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Birth
I was born on June 5th, 1990 in a small town of Derry in the state of New Hampshire. This is the start of my cultural background and upbringing because I ultimately ended up attending school and growing up in the town of Derry which resulted in a large portion of m cultural roots. -
Moved to a New School
When I was in 3rd grade my family moved to a different part of town, which ultimately became my permanent family home. Since the new house was across town, I had to change schools in the middle of the school year. This influenced my cultural awareness because the school climate and norms were different than what I was used to from my previous school. It was a difficult transition because I was trying to observe how others behaved around me to be able to fit in. -
Relative Moving In
My nuclear family consists of my parents and my brother and my extended family consists of grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I often saw my grandparents, but rarely saw any aunts, uncles, or cousins so it was strange when my cousin began living with us when I was ten. She was fifteen at the time and was having mental health difficulties and my uncle was not fit to help her. This helped mold my influence because it showed me that family members help each other, whether they see them often or not. -
Puberty
When I was in the fourth grade I got my first period. Since it came much earlier than most girls, I was scared and confused. I had no idea what was happening. I vividly remember crying to my mother and she sat me down and explained what was happening. It was then when I discovered what puberty means to me and how living as a woman is different than living as a man in many circumstances, including bodily functions. -
Diverse Friend
I grew up in a town that was predominantly white. It was rare to see diversity anywhere. Looking back, I can pinpoint moments when I became aware that there are many different cultures and races. One of those moments is that in the fifth grade I became close with a friend who was Black. This was a cultural influence because it was the first time that I became aware of race and the differences between people. However, I do not think I was cognizant of the significance at the time. -
Familial Affection
In middle school, I began to spend weekends at a friend's house and I watched and observed her family's interactions. This is when I began to realize how little outward affection my family shows each other. My family does not often tell each other we love them nor do we hug each other. We show our love through supporting each other and helping when someone is in need. This has translated to my life as I've grown and I have learned that my lack of outward affection does not mean I lack love. -
High School Friend's Orientation
High school was the first time that I was introduced to a friend that is homosexual. I was a sophomore in high school and he was a junior. We are still friends to this day, but it opened up my views on individual rights. Being friends with an openly gay boy gave me perspective on the struggles of coming out to parents, and making connections without being judged. -
First Boyfriend
When I was 16 years old I got my first boyfriend. He was part of the friend group that I belonged to in high school. I grew up knowing that I was attracted to boys, but never felt a strong emotional attraction until this particular boy. I began to think something was wrong with me because of friends having boyfriends before me. This helped me realize that everyone gives and receives love at their own rate and that life is not a race. -
Moving to Texas
In 2018 I made the decision to leave New Hampshire and move to Austin, Texas. While I had visited Austin many times before deciding to move, it was still a major cultural change. Moving to a city was different than the suburban life I had lived in. I also continue to learn the customs of different cultures, particularly Mexican and Hispanic. One thing that I have noticed the difference in is how those cultures respond to their elders, saying "sir" and "ma'am". -
New Teaching Job
When I moved to Austin I got a job working in a school within the city. I taught elementary school in a small, wealthy town in New Hampshire so working in a school in an inner-city environment was a culture shock to me. I was not used to having challenging behaviors nor students who spoke little English. The school and community culture have taken a while to adjust to, but it has shown me that I continue to see the best in students regardless of their upbringing, culture, and struggles.
