Growing up, I lacked a strong connection to my Puerto Rican heritage due to my parents' separation. My mother’s family raised me and my younger sister without the help of my father and his family, till I was 15. As a result, my upbringing was predominantly shaped by white culture, leaving me with little understanding of my father’s heritage.

 

My mother tried to bridge that gap by introducing me to Puerto Rican culture through food, music, and by encouraging me to embrace my ethnic traits. While these efforts gave me some knowledge of my heritage, I still struggled to feel truly connected to it. I longed for a deeper, more grounded exposure to Puerto Rican culture, something that felt real and personal.

 

Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood and school system, I felt comfortable, until the culture wasn't comfortable with me. Being mixed often left me feeling alienated from my friends, family, and even myself. In my search for acceptance, I found myself adopting trends, changing how I spoke, and even straightening my hair all in an attempt to fit in.

 

This series will explore growing up mixed with the feelings of being caught between two worlds, the challenges, and the beauty of it. The most rewarding part of being mixed is gaining the ability to see the world from two different lenses. Even though I wasn’t fully immersed in both cultures from the start, I’m still learning about my cultures and histories. It’s okay to feel conflicted, but it’s even more important to embrace who you are.