The way I choose to Live by Yamile

The way I choose to Live by Yamile - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

I live in a community that is located in the Eastern Coachella Valley, where we are known for agricultural labor. North Shore is a low income community and the majority population identify as part of the Mexican culture. I live in a household that is surrounded by Mexican culture, traditions, and morals. Growing up in a Mexican household, I have always been taught the women are meant to serve their husbands: that was the role a female had to play. Females are taught to do the house chores while the men work outside, we were told we had to stay home and take care of the children while the men go to work everyday. We were taught to be obedient but it was not the only concept that was taught to me when I was young, the idea that our parents immigrated from their birthplace to the United States to seek a better future for themselves and their children was constantly said to us. As I got older, I came to the conclusion that my parents immigrated to the United States in order for me to have a better future then I should not have to dedicate my life to be submissive to any man and better my own future. In order to better my own future, I have to receive higher education. I believe attending a 4 year university is important because that is the way I will change the expectations people have about me.
Receiving higher education will help me with my career goals, I do not want to serve a man my whole life: I want to have a purpose of my own. In the fall of 2020 I will start attending a 4 year university in order to complete the first step of becoming an Optometrist. Attending college is important to me not only because it will help me achieve my goals of becoming an Optometrist but I as well want to make my parents proud. The sacrifice my parents made in order for us to have a better lifestyle helps me remember how privileged I am to be able to be living this lifestyle. Both my parents have a middle school level education and do not speak english, the primary language here. In other words, I want to make the best out of the advantages my parent’s sacrifices have given me.
To conclude, even though I was taught that females can not do much in their life besides being obedient and being a caregiver, I have realized there is much more meaning to my life than being submissive. For that reason, attending college is important to me because it will help me achieve my career goals and it will let me explore life independently. Attending a 4 year university will mark a new chapter in my life, a chapter that will revolve around my life choices. I will not let the Mexican culture gender roles define the lifestyle I will have, I will attend college to better my life.