Greetings,

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Soy Marta y estoy de Mexico. I am Marta and I am from Mexico. My teacher has asked me to introduce myself to you, reader, on this page. While I can give you basic facts about myself, I am sure that the following information hardly suffices as an introduction, let alone, a sense of familiarity with me and my life.

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My family moved from Mexico City, Mexico a few years ago. My father was a Humanities professor at the Ciudad Universitaria, which is the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. My family moved for better primary and secondary educational opportunities for me and my sister, and for a potentially safer environment. Unfortunately, the universities and local colleges here do not recognize my father’s credentials, and he has found employment with his brother, my Tio Martin, in his store. I admire his strength in this move as he has been careful to not show disdain for the American education system, he continues to read and learn, and expects me to do the same.  

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As this is an educational assignment, I am assuming my teacher would like me to discuss my academic experience. If you were to look at my report card, it would show you straight A’s, often with comments that I have good attendance and turn work in on time. This is true, but it doesn’t reflect the full truth (much like this writing is about me but doesn’t reflect my lived experience or my thoughts and beliefs). So yes, while I do my work and turn it in on time, it isn’t because I enjoy the work. I am not challenged in this class, I haven’t been challenged in a long time. It is ironic, really. My classroom, where I am writing this has a poster that suggests that I should “Reach for the stars”, yet I am expected to sit here and stay on grade level. Next to it is one of those pseudo motivational pieces that reminds us to “be the most brilliant color in the box”, which is great, except we are still expected to live in a box. So I do my work, I turn it in, and spend the rest of my time working on pieces that are outside of the school box. I find writing wonderful, relish reading, adore art, and I am interested in international affairs. Class is nearly over, and I believe my introduction is finished as well.