My Identity

My name is Andrea Castro, born and raised in Puerto Rico. My parents decided to enroll my sister and I at a bilingual academy (Wesleyan Academy) so that we could learn and be able to speak English fluently and without stress, or at least not the same level of stress as the one they had when they spoke English. From a very young age, four years old, we started our journey with the English language. Exposed to it constantly, practically eight hours a day without including the exposure outside the school, the words and sound began to stick in our minds. My sister has always shown more ability and dominance over the language than I.  I've always been able to read and understand English perfectly, but when it comes to speaking the language I get really nervous and forget the words I’m supposed to say.  But thankfully I’m aware and been able to focus and work on that. So yes, we could say that English has been one of the my internal journeys.

Another journey started in the summer of 2004. For the summer I didn't want to stay at my house nor did I want to go from house to house just watching movies and doing nothing, so I decided that I wanted to be enrolled at a camp.  One afternoon in the entry to the school a guy was giving out some flyers that said "FRAIGCOMAR", which is a famous and excellent soccer club here in Puerto Rico.  When I took the flyer in my hand I automatically said to my mom that I wanted to go to that camp. That summer I fell in love of the sport, soccer, my beloved 'futbol'.  Ever since then I've played soccer in many teams as a defender and taking on other responsibilities such as captain.

Captain and president of the class would be two of the most interesting and demanding leadership position I've had.  Through these periods, which actually intertwine, with the added bonus of playing for two or three times at a time was challenging.  Some days I left home at 6 a never got back till 10pm, with a day fill with classes, at least a practice and a game, and i got home to study for the next day.  Even though it sound like a lot, those days I can truly say that were the best. Though those position I was able to learn things that you don't normally learn at that age. For example in the presidency position I had to work and communicate constantly with the parents of my fellow companions, and must say that the were a hand full alright. Those positions also helped me chose the career I'm studying now. All the organization and planning little by little enchanted me and I ended up in the faculty of Business.

These two journey describe above have had a significant impact in my life. They have shaped, together with the teachings and beliefs of my family, the person I am today. Through those times of hard work, patience, no sleep, discussions and more, y learned that I was a person that looked for the best way to solve the problem I was facing. Learned that one can't take a problem and sink under the water with stress, anxiety nor depression, but that one must learn how to float/work with it the best you can.

External

I have a dream and that is to visit as many countries I can in my life. Until now the most visited country has been United States. Many family members have moved over there first to study later it became something permanent. I've gone to Atlanta and Savannah,Georgia at least six times, which we also visited by car to Orlando, Florida and South Carolina and Minnesota. Also have visited two times Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and Austin, Texas. Outside of U.S. I visited Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and some of the Caribbean Islands. This summer me and my family hope to visit Spain, France and Italy. And this is for sure, on July I'll go to Paraguay and Argentina for some workshops.

In the occasional trips to Atlanta, Georgia or Dallas, Texas to visit our family the language became more familiar and useful in our lives. On average, every two years we take a trip to visit our family leaving abroad. The summer of 2010, summer of celebration for the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, we planned on helping my aunt and uncle move from Atlanta, Georgia to Dallas, Texas. It was a huge event because it wasn’t just help them pack and unpack their stuff in the different cities, but that we, and by we I mean my mother, father, sister and me plus my cousin, aunt and uncle , would drive (by car) for sixteen hours to get to Dallas. Yes, seven people in a Minivan for sixteen hours. Sure we stop a various places and stayed for the night at an Inn, but still it was a very… interesting trip.  We passed through Alabama, Mississippi and Lousiana each very, very different from one another.  I remember like yesterday when we stopped at a gas station in Mississippi and my sister and aunt stepped out of the car and went to buy some munchies and pay for gas. They were heading toward the line normally and naturally and out of a sudden my sister realized that there were two lines and that, for any reason, one was all with white people and the other was with black people.  My sister and aunt looked at each other and stayed in awe. First it was choking to see the division so clearly. Division that they were not accustomed.  Second they didn’t know where they were supposed to line up after, was it the black or the white? Would it make any difference or have some sort of repercussion if they chose wrong? Finally they chose the white line, but not because of the fact of “white” but because the line was shorter.

This short story opened my eyes to a reality that I had only seen in movies and in rare but very disguise situations. It made me acknowledge the social behaviors I had acquired from the customs and traditions from Puerto Rico, my family.  My identity it’s not defined by the color of my skin, nor the language I speak, nor the position I've held, yes that does influence, give it a direction or impact the identity, but my identity is defined by the values I have, the things that I believe are true and the way I am. Therefore part of my identity involves doing the best in everything, caring of others other than yourself, and having faith.