Growing up in East Los Angeles in the early 1960’s, my papà had to work hard to overcome the many barriers and injustices Mexican immigrant families faced during this time. Embedded in many of his stories and experiences is a very poignant and powerful theme: that of facing the fear and challenges in overcoming feelings of inferiority, rejection, and perpetual self-doubt. Getting hit for speaking Spanish at school (for he had not yet learned to speak English) by teachers and classmates has a way of stifling enthusiasm, crippling self-worth, and pumping the brakes on childhood dreams.

Early in my high school career, I also experienced what it was like to feel less than whole. Much like in my father’s time, negative stereotypes still exist. Many of the Hispanic students from my South San Gabriel community attending our predominantly Chinese high school are not effectively encouraged to excel academically. Furthermore, we are not pushed to work hard toward realizing our full potential. Too often, we are perceived as being less motivated, less intelligent, and less qualified than our Asian peers.

At first, as one of but a few Hispanic students in my AP classes, combating self-doubt and fighting off negative thoughts and emotions was hard to overcome. While seated in the classroom shadows of the back row, with my head down and my shoulders slumped, I struggled with feelings of not being smart enough, not being good enough, and simply not belonging. However, succumbing to this negative mindset was not an option. By taking on the most challenging and difficult classes offered, and by engaging fervently in my school’s culture of high academic achievement, I was determined to succeed. Working alongside many adults and peers, I took on many challenging leadership roles. Demonstrating great energy, a strong work ethic, and utilizing my unique skills, I offered new perspectives, ideas, and solutions to problems, projects, and programs. In the classroom, I advanced discussions by posing thought-provoking questions and sharing insightful commentary in hopes of enhancing my classmates’ understanding of the materials. By reaching out and working cooperatively, collaboratively, and competitively with my peers, I enjoyed great growth and academic success, especially in my highly competitive STEM classes. I was even elected president of the United Sciences club and captain of the Science Olympiad team.

Throughout this long and challenging journey, I made the most of a life altering opportunity: I persevered, I overcame, and I flourished. It is heartening to know that there is no substitute for hard work—it definitely pays off. I also relish having heeded the wisdom in my papà’s stories, lessons, and encouraging words: “Mijo, you must always seek to build bridges and not walls, and never forget that your comebacks can be greater than your setbacks.”

Today, I still feel a tingle of uneasiness on the first day of my college classes; the residual effect from years of having to prove I belonged. However, feelings of inferiority, rejection, and perpetual self-doubt are a thing of the past. I believe I conquered and dispelled the ghosts of years past. Sitting inconspicuously in the back of a classroom is, most certainly, a thing of the past. Now, the student sitting in the front row—the one with his head up, shoulders back, and a twinkle in his eye—is me, giving his best shot and feeling completely whole.