Our Pride, Our Differences...

I am so proud to be Mexican.
Yet, I don't have to show my pride by wearing a shirt saying "Mexi-CAN". I don't have to show my pride by drinking at every birthday party, quinceanera, and wedding that I am invited to. I don't have to show my pride by listening to Banda music. I show my pride by the actions not displayed. Those actions in which I wholeheartedly believe that I can make a difference in the world and just "happen to be Mexican". That is showing true pride. My culture is one of the richest, most influential, cultures in the world. Mexicans are unbiased leaders in art, culture, history, cuisine, and philosophy. All of these amazing qualities that each an every one of us possess, are unfortunately unthought of because of our social status here in the USA. I was fortunate to have been born as a US citizen. I think about how people perceived Mexicans as that stereotype. Most people think of Mexicans as the usual lower-class unit in society--hard working, underpaid, servantry. Specializing in housekeeping, and yard work. It hurts me to hear that. I have a cousin who became a very important businessman that works for a certain major motion picture company, and he is living his American Dream. I want to reach that goal, and I know alot of my fellow Mexican, American, African American, Asian, Indian, and middle eastern brothers and sisters can follow that American Dream. It starts within ourselves, never by the actions of others. I will never label myself as "just a Mexican". I remember how embarrassing it was for me to grow up in a Mexican home. I would go to school and my lunches were never the same ones as my friends. My friends had peanut butter and jelly, I had burritos with egg and chorizo. I would sometimes throw my lunches away because I was different than my friends. I had no idea about being an individual, at that time I was worried about fitting in with my friends. That strange custom went with me up until high school. I wouldn't speak Spanish in front of my friends, I would rather leave the room. I ask myself now,"FOR WHAT?!" My true friends enjoy how I talk with my family about getting home at a certain time, or whatnot. I realised that true friendship lies in the differences and how special we are. Our differences are a catalyst for conversation, stories, and sharing of our experiences in our childhood or present day. So I say to you, embrace your differences, be it cultural, physical, emotional... those are the things that set us apart, but can also keep us so close together.

Cool Things...

Today I was cleaning out a room in the back of our house where we have a bunch of junk. There are boxes piled up, suitcases with crap, and broken things that we have accumulated but haven't had the time to throw away. I was back there trying to find a picture frame for a picture I have when I went to Disneyland a few years ago. I stumbled upon an old toy that I used to play with called a Tamagotchi. It makes me laugh when I think about how popular those things were, where we were the generation in the 90's when we could actually bring them to school. I remember I fed my pet, cleaned it, played with it, and thats it. I would forget for a few days and my tamagotchi would die. Mine died like 377453439872342 times for whatever reason. What a crazy time. I know one thing's for sure, I'm not replacing the battery on that thing.

Just a Regular Guy...

My name is Victor Reynaga and I'm 19 years old. This entry is made to all of those people who are, like me, on the brink of adulthood. To the people that live their life as "regulars", making mistakes, and learning from them. Deep, shallow, or in between: my thoughts are meant to provide humor, relativity, and insight into the life of a normal guy. To all of the people that think their life is boring and meaningless, I challenge you to think outside of that and look at what makes a life so grand. It is only up to you to make your life a beautiful thing. Its a bit cliche' to tell you to live each day like its your last, but that must be your daily mantra. I hope you can relate to my life in some way because being "ordinary" is, in fact, extraordinary. My thoughts are about you, me, and the world, which is why I have named it like so.
-Victor