My whole childhood from what I remembered had been here in California.  When I first attended kindergarten, I learned English efficiently despite a lack of support because at that time, schools weren’t as accepting with bilingual students as they are now.  My parents were unable to help me with my homework and I had to teach myself when I had questions. I grew up with Halloween parades as a kid in elementary, to science fairs in middle school, and back to my parents taking me to Disneyland when I was 5. Those are a few memories from my life growing up here in the U.S. In 1995, My family immigrated from Mexico City to the U.S. when I was just a little girl. I realized that all my memories as a kid have been here in the U.S. My only and fond memory I have of Mexico City is me riding my Avalancha as my mom did our laundry on the rooftop of the building we lived in. My parents left Mexico due to government corruption which caused an uproar of violence, robberies, and poor living conditions due to low wages. Having that memory of myself being a happy child on my Avalancha makes me appreciate my parents for choosing to come to the U.S. for a better future of our family. They allowed me to have my memory of Mexico be special instead of one filled with violence and poverty. Everyone in Mexico according to my dad talked about how the U.S. was the land of opportunity, the place to make dreams come true with ample employment, and where my dad could hopefully make a better wage so he can provide a nice life for my mom and me. 
-J

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child