Life as Michelle

I’m Michelle. Born April 9th, 1993 to Mexican parents.

I’m 20 years old majoring in International Studies and Portuguese -minor in Psychology- at the University of Iowa. If I could I would take classes in everything because I am interested in everything. I love learning about cultures and learning new languages and what I ultimately want to end up doing is traveling with my family and writing about my travels. If my restless soul finds a place that it absolutely falls in love with then settling would be an option. Once I were to settle, I would really like to work with impoverished kids and battered women. I feel like women don’t get enough recognition; be it in the workplace or in the home. Violence against woman is regarded as “common” and as an issue that can’t be resolved and because of these kinds of mindsets, nothing gets done to protect them or claim rightful justice for them. I would really love to help women that have been wronged and hopefully change things for them in the future. I wouldn’t exactly say I’m a radical feminist but feminism runs deep in me and the classes I’m taking this semester and the things that have happened to me in the past only adds fuel to my fire and I want to eventually change this world for women everywhere.

BUT

I realize life doesn’t always go according to plan, but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming. Never has, never will.

My 3-year-old sister Meztli (soon to be 4) is my motivation. I may make mistake after mistake, but as of now, she is one of the main reasons why I struggle with myself to be the best I can be because she looks up to me. I am her role model. Not only did I help raise her, but there is literally nothing I wouldn’t do to put a smile on her face. I learned what love was when she was born. I had lived, up until the day of her birth, a troubled and dangerous life. I was on a troubled path… but being with her and helping her grow and learn made me grow. She taught me to be self-less and responsible and I will stop at nothing to assure that she is successful in anything she decides to do as she keeps growing up.

Writing has always been my escape. It’s always been the place where I go to express myself when I can’t do that in real life. I am terribly shy in person and showing emotion is often times hard for me but writing helps me accomplish that. I hope that my words not only help me, but make a difference to YOU. Whoever you are reading this. My main goal in life is to impact people -their lives, their feelings, their minds…

I want to make a difference.

I want to be remembered.