Even if you are from the same neighborhood as someone else, you might still be coming from different places. Where you are from is a complicated question and it elicits complicated, but interesting and thought-provoking responses. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Vianney Casas

Soy de la frontera. I am from Tijuana, Mexico. Both of my parents are from Tijuana but I have the privilege of having a mother that crossed the border as she was about to give birth. Right after I was born we went back home to Tijuana, where i lived for 18 years, crossing the border for 6 between sixth grade and senior year of high school to go to school. Once I graduated high school I moved to the US (San Francisco) for the first time. I left my family, their and my ghosts behind to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. Read More>>

Abraham Torres

I am an immigrant from Mexico, I came to the United States when I was 4 years old. In my culture, working hard is engraved into you from a young age. My father is a construction worker so it brought me into the line of business. I worked for insulation companies for 5 years following high school. Originally I wanted to attend music school. It was made difficult as I struggled to get a loan for school. In 2020 I realized no matter what laborious job I chose the pay was never sufficient so I decided to take the leap and start my own business. Now I work tirelessly and get paid less. Hahaha. But it’s so worth it, one day it’ll pay off. Read More>>

Fabiola Zermeno

To truly understand where I am today, I have to start with my upbringing. I was raised by a single mom after my father passed away when I was five. My aunt, who was also a single mother, played a big role in my life as well. I grew up surrounded by strong, independent women who taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and kindness.

My mom worked incredibly hard to provide for us. She went back to school, earned her GED, and became a registered dental assistant—studying late into the night, sometimes falling asleep with textbooks on her lap. Watching her juggle school, full-time work, and raising two kids showed me that success requires dedication and self-discipline. She inspired me to educate myself, be honest, and lead with kindness. Read More>>