Isabel Nesheiwat

Isabel V. Nesheiwat

As I have gotten older, I noticed that people lose sight of their culture and heritage, especially younger generations. Many describe this as being Westernized, but I believe the reason some don’t celebrate their culture is that they weren’t raised around it. This realization has made me eternally grateful for my family on both my mother's and father’s sides because they raised me surrounded by my wonderful cultures. Having learned from them will hopefully enable me to overcome whatever challenges that awaits me. Through college and beyond, I hope to take the lessons that I was fortunate enough to learn from my parents and grandparents and build the person I wish to become.

My mother, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, ensured that I was surrounded by her whole family, who would always make the trip up to our home to visit during the holidays, despite living two hours away. Spanish music filled the air, intertwining with the warm, comforting smells of Puerto Rican comfort foods like pernil y arroz con gandules, so much that I can no longer experience one without the Pavlovian response to conjure up the other in my mind. Our full bellies would hurt from laughing so much, and it was there around the family table that I realized it doesn’t matter what language you speak, love and laughter are universally understood. She also made sure to plan a yearly trip to Puerto Rico, where her mother and grandmother still lived, along with many cousins who were around my age. I will never forget the sound of the rain while my Abuelita-Lita taught me how to play dominos. I was very close with my Great-Grandmother, who told me stories of how she was born in a shack on a plantation field, but worked very hard and built numerous businesses of her own. These memories that I have of my family in their home village of San Juan have brought me closer to my Hispanic culture, which is something that not many people have the opportunity to say.

My father’s side of the family originates from Jordan, a small peaceful country in the Middle East. Growing up in an Arab family means you are constantly surrounded by all your cousins, aunts, and uncles, who all played a significant part in raising you. When I was very little, I spent most of my time at my Teta-Teta’s (Great-Grandmother) house, being taken care of by my Teta (Grandmother) and all my aunts. I specifically remember walking down the stairs on the side of the house, opening the gate, and walking through the door that was always unlocked. I can still smell the zaatar and labneh sandwiches, along with the olives and Arabic coffee. To this day, I still sit in the tiny yellow chair that was designed for a toddler because even the simplest items in the house bring back the wonderful memories of my childhood. I grew up surrounded by the Arabic language, music, and traditions. My favorite pastime will always be playing Hend with my aunt, a card game taught to me by my Teta while playing loud Arabic music and enjoying the company of all my cousins. My Teta, with whom I had a very close relationship, told me stories about when she was a nurse in a city called Irbid. As the oldest of eleven children, she felt the added pressure of having to support her family. Although she barely had enough money for herself, she found a way to make it work and eventually raised enough funds to help bring her 10 siblings and parents to America for a new life.

I believe an important part of understanding your culture is learning about the lives of your grandparents, who overcame many challenges to give you the life you have today. From second grade until now, I’ve moved twice, traveling further away from my family each time. However, I have never once felt separated from them, as it has always seemed like they came with us. While my family is the opposite of traditional, the love, support, and strong bonds that have formed over the years are what truly define me.

Understanding the lives of my grandparents has been crucial in shaping my identity, and I believe this connection to my roots will continue to guide me as I transition into college. Their stories of perseverance, resilience, and sacrifice have taught me to embrace challenges head-on and value the importance of hard work. In college, I plan to reflect on my Abuelita-Lita’s journey from a plantation shack to entrepreneurship and my Teta’s determination as a nurse supporting her family in a foreign country. Just as they overcame adversity, I hope to navigate the academic pressures and social transitions of college with the same grit and determination.