"Mi Vida" By Jacqueline Rodas

Image by Xektop Kacepec from Pixabay 

I am a Honduran woman con sangre de Lempira,

from the brown eyes to the luscious curls;

from the roll of tongues to la Punta,

Honduran blood runs through us.

Colorism? We never discuss it.

“You look Indian,”

“You look way too dark to be Latino,”

“Charaluda, ven pa ca,”

Mestizo, negro, blanco,

all judged by their features.

When will people understand?

One cannot be too dark to be a Latino in this society.

At the end of the day sangre de Lempira runs through their veins.

I am a Honduran woman con sangre de Lempira,

from the plantains to the tamales,

from the five stars to the royal blue stripes,

one is never ‘right’ enough to fit in this society.

There is only an image of a Latina woman—

tan skin, straight shiny hair, curves,

what society calls perfection…

“You’re flat,”

“I thought Latinas were supposed to have a dump truck,”

“Hispanics: crazy, loud, and spicy.”

When will this ongoing cycle of the beauty standard and stereotypes end?

***

My parents are the most hardworking and persevering people I know. I used to avoid all the advice they gave me. I wasn’t really thinking in the moment, all I cared about was having fun. But life is not only about having fun. The advice my parents gave me hit me all at once. When I took it into consideration, I discovered so much of who I am today. 

“Un dia que yo no estoy aquí Yaqui, quiero que te recuerdes de todas estos consejos que te dijo tu papá.” This is something my papa recently told me and ever since, I realized many things. One day when I’m older I will pass on everything my parents told me. Even if it sounds harsh it’s the truth. The truth always hurts but it motivates you to do better.

“The people you surround yourself with says a lot about you.” My mama was always right about this. At first, I thought it meant that my mama hated my friends but that wasn’t the case. She just wanted the best for me and not to go down the wrong path.

Working on myself spiritually, mentally, and physically completely changed me. I took that step, not for others but, mainly to see all the growth I’ve made as a person. However, it’s better not to tell people my goals and all my accomplishments. It’s better to show them. I am still a teenager but when I reflect on and evaluate what I want to do in life, I will push myself to get what I want.

I am the first generation Latin American in my family to graduate from high school. It’s crazy to think about and it is truly a blessing to have that opportunity. Once I graduate and start a new chapter, I want my parents to always remember that everything they had to go through in raising and counseling me was 100% worth it.

Jacqueline Rodas lives in Portland, Maine; she is 16 years old. Jacqueline speaks Spanish and English, she is very close to her parents and three siblings, and she loves jewelry. “My poem is about culture and my essay is about family. Both mean a lot to me because my parents are immigrants who had to go through a lot to give me everything I have today, and the Latinx community, especially here in Maine, is very small. I feel like I can do my part by sharing about them through writing.”