Prideful & Pressured: A Young Latina Learning the Language

Growing up, I didn't know that I was a first-generation student. I didn't understand that I would be the first in the family to have the opportunity to go to college. But, to share my experience, I have to explain my parent's journey first.

My parents are from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, but have lived in the United States for more than 30 years. My mom is a stay-at-home mom, and my dad is an apartment maintenance manager. They honestly have struggled to learn the English language, but somehow they made it work.

My parents knew that the first step I had to take to succeed in the United States was to learn English. So, they would place me in front of the TV watching PBS shows like Sesame Street, Barney, and Curious George. Television shows that other Latinx kids watched for the same reason.

I don't think I will ever forget translating for my mom at the grocery store or spelling out words for my dad via the phone. Probably because I still do it to this day. I also remember guiding my parents through bank statements and attorney documents they were filling for my grandparents' citizenship papers.

Documents that took many years to be approved. My parents' attorney saw me start 5th grade and high school by the time my grandparents were finally able to come to the United States.

Year after year, I keep thinking that I am getting a better grasp of the English language, but even at 22, I keep slipping up. I either forget or mispronounce words. Sometimes it is embarrassing, especially when someone else catches my mistake.

Either way, it is a learning process. I am proud of those who learned the language as teenagers or adults because it is hard; whether you were born in the United States or not. It is tough to learn the English language when you don't practice it at home. Just know that it is a struggle that many individuals face, and it's not something to be ashamed about.

Prideful & Pressured will be a series of blog posts. I don't have specific topics planned, but I want to center them around Latinx struggles. If you have any suggestions, please DM me!