I am Olivia Diaz. I am 14 years old and I was born on October 31, 2001. I have an older brother who is 21 and living on his own, and a younger sister who is 12 and goes to Ventura Charter School. My mom and dad were both born in Mexico, but my siblings and I were born in Santa Barbara and raised in Ventura, CA.
My family is one of the biggest reasons of who I am today. I love my big brother. He has a disability. Although I had to watch him struggle through his disability growing up, he has taught me many things, like to be open minded with people who are different and to accept those for who they are. You shouldn’t treat people who struggle with a disability with disrespect. Instead, we should be compassionate and understanding towards others. My brother has also taught me to stay strong and always have a good attitude no matter what. My little sister is my best friend. I can’t remember a time when my sister was not there. She is the funniest, smartest, most loving little girl I know. She has taught me to stay strong and not to stress all the time. She has also taught me that everyday has a new beginning and to not grow up so quickly because once you do, there’s no turning back. I also enjoy the fact that I can play the role of the “mom” when my parents are at work.
Speaking of parents, my parents have had the most influence in my life. My dad is my hero. He has always been my role model and someone who if I tried to be I would only fail. He came to the US when he was 15 not knowing a word of english and in pursue of the “american dream”. He was so driven to succeed and make his parents proud that he was able to finish high school in three years. From there, he found a passion for cooking and went on to get a certificate at the prestigious culinary program at Santa Barbara City College. My dad is a very modest person and doesn’t like to talk about his accomplishments much. I have learned from him to be humble and when ever something good happens, to always give god the glory. I have also learned from him to not worry and be happy. My mom has been a huge part of my life. She is my rock and one of my greatest friends. My mom has done it all. She has made me laugh, made me cry, wiped my tears, hugged me tight, watched me succeed, seen me fail, cheered me on, kept me strong, and drove me crazy. My mom has taught me how to be grateful and be hospitable. She has also taught me to love unconditionally and to always keep my head up.
So from having my mom and dad both born in Mexico, both of my grandparents speak Spanish only. I guess you can say that I never had a real one on one conversation with my abuela and abuelo without a translator. Even though this is true, I know that they still love me. I love that when I am with my abuela (my dad’s side) that she give so much more, it’s as if she gives me a splash to my culture. Not being able to speak to my grandparents has taught me to hope that one day I will be able to have a conversation with my grandma (without a translator). It has also taught me the value of the people in my life and to never take anyone for granted.
Another important part of my life is soccer. I have been playing soccer every since I could walk. Soccer is something that me and my dad both share the love for. I was able to make many friends from soccer. They are also important people in my life that I have met through soccer who have shaped me. As I grew older, soccer became more and more my thing. And coming to foothill and playing soccer here is way better than I even expected! I love my teammates on the Foothill Tech JV team. They make me smile all the time and I consider all of them family. I know that so many doors have opened through my high school soccer experience and I am grateful for that.
My family has shaped the way I am today. I am so grateful to have them by my side. When we fall down as a family, we are there for one another. I look up to my family. They inspire me to do better things in life, and remind me to keep on dreaming. They motivate me every second of the day and accept me.
My family is one of the biggest reasons of who I am today. I love my big brother. He has a disability. Although I had to watch him struggle through his disability growing up, he has taught me many things, like to be open minded with people who are different and to accept those for who they are. You shouldn’t treat people who struggle with a disability with disrespect. Instead, we should be compassionate and understanding towards others. My brother has also taught me to stay strong and always have a good attitude no matter what. My little sister is my best friend. I can’t remember a time when my sister was not there. She is the funniest, smartest, most loving little girl I know. She has taught me to stay strong and not to stress all the time. She has also taught me that everyday has a new beginning and to not grow up so quickly because once you do, there’s no turning back. I also enjoy the fact that I can play the role of the “mom” when my parents are at work.
Speaking of parents, my parents have had the most influence in my life. My dad is my hero. He has always been my role model and someone who if I tried to be I would only fail. He came to the US when he was 15 not knowing a word of english and in pursue of the “american dream”. He was so driven to succeed and make his parents proud that he was able to finish high school in three years. From there, he found a passion for cooking and went on to get a certificate at the prestigious culinary program at Santa Barbara City College. My dad is a very modest person and doesn’t like to talk about his accomplishments much. I have learned from him to be humble and when ever something good happens, to always give god the glory. I have also learned from him to not worry and be happy. My mom has been a huge part of my life. She is my rock and one of my greatest friends. My mom has done it all. She has made me laugh, made me cry, wiped my tears, hugged me tight, watched me succeed, seen me fail, cheered me on, kept me strong, and drove me crazy. My mom has taught me how to be grateful and be hospitable. She has also taught me to love unconditionally and to always keep my head up.
So from having my mom and dad both born in Mexico, both of my grandparents speak Spanish only. I guess you can say that I never had a real one on one conversation with my abuela and abuelo without a translator. Even though this is true, I know that they still love me. I love that when I am with my abuela (my dad’s side) that she give so much more, it’s as if she gives me a splash to my culture. Not being able to speak to my grandparents has taught me to hope that one day I will be able to have a conversation with my grandma (without a translator). It has also taught me the value of the people in my life and to never take anyone for granted.
Another important part of my life is soccer. I have been playing soccer every since I could walk. Soccer is something that me and my dad both share the love for. I was able to make many friends from soccer. They are also important people in my life that I have met through soccer who have shaped me. As I grew older, soccer became more and more my thing. And coming to foothill and playing soccer here is way better than I even expected! I love my teammates on the Foothill Tech JV team. They make me smile all the time and I consider all of them family. I know that so many doors have opened through my high school soccer experience and I am grateful for that.
My family has shaped the way I am today. I am so grateful to have them by my side. When we fall down as a family, we are there for one another. I look up to my family. They inspire me to do better things in life, and remind me to keep on dreaming. They motivate me every second of the day and accept me.