After my grandparents came back from Cali, Colombia, they presented me with this beautiful brand new, bright yellow jersey from Colombia. My face lit up with joy as soon as I felt the soft silky material on my skin. The jersey had my favorite number (19) with my last name (Torres) on the back. I was so grateful… I gave my grandparents the tightest hug ever because they gifted me my first ever colombia jersey. This object was so sentimental to me because it felt as if I could finally represent my country doing the thing I love most; Which was playing soccer! To my mother the object represents happiness for me and my dad’s Colombian side of the family. While, for my father and grandparents, this object represented a sense of warmth, culture, food, and a second home. When I think of this object, it reminds me of the smell of Colombian food moving through the air into my nose and my favorite soccer team I hope to represent one day… La Selección. Every time I step foot outside to play soccer, I would always wear my beautiful Colombia jersey my grandma got me years ago. Although, it may not be the very first colombia jersey ever, it represented so much to me because even though my grandparents didn’t have the most money ever; They still did the best they could to make their little grandson happy with the dreams of playing for the Colombian national soccer team one day. To me the perfect definition of happiness is being one with your culture and having your family by your side, which I’m thankful for having.

– Fabian Torres

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant