My name is Paulina Cervantes and I am an 18 year old girl born and raised in Georgia, but with Mexican roots. My parents immigrated to the United States over 20 years ago. Though I may have never been to Mexico, I still consider myself fully Mexican. You see, there are many unique traditions in my culture. One of my favorite traditions is an event called a quinceañera. This occurs when a girl turns 15 and symbolizes and celebrates her transformation into womanhood. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have one when i turned fifteen and it was a huge party filled with food, music, mass, and special dances. Not only are traditions a huge part, but the home cooked meals my mom makes are delicious. I get to eat traditional Mexican food such as tamales, enchiladas, tacos, and way more on a daily basis. My personal favorite dish is tamales, which is dough steamed in a corn husk. Also, I speak Spanish at home, so I believe being bilingual will benefit me greatly. Not only do I have an advantage in the future with my career, but also just being able to communicate with other people. Being Mexican also means that I have two nationalities, which means I have citizenship in both the United States and Mexico. Having a Hispanic background has allowed me to appreciate my culture and the cultures of the people around me. I truly believe the traditions and beliefs have shaped me to be the open-minded person I am today.