HANAI. Breanna Ruiz
An inheritance is a gift. Often, when we think of inheritance, we think of money, houses, or cars, objects that are left in wills or even genetic coding. We often think about receiving inheritance from our blood family. But it is not always like that. Besides the half of my DNA I got from my parents, I know that what makes me the person I am today has been inherited from my chosen family, not my blood family.
Growing up, I never really had a goal or passion. I went to school, did my homework, did my chores, and volunteered just because I had to. I never thought of anything or anyone else except what was in my bubble. It is not that I didn’t care about them or didn’t have goals or that I was lazy, it was because I didn’t have someone in my life to guide me. No one was there to help me, to want to do good in life. I was oblivious because I had what I thought was good enough, but I would soon learn it was not even close.
In freshman year, I inherited a life changing trait from my teacher, Jaimee Rojas. I inherited the act of giving from her. I inherited this because she showed me unconditional love, she gave to me. She motivated me when she taught because her projects incorporated the act of giving. She taught me about events happening outside my bubble, which made me care about making a difference in the world.
She provided me with a good learning environment, food when I needed it and even clothes when I needed a sweater for winter. To this day, she bestows all of that to me. Another trait she gifted me with was motivation. Before meeting Jamiee, the dream of attending college popped up maybe two or three times, but never sunk in. She was the first one to empower me to believe in myself. Jaimee was my chosen family. She was never obligated to give to me but she constantly cared and gave. Jaimee was one of the first adults in my life to care for me even though she had no blood attachment to me at all.
By giving me the care that I never felt before, Jaimee taught me to care for myself and others. I began doing community events, volunteering, raising money for organizations and being happier. The fact that Jaimee gave, showed me to give. I saw how much the giving affected me and it truly inspired me. Giving makes a huge difference. She cared for me during the time no one else did. For that, I thank her because her giving taught me to give, love and care for others.
In sophomore year, I met another person who I would also inherit so much from and who would change me. Maria Pelayo handed down to me strength. I had inherited caring from Jaimee that I began to care too much for people, and in the long run it hurt me. I began to let people walk over me and use me because I thought about them, rather than myself. I am thankful that I met Jaimee and Maria at just the right times. The timing was phenomenal. Maria entered my life to pick me up and shape me.
In tenth grade, I was going through a lot with my family and I was alone. I related to Maria because she went through a rough childhood but attended a great university and succeeded. I look up to her profoundly. I was and still am afraid I won't make it, but she gives me hope. I hope that, maybe, just maybe, I can make it too. Unlike the adults in my life, besides Jaimee, she constantly told me what I did right. She instilled the strength in me to not give up when times get rough. Through talking to her, One Word Week experiences and writing I was strengthened.
While Jaimee unconditional love, Maria gave me tough love or mother love. She knew my potential and when I wasn't meeting it, she pushed me. For that I thank her because I didn't have anyone to push me and tell me when I was slacking. She created a perfect balance of loving and a nudging. Maria’s presence is indescribable, just being around her made me feel okay. I love to be in her room. Through her teaching, she gave me the confidence to stand up for what I believe in and recognize the wrong. Before I would never be able to stand up and say “I don’t agree” or more importantly “No”. Now, in eleventh grade I do not let people walk over me. Because of Maria, I am more confident in myself than I was before.
Without these two teachers in my life, I do not know where I would be or how I would make it through all my challenges. Both of them were and still are there for me in ways that I am so grateful for. They are the adults in my life from whom I have inherited traits that I am so proud to say I have. Even though they are not my blood family, they are my chosen family, the ones from whom I inherited my most prized traits. They are the strongest and most caring people I know. Jaimee Rojas and Maria Pelayo are my inspiration. They are both the givers and the gifts.
Growing up, I never really had a goal or passion. I went to school, did my homework, did my chores, and volunteered just because I had to. I never thought of anything or anyone else except what was in my bubble. It is not that I didn’t care about them or didn’t have goals or that I was lazy, it was because I didn’t have someone in my life to guide me. No one was there to help me, to want to do good in life. I was oblivious because I had what I thought was good enough, but I would soon learn it was not even close.
In freshman year, I inherited a life changing trait from my teacher, Jaimee Rojas. I inherited the act of giving from her. I inherited this because she showed me unconditional love, she gave to me. She motivated me when she taught because her projects incorporated the act of giving. She taught me about events happening outside my bubble, which made me care about making a difference in the world.
She provided me with a good learning environment, food when I needed it and even clothes when I needed a sweater for winter. To this day, she bestows all of that to me. Another trait she gifted me with was motivation. Before meeting Jamiee, the dream of attending college popped up maybe two or three times, but never sunk in. She was the first one to empower me to believe in myself. Jaimee was my chosen family. She was never obligated to give to me but she constantly cared and gave. Jaimee was one of the first adults in my life to care for me even though she had no blood attachment to me at all.
By giving me the care that I never felt before, Jaimee taught me to care for myself and others. I began doing community events, volunteering, raising money for organizations and being happier. The fact that Jaimee gave, showed me to give. I saw how much the giving affected me and it truly inspired me. Giving makes a huge difference. She cared for me during the time no one else did. For that, I thank her because her giving taught me to give, love and care for others.
In sophomore year, I met another person who I would also inherit so much from and who would change me. Maria Pelayo handed down to me strength. I had inherited caring from Jaimee that I began to care too much for people, and in the long run it hurt me. I began to let people walk over me and use me because I thought about them, rather than myself. I am thankful that I met Jaimee and Maria at just the right times. The timing was phenomenal. Maria entered my life to pick me up and shape me.
In tenth grade, I was going through a lot with my family and I was alone. I related to Maria because she went through a rough childhood but attended a great university and succeeded. I look up to her profoundly. I was and still am afraid I won't make it, but she gives me hope. I hope that, maybe, just maybe, I can make it too. Unlike the adults in my life, besides Jaimee, she constantly told me what I did right. She instilled the strength in me to not give up when times get rough. Through talking to her, One Word Week experiences and writing I was strengthened.
While Jaimee unconditional love, Maria gave me tough love or mother love. She knew my potential and when I wasn't meeting it, she pushed me. For that I thank her because I didn't have anyone to push me and tell me when I was slacking. She created a perfect balance of loving and a nudging. Maria’s presence is indescribable, just being around her made me feel okay. I love to be in her room. Through her teaching, she gave me the confidence to stand up for what I believe in and recognize the wrong. Before I would never be able to stand up and say “I don’t agree” or more importantly “No”. Now, in eleventh grade I do not let people walk over me. Because of Maria, I am more confident in myself than I was before.
Without these two teachers in my life, I do not know where I would be or how I would make it through all my challenges. Both of them were and still are there for me in ways that I am so grateful for. They are the adults in my life from whom I have inherited traits that I am so proud to say I have. Even though they are not my blood family, they are my chosen family, the ones from whom I inherited my most prized traits. They are the strongest and most caring people I know. Jaimee Rojas and Maria Pelayo are my inspiration. They are both the givers and the gifts.