My move to the United States at the age of seven forced a dramatic adjustment to my way of life. Without knowing any word of English, I had to adjust to a novel sociocultural environment and academic curriculum, all the while having to emotionally bear and process the distance from family, friends, and my home. From my family and Mexican heritage, however, I observed and adopted their value of resiliency, collectivist collaboration, and loyalty that have guided me away from the insecurity and fear I felt in those years, towards a series of achievements I have so far accumulated. In fact, the first of these accomplishments, which I feel most proud of, came almost immediately, when I skipped second grade in spite of the language barrier I faced — a moment that proved to me the efficacy of these values, which I have since then dearly embraced and actively practiced.
Ready to learn some Chinese? Meet Nora and her project
My name is Nora and I’m excited to share my passion for Chinese language and culture with you through my project, ChinesewithNora. I was born…