I am from Mexico. My amate drawing is from my old town called Huandacareo, where people are happy and have no worries. My painting is an amate. My painting shows some of the clothing and some species of animal and plants native from Mexico. It also shows how I felt when I was far away from my village. I drew a single person dancing alone representing me. The Mexican traditional dance is one of the most important things of all. You can see the traditional botas and sombrero but since I am the 5th generation, our family has stopped using these clothes a long time ago. Our culture is based on our ancestors. When I was painting I remembered I was thinking about my family in Mexico and everybody I know. I was sad, but I knew I need no be strong and just live with it. I know they are with me even though they are far away. My second amate is the Maya calendar that represents most of the Mexican culture in ancient times. Many generations know the “Piedra del Sol” from the coin and history. I left my country and came to the U.S.A. in August of 2016. When I left, I couldn’t bring anything with me, only memories of the traditions, the food, my family and my culture and religion.

– Leap High School Student

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant