I was born in Tijuana, Mexico and moved across the fence to Imperial Beach, California when I was 6. Legally. I have lived in South San Diego with one foot on either side of the fence at all times, with periods of daily border crossing. I am absolutely Mexican American, with a bilingual and bicultural status. Proudly.

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At 8 years old I learned how to play percussion instruments. I continued doing so throughout high school, I enjoyed it, it was a huge creative outlet, and it taught me so much about perseverance and teamwork. Naturally my friends were mostly boys, and to most "regular" and "popular" girls, I was the awkward outcast. Which I was okay with. Which I learned to embrace. I was indifferent to being stared at, sure - at times laughed at, and most importantly I was happy being me. 

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After high school, I was the drum teacher at my middle school for two years. It brought me so much joy to be able to empower the young kids to do their thing, and to express themselves in an artistic way instead of being out in the streets after school. It brought me a huge satisfaction to bang the drums with these kids, create drumline routines, and go outside in the sun and laugh at the sounds we made while just being at peace with oneself. Particularly there was a young girl, the only girl, who admired me SO much. It felt good to be a role model. 

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I have two older brothers and zero sisters. As a young girl, I didn't learn how to apply makeup. I didn't like to dress in dresses. I didn't want to dance the cumbias and the ballads. Because I was clumsy. I wasn't graceful. And my taste in music includes a number of distinct rock music subgenres. I enjoyed sitting and watching my brothers be a mechanic and a dj. Our Tijuana house where we grew up on weekends was near a cemetery that was on a hill top. We loved hiking it and exploring people's graves. We used to get trays from Burger King (don't tell my mom) and slide down the hill using the trays as bobsleds. You can say that my young days marked and labeled me. But frankly I'm content at being the woman that I am. Because I fought to become her.

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Professionally, I have held leadership roles in male dominated industries. At age 20 I was the territory sales coordinator for a forklift sales, parts, and service dealer. I dispatched mechanics, sourced parts, and served customers from diverse industries for 6 years there.

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At age 25, I was the Inside Sales Manager for a reputable robotic welding equipment manufacturer. I exported equipment into different regions, sourced machined parts / sheet metal parts / electronics & mechanical components, and served customers in the manufacturing industry for 6 years.

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I have two young daughters, ages 7 and 1 (almost 2). They have made me a mommy at a young age. They have taught me a lot about myself. They have certainly made me mature and grow up quickly. My oldest daughter is equally as introverted as me. And at the beginning that hurt me. I didn't want her to face the challenges I had to face. I wanted to shield her from being who she is. But since then, while learning to embrace my own flaws, I've realized that our catch 22 is a beautiful thing. Our "dilemma" or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of this mutually conflicting condition, is beautiful. We are who we are, and the world needs us this way. There is a point to us being here. We are here to serve.

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So, what I feel the need to do right now is share my story. For me. For my daughter. For all of you. For those that can relate that there's a different way to be. And bullying is not okay. Rejection. Hatred due to judging differences is not okay. There's a purpose for all humans. And maybe together we can spread awareness. As parents, sometimes we CAN just be there for our child. By helping them embrace who they are. Instead of helping them cover up their flaws...or be louder, have society's accepted amount of friends, be quieter, be more perfect, or change any aspect of their unique personality. We can decide to be there and quite possibly be the few during their childhood that accept them completely as themselves, when even they may be struggling to do so. 

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