"What Makes Us / Lo Que Nos Hace" is an homage to Puerto Rican life. The small things we have seen as a culture and relate to. I remember the first time my cultural background had become a significant talk of discussion. I was too young at the time to understand the world around me. It was a normal day until I was made fun of cause I didn't know how to speak Spanish. Looking back at it, it was silly. In my mind I say "screw off"! At the time, I questioned my own identity. I was often criticized that because I could not speak the language, I was not apart of my culture. I remember going home so frustrated and falling into the trap of believing in what people label me as. The terms they would use against such as "white washed" made me believe in what they said. Growing up, I was always proud to be Puerto Rican. There was never a doubt in my mind that I was anything else. Being hit with those teases from my fellow classmates made me rethink my identity.

 

Because I can't speak Spanish, I am not Puerto Rican? This is the lie that had me in wraps. It made me reflect on my childhood. What was being said about me made me forget about my upbringing. Had me in a pool of doubt and confusion.

 

To find answers, I began looking through old family photos. Flipping through those faded edges and vibrant colors, I saw the true essence of my heritage captured in moments, not words. I saw the warmth in my family's smiles, the gatherings, and the deep, unspoken connection to our roots. Looking at those certain images is exactly where I got the ideas for this project; they reminded me that our culture is lived, felt, and passed down through love and shared history, far beyond just the language we speak. Being teased about this was horrible in the beginning, but overall made me realize how proud I am to be Puerto Rican. How proud I am to see my people shine, hear stories from my elders and be apart of a beautiful family.