Coming from a Mexican background, my beliefs have been heavily influenced by tradition as well as my own experiences growing up in a whole new country. The cultural differences I have had and have noticed, have certainly shaped my way of thinking. Work ethic, humility, and respect are great teachings that my parents have bestowed upon me. Experiencing traditional teachings at home and learning the american lifestyle at school has been a challenge but I have used it as learning experience to grow from. This challenge has made myself believe in being optimistic and applying to my life, creeds that are traditional to my culture. All creeds have both positive and negative outcomes. In the end though, I have had, and still have, the best of both worlds
Growing up, when I would be in trouble, my parents would always lecture me using some saying or creed that they were taught by my grandparents back when they were young and getting their own lectures. Hispanic heritage is known for its many proverbs. So much that in Mexico there are even television shows that are solely based on these Mexican proverbs, for example the show Como Dice El Dicho. The title literally translates to “like the phrase states”. One proverb that has always stuck with me is “Si se puede” or “Yes I can.” This has stayed with me through the ups and downs of life. I tend to be an optimistic person and truly try and work for a positive view to everything.
One instance in which I constantly had to remind and tell myself “Si se puede”, happened about four years ago. It was my first year of college and everything was going a lot better than what I had expected. I was making As and high Bs in all my courses and I was adapting well. Due to economical issues, I had to commute roughly 100 miles, if you count the drive back home, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to Springfield. It was a regular October day and I had just gotten out of my last class. I had made plans with a friend to go to the mall after class that day. Everything was going great, I had picked up my friend and we were on our way to the mall when I recalled that I had left some coupons in my back pack, which I had left back at my friends house. We got to stop light and were going to turn left off of Glenstone onto Sunset. The light had just turned yellow and I was in the middle of the street. Being used to small town driving, I got nervous and tried to make it before the light turned red. At that moment, I slammed on my brakes but it was too late. Everything felt as if it were in slow motion. I recall the music on the radio slowing down as red chips flew up in the air. My limbs tensing up as to not let the inertia push me forward. As this was all happening, I turned to my right to make sure he was ok quickly releasing my right arm to, I guess, catch him. All while the car was spinning onto the opposite lane. All this comes to me as if it were a scene from some action packed Hollywood blockbuster but it was my reality. At the moment I slammed my brakes, I suddenly saw the white car that would hit the left front part of my 95’ Camaro. Leaving my car to look as if the shark from Jaws suddenly jumped from the asphalt street to take a giant bite out of it. Luckily, no one was injured. It was more the fear and shock of being in an accident that affected both, the other passenger and I. We were lucky enough that two ladies who were nurses at the time were at the intersection as well. They called 911 and made sure we were all ok.
Due to the accident, I was left with no car. My car made it home, barely. For the rest of the semester I was forced to borrow my mothers truck but I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to go back the next semester without my own vehicle. I got depressed and stopped trying at school. All my grades quickly plummeted due to lack of attendance and turning in assignments. I managed to pass two classes, but failed the other two.
That December, during winter break I applied at the window manufacturer that had hired as summer help that summer prior to the accident. Due to my good record with my old supervisor I was quickly hired back on as temporary help. When I started that January day, I was this inexperienced 18 year old who had never had a job like what I was about to do. I was always taught that you are never too good for any job. All through high school I worked in the fast food industry and that helped establish a good work ethic in me. I was hired in the shipping department loading all kinds of windows and doors that varied in weight and size. Each window, door, or crate of glass would be manually loaded with the help of a partner. The weight of the material varied from 25 lbs to 500 lbs and would be as small as 1’ x 1’ to four times my size. There were times when I wanted to quit but that would be when I would tell myself, “Don’t give up. Si se puede.” After 4 long months I was hired on full time. By then I had managed to save up enough for a new truck, which I still drive to this day. When I was hired on full time, I managed to impress my supervisor with my interview. He pulled me aside and told me how much more potential I had and how the company would benefit from me a whole lot more somewhere else, not as a loader.
Months passed and I got my current position. My first office job. No one in my family had ever worked at a desk job. Everyone else had always worked manufacturing jobs. My parents were so proud and still are. Because I have had an optimistic view and have told myself, “Si se puede.” I have managed to do well in my current position. With this mind set, I ended up getting a second job. I managed to handle the 2 jobs for a little more than a year. The thought of going back to school never left my mind though. I finally felt comfortable enough getting back to school and am at it now. I had to quit my second job, but it was for a better.
Creeds, like everything else, have they’re negative side as well. With my “I can do it all” mentality I have been able to accomplish a lot in my career but other aspects of my life have suffered. Due to my dedication to working, I have no real social life. I am 22 years old and my weekends don’t consist of going out with friends and having drinks. For the most part they consist of working only to come home and work on homework. I have somehow managed to move forward in the romantic part of life though. Even with her though, I had to apply myself and tell myself “Si se puede.” I pursued her for 8 whole months before she finally agreed to be my girlfriend. I had asked her out twice before she finally said yes. We are now going on 9 months and could not be happier.
I believe in myself and the power I have to accomplish anything I set my mind to. Never giving up has been something I have learned from my parents and from the people I have met outside of home. “Si se puede.” Such a short statement yet so powerful. So powerful that sometimes there are negative side effects on other aspects of life. Open mindedness and tolerance have helped manage the side effects though. We are all capable of anything. It’s just a matter of putting enough passion and effort in it.
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