Hispanic heritage is an important concept that surrounds my entire life.  I have lived in Puerto Rico my entire life.  Puerto Rico is a beautiful island that is part of the United States and is comprised of mostly Hispanic individuals.  This culture has been important in my life because it helps define who I am and how I view the world.  It was not until I moved to the United States that I began to become more aware of different ethnic groups.  I grew up in a town where everyone was the same, looked the same and had the same cultural behaviors in our country.

An important part of the Hispanic heritage, especially in Puerto Rico, is the food.  The women of our family spend a lot of time preparing food each day for the family.  There were some days that I cannot even remember my mother and grandmother taking a break from cooking in the kitchen.  Our most important celebration was for Christmas because my family and my culture take pride in honoring the Lord and valuing the time we each have with one another.

Here in the United States, people look at me and automatically notice someone who is different.  I do not look the same as everyone else and my culture has taught me many important traits that are not always shared by Americans.  Hispanic heritage means embracing the past and the present and honoring where we come from.  It is my job to make sure that my Puerto Rican culture is not lost or forgotten by me or my family.  I have inherited the willingness to work hard and dedicate myself to helping others; these are important Hispanic characteristics that have been instilled from my parents and grandparents.  This is why I greatly wish to become a nurse.  I feel a strong sense of responsibility to help others and to use my Hispanic heritage and Spanish-speaking fluency to honor the culture I come from.  Hispanic heritage forms a natural brotherhood, and I feel that it is my responsibility to work hard and dedicate myself to honoring that brotherhood.  It helps define who we are and what we believe in, and although I will attend college in America, I will not forget where I come from or what I stand for as I work towards achieving my goals.