Over the past few years, I have always dreaded responding to the question, “What school do you go to?” I can easily envision their facial expression dropping as I say, “I go to Torrey Pines High School.” They assume I’m another entitled white girl, parking her father’s Porsche in the school parking lot with her Prada sunglasses and designer tote bag. But, they don’t see me. They don’t know the sacrifices behind my family name, and the legacy I hold proudly on my shoulders. While I am not in line to take over the big family business or stem from the bloodline of a famous athlete, I carry the hazel eyes of my father, the olive skin of my mother; of which they got from my grandparents and those that came before them. Despite growing up in the bubble of Carmel Valley, my story is different.
My mother, Esperanza, grew up in the Philippines, immigrating to the United States in her twenties. A few years later, she met my father, John, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. Like my mother, my father came from humble beginnings. Their story is something that I think about daily, reminding myself of where they came from and how they have grown, solidifying the roots of our family tree. While they consistently remind me of how proud they are, something they don’t get to hear often enough is how proud and grateful I am of them. I am reminded of their hardships every day and their resilience is something I carry with me, driving me to passionately work towards my future.
My parents have always told me and my siblings that we deserve the opportunities that they weren’t able to pursue. These words are the foundation of my work ethic. They fuel my drive to lead, to challenge myself and to never settle for anything less than my best. I am motivated by the knowledge that every success I achieve brings me closer to the life they worked so hard to provide for me and our family. Keeping me close to my roots, rather than drifting away and losing the identity they worked so hard for me to maintain. Despite being thrown into an entirely new world when we moved to California 一 hundreds of miles away from our family 一 they have continued to emphasize the same values that I grew up with. Above all, they’ve taught me the importance of respect and kindness — to understand that everyone faces struggles, even if they’re not always recognizable.
The examples they have set for me have led me to also understand that failure is an inevitable part of growth, but I know I will rise from it, just as they did time and time again. I carry their legacy in everything I do, big or small. The life they’ve given me isn’t just a privilege — it’s a responsibility. I am living the life they deserved, and through this I am able to tell their story along with mine — adding a branch to our family tree.
Everybody here has a story, many that don’t always fit into the Carmel Valley mold. While not everybody has the luxury to tell theirs, I cherish the opportunity to reminisce on my family’s beginnings and appreciate how I have grown to add to my family’s story.
