In my Hispanic lifestyle, we maintain a strong sense of culture within our families. I would say that family is one of the most important components of being in Hispanic culture. Granting that there are still important stereotypes that interact with the Hispanic community, I like to believe that they are not the only ones contributing to the characteristics of how I view my family and my culture. It is important to respect elders and this is believed to make divorce almost impossible, but young people's expectations can be flexible. During my teenage years, my family moved to a suburb in a predominantly white community. Luckily I don't have epic experiences of oppression that have had a big impact on my life, but more internalized changes. Since I wasn't old enough to truly thrive in my Hispanic community, I defined myself strictly alongside my white peers. The text would describe it as enculturation, “the process of socialization through which the individual learns and acquires the cultural and psychological qualities of a particular cultural group” (Hays & Erford, 2013). Unknowingly, I was gaining new knowledge about what it meant to be Hispanic in a white community. This particular experience has shaped me in my ability to feel comfortable around others who don't look much like me. Along with many characteristics I acquired in my white community, I also learned value from a piece of paper (or a degree). I feel like this particular message has been reinforced more strongly within this community, which is more evident in me today. Going to college allowed me to leave my small community and venture out on my own. Moving to a city where the majority of the population is Hispanic or Mexican-American made me go back to the roots of what it means to be of “brown” culture. Motivation and discovery on my part have allowed me to grow from