I am a Salvadoran-Sicilian-American woman raised in San Francisco. My family is small and close knit, made up of me, my younger sister, and my mother and father. My mom is a devout Tibetan Buddhist, and I grew up accompanying her to spiritual teachings. Here, I met many lamas who had escaped Tibet after the Chinese invasion, trekking through the Himalayas with little but the clothes on their backs and often having members of their families die in the process. I was struck by how they were so loving, peaceful and selfless after having lost everything.

In my adult years, I relate more to Buddhism as a set of values to live by and tools to understand myself better. While I was not drawn to the religious aspects of my upbringing, Buddhism did appeal to me as a new perspective that added to my more methodical, analytical approach to the world. I realized the lamas I had met in my youth did feel anger, but they actively worked on forgiveness. Their actions have inspired me to practice gratitude and strive to be empathetic, even when others wrong me. Through investigating my own emotions and habits, I have become more conscious of how I react to unpleasant situations and more mindful of others’ feelings.

My father’s background and culture played a huge part in shaping my self-identity, as I had little exposure to my mother’s Sicilian side. When my dad immigrated to the United States to escape war in El Salvador, he had to build a life here without language skills, financial stability or higher education. Through my childhood, I witnessed the effects of him facing discrimination in the workplace. My father’s experiences made me aware of how others viewed him and the barriers he overcame to improve life for his family. It also made me reflect on the privileges I have due to my mixed heritage, lighter skin, and education. From my father’s side of the family, I absorbed the Salvadoran culture, rich in music, humor, fierce loyalty and plays on language. In attending a Spanish immersion elementary school, I grew to further identify with my Latino background. My identity became formed as a mix of this heritage and the popular culture I learned in the media.

My spiritual upbringing and cultural background have shaped me into a determined, sincere, mindful, optimistic person. I wish to be addressed as an individual with distinct perspectives to contribute, and I am excited to learn from those who are different from me.