Why am I the way I am?

The question of why I am the way I am is tough to answer due to the depth and intricacy behind it. It is due to where I grew up, the music I listened to, the sports I played, the situations I underwent, and many other things. Nonetheless, one particular aspect outshines the rest: the people who raised me, my parents, Maria Alicia “Mariali” Vega and Roberto Emilio “Yoyi” Legrand.  Both of them taught me unique things, how to be like and unlike them in certain aspects of life, ultimately leading to me becoming the person I am today. 

My mother, Mariali, above anything else, has taught me how to be selfless, strong, and kind. She is the kind of woman that lights up any room she walks in, her compassionate energy accompanies her presence. Through life experiences I have undergone myself, she has never left my side, she has always been a person I can count on. Even in the simplest gestures, like letting you have the better spot or taking the shorter end of the stick, my mother's selfless and kind nature shines through. Unfortunately, my mother has been challenged by many hardships in her lifetime, such as undergoing a heart attack, a situation that changed her life completely. Nonetheless, my mother has never been anything but strong in the face of adversity. This strength with which she has battled these situations has taught me to be strong like her. 

My father, Roberto, has taught me to have a strong front and protect my feelings. He has greatly influenced my music and cinema taste, and he taught me to love hard and protect those whom I love. From an outside perspective, my father is a very serious and nonchalant person, nonetheless, those who have the privilege of truly knowing him know the fun, loving, and noble person he is. The strong front my father has is a trait I have acquired from him; he taught me to value my feelings and protect them. Contrary to that, he has always taught me to love hard. I know my father would do anything for the people he truly loves, and I believe that is a trait I was lucky enough to learn from him. From a young age, my father influenced my music and cinema taste, from playing Soda Stereo and Coldplay around the house to constantly watching movies and recommending them to me. The influence he has had on this part of my personality is a big reason why I am studying audiovisual communication and why I am so passionate about cinema and music. 

I had the privilege of growing up with two caring parents who taught me to be kind-hearted, strong, and noble from a young age. Admiring them and being so close to them has directly influenced my personality today.