This is a speech by Brenda Sifuentes, 2018 IDEA Alamo Graduate. Brenda will be attending the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the fall.
My name is Brenda Sifuentes, a 12th grader at IDEA Alamo, and I’m going to be a first generation college student.
Ever since I was a little girl, communication has always been a staple part of my life. English was not my first language. I grew up with my mom, who came here from Mexico, and my sister, so Spanish was always what we spoke at home.
At school, I felt extremely isolated because of my language barrier. I had a very difficult time in school because I didn’t know what half my classmates or my teachers were saying. I had to get a dictionary, or a book I knew in Spanish, and go back and forth between both books, until I realized, “Oh, okay, food means comida in English…”
I felt very alone for a long time because I was constantly worrying: did I say that right? Did I offend someone? What if they don’t understand? This sort of doubt and worry affected my studies as well.
Fast forward ten years, and my drive to communicate is very strong today, because I’ve had to fight for the right to communicate. My road to becoming a confident, college-bound communicator was long and roundabout. I want to tell you a little bit more about my journey, and the people who helped me along the way.
If you know IDEA, you’ve probably heard the term “Team & Family,” one of IDEA’s core values. I joined the IDEA Team & Family in 6th grade at IDEA Alamo. When I look back on my years at IDEA, it’s hard to pull out a single strand of memory, or one single person, because the amount of amazing classmates, teachers, community members, leaders, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, you name it, could fill this entire room. They helped my family and me and supported us every step of the way.
But if I did have to choose just one, though, I’d name my science teacher, Ms. De Leon. First, she was my 7th grade science teacher. Then, she had me again in 9th grade for Pre-AP biology, and this year, in 12th grade, I’m sure she was so thrilled to have me in 12th grade for AP Biology. Right, Ms De Leon?
Ms. De Leon exemplifies this idea of Team & Family because yes, she’s taught me so many things. But some of these things go beyond the curriculum. She’s always available for me, even outside of school. Sometimes, we’ll just talk about life, our futures, anything.
Ms. De Leon is someone you are bonded with through a mutual love, respect, and mission. Ms. De Leon is a person who is willing to go to any length for the people she cares about. And let me tell you, she cares about every single student she’s had. Even the ones that maybe talk a little too much in class.
And then of course, there is my immediate family. I am eternally grateful that I have been blessed with such an amazing family who have always stuck by my side, no matter what we may argue about or what may attempt to separate us.
I want to try and paint a brief portrait of my family to you, because I am an embodiment of who they are. Wherever I go, I carry with me my older sister, Mayra’s, love to play pranks, my little brother, Alexandre’s quiet wisdom, or my mom’s infatuation with Luis Miguel, the Mexican singer. Sometimes, my siblings and I will be in another room, and we’ll hear my mom scream, so we rush over to her, worried, and of course, she says, “Nada, mijia, nada. Nadamas era ‘Luis Mi Rey’!” He had appeared on the TV.
Embarrassing things, amazing things, things that bond you forever. This is also what family means to me. Your family is you, and you are them.
My family begins and ends with my mother. As a teenager, my mom crossed the Rio Grande River to start a new life here, in America, all by herself. She knew that while there were more opportunities here, her road would not be easy. She was alone, she didn’t have an education, and like me, she also struggled with learning a new language, particularly one as difficult as the English language. She’s still working on her English, but she’s come a very long way, and I’m proud to be able to assist her, if she ever lets me, and needs my help translating something. It’s the least I could do for her. You may have heard the term “No Excuses,” one of our core values at IDEA, and my mom exemplifies that. Every morning, despite the aches and pains in her hands and her joints, she works long hours as a cleaning lady to help support us. Through the years, never once did she complain to me or my sister. And still, she works so hard for us, to ensure we have what we need so we can focus on our studies, and for the future.
I remember my mom telling me that she was incredibly lonely in her first years in the United States, here in the Rio Grande Valley. That was, until my sister and I came along. My mom raised my sister and I as a single mother for many years and through all the challenges, she was a constant. If anyone knows hard work and grit, it’s my mom. My mother is my role model, and my main motivator. One of my favorite memories regarding her ambitious dreams for me was when I excitedly told her about my 4.0 GPA; with a small smile, she responded: “Get the 5.0 next time, okay mija?” She pushes me every day, because she doesn’t want me to struggle like she had to, and if I could just do one thing to lessen the load on her, that would be enough for me.
Thanks to the support of my family at home, and my family at IDEA Alamo, I’ve been able to accomplish a few feats that I’m proud of. I’ve gotten to work on my love for communication in many different ways. There’s the more obvious ones, like persuasive essays, but I’ve been able to communicate through music videos and silent filmmaking in my video technology class as well.
Despite my humble upbringing, my struggle with English, and not knowing where my next meal would come from at times, I’m so proud to say that I scored an almost perfect score of 32 on my ACT, achieved a 4.0 GPA, and become an AP scholar, which means I’ve taken and passed three or more Advanced Placement courses so far. I also participated in Yearbook, Mariachi, drum line, and art club.
I’m going to be studying graphic design and experimental media at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, a tier-1, small liberal arts school in New York City. I chose College of Mount Saint Vincent because they not only focus on academic growth, but on personal and individual development as well. Their message of understanding each other and appreciating our obligations to one another really stood out to me, because it reminded me of IDEA’s Team & Family and my struggles to communicate. From the first time I interacted with the staff at College of Mount Saint Vincent, I felt as though I could be accepted as myself somewhere else, somewhere beyond the Rio Grande Valley.
I want to thank you for listening to my story tonight, and for being here to support me and the other 848 IDEA seniors who will step on college campuses this fall. I may be the only one speaking, but my struggle is shared by many in our Team & Family. Over 590 of us will be first generation college students. That means that the degree we complete will be a step forward to change life’s trajectory in light of a better future for our whole families. And that is what truly matters to me because, what’s more important than family?
This blog is a part of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ month long celebration of #CharterGrads.
