Lately I have seen so many opinions on Donald Trump and all that he said regarding immigrants and the Hispanic people, but I’m not here to talk about him. I’m here to address the Hispanic people.

I feel like lately everyone wants to tell us what kind of Hispanics to be. I am proud to be a Latina. I am proud of being part of such a hard-working culture that is known for their efficiency. I am not proud of being a part of a culture that is known for mobs and crimes. You learn to accept that sometimes there are a few “bad apples,” just like there are in all cultures, but more importantly you learn that YOU define what kind of Hispanic you want to be. That is the beautiful thing about an individualistic culture; you are an individual! Sure, we might all get grouped together at some point, but it is up to you to decide what kind of Latino you want to portray to the world.

I fit some of the stereotypes of what it means to be Hispanic (like “Mexican”), but I don’t fit other stereotypes (like “They all like spicy foods.”), and I’m OK with that. I learned that being Latina is not defined strictly by what I eat, but it by the values that I CHOOSE to follow. I don’t agree with all of them, but I do my best to stay true to myself.

Along with being Hispanic, I play a lot of other roles as well. I am a college student, a friend and an American. Though I like to be all of these things, I AM ME! One label does not define me. Just like one label does not define you.

Be the best version of you that you can be! You decide what you kind of Hispanic you want to be! Along with being all the other things you want to be. The only person that can stop you from being successful is you. Sure, it won’t be easy and success is definitely not guaranteed, but fighting for it would be defending the dream of every person who comes to this country — a shot at a better life.