I am from…..One of the only places in San Francisco where it is sunny most of the time.  Where the clouds part, the Mission 

I am from…..Skipping up the stairs to the only house on my street that has planters and greenery.

I am from…..The diverse Mission where everything operates like a forest, with its own diverse life where most parks are within walking distance of your house.

I am from…..The sun shrouded kitchen table where I do homework and eat.

I am from…..A house that shelters a dog, my brother, me and my mom and dad.  

I am from…..The relieving stairs that mean a day of school is done.

I am from…..My withering old bedroom door that was built before my house and survived the two earthquakes that shook it.

I am from….. graduating Clarendon elementary from where I started as a scared kindergartener and ended with pride and strength as a 5th grader.

I am from…..Pushing through hard to survive and thrive during COVID-19.

I am from…..Earning my school reputation by getting 10th in the cross country finals.

I am from…..Trying to get through middle school, one step at a time.

I am from…..The competitive and playful air when trying to beat my friends in Magic the Gathering.

I am from…..homemade crepes, Chinese comfort food and homemade pizza parties with friends.

I am from…..Parents scolding me for eating too much ramen and other soups because they are unhealthy although those are my favorite foods.

I am from….. both parents that have worked in a restaurant and taught me all the cooking skills I have now.

I am from…..Both parents who were cooks, and are willing to pass on their skills as a dad that cooked fish and a mom who worked at her family’s restaurant.

I am from…..The cookbook that my grandparents made to pass on their techniques.

I am from…..A kitchen that could be a restaurant.

I am from…..Friday movie or game nights and parents who believe in chores. 

I am from…..A dad who insists on putting up inflatables for big holidays.

I am from…..Sharing roses and thorns over dinner to sum up the day, no matter how big the feelings.

I am from….. My mom saying to me that I sometimes feel strong guilt and anxiety but always the burden of  responsibility.

I am from….. The singular pronouns he/ him.

I am from…..Teachers and counselors saying that I have lots of intellectual curiosity.

I am from….. COVID 19 and its endless variants, vaccinations for kids and boosters for adults. 

I am from…..professional sports and a baseball tournament just ended while the basketball tournament just began.  

I am from…..Weird weather has hit and there were wildfires in Colorado when it was snowing. 

I am from…..A world where people have such a hard time living in the same place where in truth we are the same.

This is where I’m from