Throughout my life, I have had many different people I’ve looked up to from all different backgrounds. Some I acknowledge as role models and others I didn’t notice until much later in life. I also have much more minor roles in my life which motivates me to do better. Inspiration has multiple definitions for multiple people. Here are a couple of people who I’ve looked up to throughout my life.
- Rebecca Marie Gomez (Becky G.)
Growing up as a Latino in America, we didn’t have much representation. I didn’t have the privilege of watching movies and shows with people who looked like me. When Becky G. began music, this was a big moment for me. Being a small Mexican girl with a gap in her teeth, watching Gomez felt as if I was being mirrored. Gomez takes pride in her culture, never forgetting her roots, despite the hate she is getting. Gomez went through what most Mexican-American kids go through, publicly. The idea of not knowing where you belong because you’re not just one thing, you’re two. You represent two flags. Even to this day, she talks about the struggles of that. She is the voice that Mexican-American kids don’t have, She is the voice I never had. Somehow, somewhere in between, Gomez always finds a way to hold both Mexican and American flags with pride and a smile. She inspires me to do the same.
- Ariana Grande
Everyone who has met me knows how much I love Ariana Grande. Since I was little, I would catch myself singing her songs and watching her on Nickelodeon. Grande has always been a part of my life, big or small. Her biggest impact on me didn’t hit until my sophomore year of high school when I was going through a difficult time. I felt as if I had no peace. Her music was an escape from that difficult reality I was facing. Grande’s ‘Thank You, Next,’ album spoke to me dearly. Grande continued to be an influence throughout my high school years and now. She uses her platform to speak up for those who can’t and addresses issues other celebrities would keep quiet about. Grande continuously donates to charities and allows easy access to resources for her followers. Grande has opened up about her mental health issues in the past. I have struggled with mental health for as long as I can remember. Watching her go through so much publicly, especially after being accused of the death of her former ex, Mac Miller. Watching Grande grow throughout the years, has truly inspired me to become better and work on my self. She makes me want to become happy.
- Lia Pizano (My sister)
When my parents told me I was getting a little sister, I was excited. I was going to be an older sister. That’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. Being a sister is not something that came with meaning, it had to grow. When you’re little you don’t know anything. Now that I’m older, I’ve had the opportunity to see what she truly means to me. My sister has known me her whole life and has always had that vision of me being her older sister, she doesn’t know me any other way. That realization didn’t hit until I found her crying because I was crying. I went through a lot in high school and although she wasn’t there to experience it, she still hurt along with me. I never felt alone. She’s there even when I don’t want her to be, literally. We’ve shared a room since I was little. She inspires me to be better as a sister and as a person. I never want her to cry alone and feel alone. I want to give her everything and make sure no one hurts her. When they do, I want to be the one to pick her up. My sister has opened my eyes to more than I could have ever seen if she wasn’t here. She is the reason I’m motivated to do something and be someone in life. My sister is my everything.
- Claudia Vazquez (My mother)
When I was younger, my mother and I used to bump heads a lot. Now, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. My mother is an immigrant from Mexico, who came into a new country with nothing. She did not know the culture or language and still doesn’t. She had to rebuild her life. That takes bravery. Although she can’t do much in her day to day due to the barriers, that does not take away from everything she is. My mother is one of the smartest people I know, if not the smartest. She dedicated herself to school and got her degree back at home. She worked as a teacher for some time. My mother inspires me to continue my education and to work hard in life. My mother isn’t just all books! My mother knows how to dress. Looking back at pictures of little me and my siblings, she dressed us so well. My mother inspires my fashion trends and the way I dress. My mother is a very talented woman who knows how to do everything and anything. She cooks amazing food and never makes a mistake in the kitchen! She knits, draws, makes bows, and crafts. My mother is everything I want to be when I grow up.