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MosaiQ is sharing stories of its members throughout September and October for National Hispanic Heritage Month with the Humans of Qualtrics project. To start, Ashley shared her story with us.
My father came to the United States from Peru when he was 17 years old. My mother was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to a Puerto Rican mother and father. Their juxtaposition made for an interesting cultural mashup in my home. I grew up very rooted in both my Hispanic and American cultures. I learned to dance salsa when I was three years old and also could sing the entire Motown catalog at a moment’s notice.
I was always very proud of my Hispanic origin, but I started having trouble with my Latinx identification when I entered my teen years. Was I Hispanic enough for my Latinx friends if I couldn’t speak Spanish perfectly? Was I American enough for the friends whose families have been here for generations if I didn’t take ski trips every other weekend? It sounds a little silly now, but this was my reality. These were the questions I regularly asked myself as a teenager and into young adulthood.
As I started making my way in the world, I eventually realized that I was both. I was a successful Latinx woman, who also happened to be born and raised in the United States. I lived the reality of my dad leaving the country he loved and my mom taking dead-end jobs...all to make sure I had a chance at the American Dream. I am the first in my family to go to college, have a fledgling career that knows no bounds, and to call my own shots when and how I see fit in my life. This is what my parents sacrificed everything for. They wanted me to live a life they never had the chance to.
There are no words to describe how grateful I am to be the daughter of a Latinx immigrant father and first-generation mother. My parents can look at me and say “It was all worth it”. I’m thankful that I’ve had the chance to make them so proud.
Join us on Fridays to discover more stories from the Humans of Qualtrics, and explore the whole series through the links below.
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Ashley is an alumnus of Montclair State University and started her career at Sterling Talent Solutions. Ashley runs our Dogs of Qualtrics Instagram account, and you can read her dog Ellie's "Why Qualtrics" story here on the blog. |
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