Looking Into The Mirror

I look into the mirror. What do I see? I don't just see a physical appearance. I see many layers that each describe a part of who I am. First, I see a tall, skinny man. There is a hairy face with bushy eyebrows. A close to almost shaved bald head. There are two popped out ears that each have its own shape. They aren't the same. I also see a smile. What I am wearing is either a v-neck shirt that is black or a long sleeve shirt. There are gym shorts on with long socks and some basketball shoes. My skin is brown and my hair is black. I look more Arabic than Mexican. That's is what my mom used to tell me and what all my friends say. It's the hair all over my face. I have on a necklace that my mother gave me. It looks like a Lord of the Rings chain. The ring on the necklace has a prayer on it. It is a special necklace. It reminds me what I am here to do on Earth and that God is always watching me. He loves me. I see a basketball in my hand. It is what I am most passionate about. I know that if I work hard, then it will pay off. I see that my time is short with basketball and hopefully my hard work will pay off soon.

When I look into the mirror I see a very special person. She is my hero, my role-model, my mentor, and most of all, the one that will love me no matter what. My mother, Anita Loredo Parral, was a single mother who raised all five of her kids. She always had to work to support us. It was too the point that we were tired of her working because we wanted her to hang out with us. However, she was a strong person and did what she needed to do in order to keep this family under a roof, keep food on the table, and keep clothes on our back. I wish she had more support from us. She has God which gets her through any obstacle. When I look into the mirror I see her doing the rosary while she sews all the luggage for work. Her hard work and strong-willed personality is in me. I am glad that she gave me that since day one.

When I look into the mirror I see the other half that was born with me on May 16, 1991. My twin sister, Corina Parral, has been with me in every struggle, fun time, and situation that involved my personal life. No matter what she was there by my side. It was hard for me to come to Goshen because I knew I was leaving my family and my twin sister. Just imagine all the positive characteristics in my personality. Now multiply that by ten and you will see who my sister is. We don't look like twins though. We have similar facial features but she is way shorter than me. Plus, she has glasses.

When I look into the mirror I see myself being the person that breaks the chain of disappointment for my mother, family, friends, and the Mexican American community. My mother was always disappointed in the decisions that my brothers and sisters made. She was disappointed at my father not being the husband she dreamed of. She was disappointed at my father for not being the dad that his kids dreamed of. My family was disappointed in him too. Many of my friends looked at each other and said they wished they would have done more with their lives. Only a few have broken the chain and did something different. The rest go on to live their lives talking about the few that have broken the chain. The Mexican American community looks upon good leaders. I hope to be the leader that the community needs. When I look into the mirror I see the person who will make a difference, big or small, in people's lives. That picture with my brother and sisters are the people that I want to not disappoint. I want to make them proud. Family is the most important thing to me and with their support I can be the person that they want me to be and need me to be.

That is what I see in the mirror.