethnicity: Mexican 
So most of my life I have identified with Mexican-Americans because growing up whenever I was asked "what" I was I said Mexican. Both sets of my grandparents are from Mexico originally and my parents were both born in the US. Growing up we went to Mexico 2 to 3 times a year and for me that was normal. I love my Mexican heritage because it has shown me how important family and tradition are. My family is pretty close knit and that has affected me a lot. We do a lot together and I really love the time I have with them. Both of my grandmothers have always been excellent cooks, so family time always has the best food. My Wela Cortez, which is my mother's mom, got cancer in July of 2009 and whenever we found out it was as if our rock had been broken. While we took care of her, we got closer than we ever were and for me this showed me how important our culture and tradition was. We do a lot of stuff together and I am so thankful. I also had a quinceanera, which is a huge tradition in Mexico. It marks the transition from childhood to womanhood, there is a church ceremony and a dance after the church. 

Nationality: American 
Growing up in America is very different than other countries. There are many advantages to living in the United States, and many of which I would not have ever known if my family wouldn't have made regular trips to Mexico like we did. Normal things like TV, American football, gummy candies and so many other things are really expensive or nonexistence. I saw things that were shocking and not "normal" in Mexico. I saw people living in shacks, and sometimes had to use bathrooms that weren't in the best shape. I would come home after most trips so thankful for the country that I grew up in. We have many things that are so normal here that are taken for granted. Things that were popular in the US in the 90s, would show up in Mexico five years later. We are progressive as a nation, and I am so used to this that I forget that we as a country are ahead in technology and many other areas.

Ability: Able bodied 
I feel as though sometimes I forget that I am young and healthy until I get sick or injured. During 2011 I was in a car accident that left me disabled for about 4 months. Before my accident I had not realized how accustomed I was to be able to use my legs and arms so easily. I grew up playing sports and being so active I never got injured or anything too drastic. So whenever I was in my car accident I was not used to being disabled. My shoulder was in a sling for 4 months and I was only allowed to do minimal movement. This was the hardest thing ever for me because I still wanted to do everything I was doing before and did not like to ask for help. But after a while I learned it was really hard to wash my dishes with one hand, or fix my hair. This experience with being disabled for a short period of time, showed me how blessed I am to not have been permanently injured.

Social class: middle 
Growing up in the middle class I never had to worry about financial situations or being worried I wouldn't have food to eat for meals.  Of course I didn't get every single toy I wanted or drive a luxury car, but my life was never really difficult. But I also have been around family members who are considered to be in the lower class and this has helped to shape me as well. My grandmother never had a lot of money and was receiving help from the government. I never knew this or noticed whenever I was younger. Growing up I realized it but I never thought to much on it because I knew that she loved me and really that was all I needed. We never got many gifts from her, and honestly didn't mind it because we knew that gifts were not the same as quality time. In many ways I am thankful in having grown up in the middle class and being shown by my parents that working hard can pay off and provide for your family. I am also thankful that I got to see how some in the lower class lived to appreciate what I had in my life.

Age: 20 
Right now I am 20, and well I feel like 20 year olds everywhere are doing different things. I have friends having babies, another battling cancer and many like myself in college right now. Twenty is kind of an awkward age where you are still trying to figure out how to be an adult but a lot has changed since 18 and high school. Friends change, you move away, and your parents start to get older. I still talk to the few really close friends I have but things and topics have changed. Its more about politics and bills than just football and music. Being at the University of Texas has taught and shown me a lot about myself that I feel I would have never learned if I would have stayed in my hometown and gone to university there. I recently started paying bills that I have and I've learned that things aren't as simple as I thought whenever I was younger. Looking back I never expected to be where I am at age 20. Dreams and life goals change but I'm glad that my life is where it is right now, 20 has been good so far.

Bonus: Smalltown Community
So I really wanted to write about my hometown and I'm not exactly sure where it fits in the identities but it has shaped me as well so I figured I would just include it as a bonus! 
I grew up in a small central Texas town where everyone knows everyone and football is a HUGE deal. Brownwood was good to me growing up and I loved being in such a tight knit community. My brother and I played a lot of sports growing up and we have made lifelong friends there. There were two boys in particular growing up that I have become so close to that now I consider them apart of my family. They have always been there for me and my brother and i love them to pieces. My dad has also coached most of my life, and he is pretty well known in our town. He and my mother showed me how to treat all people with kindness, no matter their status. I am glad that I lived in a place like Brownwood before I came to Austin because it showed me that little towns have a lot to offer as well as big cities like Austin.