Understanding Your Past To Thrive In The Future

Knowing three languages opens doors to wonderful opportunities, but who knew that living in three different countries could cause someone to hate their background? 

Almost two decades ago, two Ecuadorians—my parents—embarked on an adventure to Goiânia, a city in the countryside of Brazil, in hopes of finding better job opportunities. 

Born and raised as a Brazilian, I always identified with the country’s music, food and language. However, because my appearance didn’t match my heart, I thought that the only way to prove I was Brazilian would be through my fluency while speaking and writing in Portuguese. 

That’s how I became—what I like to call myself—a grammar geek.

Unfortunately, the need to prove my identity continued when my family and I moved to Miami. I became an ESOL—English for Speakers of Other Languages—student and hated being called out for being an immigrant. So, in order to become Americanized, I believed I needed to speak and write English perfectly. 

When my family and I moved to Ecuador, my classmates and teachers approached me as if I knew a lot of the language and culture simply because I looked Ecuadorian.

I didn’t like the food, music or the language. But I didn’t want to ruin my parents’ reputation, so I decided to try to fit in by improving my Spanish communication skills.

After coming back to Miami in 2017, I noticed that I enjoyed correcting my friends and family when they spoke or wrote incorrectly in any language. 

Although the need to fit in led me to neglect my ethnicity, it taught me to accept my roots and helped me become proficient in three languages. 

Not accepting your roots, prevents you from seeing the world of possibilities in your future. If you don’t understand who you are and where you come from, how will you understand where you can go? 

At the time, being and looking like an immigrant was painful because of the comments people made, but the experience allowed me to build the skills that are now my passion—communicating. 

People will always judge you; many want to see you fail. However, the wounds caused by people’s words and actions about your identity shouldn’t stop you from growing.

Understand that the world is multicultural and to prevent others from being discriminated against, efforts should be implemented to increase and improve cultural awareness in both personal and professional environments.

Before becoming more culturally aware, it is necessary to identify the need to acknowledge and respect other cultures. 

Engaging with different cultures can be achieved by becoming friends with people of different ethnicities, traveling, doing research or even watching foreign history films on Netflix.

Always remember that being different is exactly what makes people unique. 

Fulfill your potential and help others reach theirs too.