WHO AM I?
Hey what's up? My name is Gina Perez, but I have many other names and nicknames. My legal name is Gina Perez
Ramirez, but everyone tells me Gina, Chata or Maria Regina. I have eighteen years and I was born in the city of Glenwood
Springs, Colorado, but I live in Carbondale, Colorado. My dad is called Reyes Perez, and the city was born in Cuauhtemoc,
Chihuahua. My mom called Silvia Ramirez and city born in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, but lived most of his life traveling
because I had to find schools teaching grades needed for herself and her six children. When she was single she lived in Juarez. I
have a brother named Efrain Pavon and right now is in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua Mexico studying to be police. Also I have a
brother named Mario Pavon the silt right now lives in Colorado. He works at the waste management service. Our family has lived
in Carbondale for thirty years and we have many relatives who live near us.
I lived in Carbondale all my life and now I am a student at Colorado Mountain College,a community college in the valley where I
live called Roaring Fork Valley. At this university, there are options to study for veterinary, business, or just do basic classes and
then to transfer to a school with more specialties. My studies are the basics, but I want to go to a university with more specialties
where I can make my dream of becoming a nurse. The courses I'm taking at the moment are English, Spanish, algebra, and
introduction to education. I like all my classes and hope to learn a lot in all. Although I really like the school and the idea of
always educating me in any way I can, also I have some hobbies that help me express or relax me. One of my hobbies is to play
with my baby. I like going to the park or taking a walk with him all afternoon, but sometimes I'm so busy that I can’t take a walk.
Another of my hobbies is activism. I have a passion to defend my people and communicate with the community and with adults. I
think I like the activism because it helps me express my pride in being Mexican and come from a family of immigrants to the
United States. Many people look to be undocumented as a curse but I see it as a blessing because it gives the opportunity to
beat the expectations that we have undocumented people with great talent and dreams
My passion for activism was not born by itself, but by the people around me. There are many examples that have influenced the
way I live my life. My parents have been a great example because they have gone through many hardships in their lives to have
immigrated to the United States. Another great example are my brothers. They have always been more mature than me from
small age and has taught me a lot about life. There are also groups of people who inspire me in very simple. Although I like to
have a voice for my people and our needs, I admire people of other races who see beyond skin color and stereotypes to
support people with less power in this country.
One of the greatest examples of my life comes from the least expected person. In high school, I met a boy named Tyler. He was
always friendly, humorous, and above all someone who cares much their relationships with others. Tyler is a boy who has Down
Syndrome. While he has this disease, he doesn’t let it destroy his happiness and in making new friends. Before I knew, I would
not know how coexist with a person with Down Syndrome, but when I started to learn about down syndrome, I saw that the
syndrome is not limited to the person who is inside. Having the experience of coexisting with Tyler, has taught me that anything
can be possible in this world and to be positive leads us to great things.
Just as Tyler is always positive, I try to do the same. My personality can be defined by cheerful, hardworking, responsible
and desire to help those who see that they throw forward. I love working and doing positive things for my future and the future of
the people around me. I'm always involved in an activity that in parts shows my personality. For example, being in school and
with friends keeps me happy, activism and my job at McDonalds proves my love for work. Everything I do requires some level of
responsibility is to finish the job, or find information about local policies. Although I work a lot, I always try to find ways to make
the job fun and youthful. I hope to always have the same power if not more to continue to study, work, live and build the family
that I have.