I live in Bedford Park, never heard of it? Many people never heard about my town its very small; its only four streets with a small park and school. My town is known for the old people because most of the people that live there are old. When my family first moved in we were the only Hispanic family that was in the town. Also my brother and I where the second family on the block so not many kids in the town has well. It was super weird to me before I lived in a town with kids in every house down the block and they were all Hispanic has well. It was a big change for me, the first year we lived there I was depressed and would not eat. My family was very worried about me and was planning on moved out. But once school started and I got in after school programs in the community things got better. I was five years old when we moved to Bedford Park I did not know what depression was but I knew I felt sad. This was very hard for me to move away from all my friends and always having people at my house. When we moved I did not know anyone and had to start over this was a big life lesson because this showed me that life always can change and I feel that shaped me in such a big way, I see things differently now has years go by. Most of my neighbors had passed away or moved to nursing homes, or moved to Florida. Now I hate living next to families or young people because they are loud, have pets or kids. I was always so use to having everything so quiet and peaceful no noise or parties and not that many cars on the street. All my life I have lived next to old people that never come out of there house and are super respectful and give cookies for Christmas or money on Halloween. These streets taught me so much about life the stories that I was told the people that I met and lost. I feel what my town has taught me is that life can change in any moment one minute someone can be here and the next they are gone. That we need to live in the moment and be happy with what we have. My town is getting many new families since many of the older people have passed or moved out and its very weird to me to see the new generation of families move in.

Another place that has truly shaped me to the person I am today is my grandparent town. They live in a very big town and it is called Bridgeview many people know this place and it has many things to offer. My grandparents have been living in that home for over 30 years. My whole life is in that house my childhood and teens years have been at that house. I learned how to ride a bike on that street and fell many times, and also I learned how to drive up and down those blocks for the first time. Also many of my friends live in that town and I was able to meet up with them at the park. This town showed me that even though I did not live there that my life was still there. The neighbors watched me grow up and that is when I saw that you do not have to be blood to be family. My grandparent’s neighbors are like family and have always been there for my family. Also those people change and move out or move on to bigger and better things in live. When some people moved away it was very hard for my family but it showed me that you can only cherish the memories with people. My grandparent’s house has been the biggest part of my life when something goes wrong or right I am always there. I have walked to my grandparent’s house from mine and it showed me that I can’t just run away from a problem at home and go to them for everything. Also that when you cross the street you must look both ways even though you do not think it is a busy street. When I see my grandparents neighbor at the grocery store I always help because you never knew when you will need help. I feel that in this community I am more hands on because everyone sees each other more and there are many small local places nearby. My grandparent’s house is where I feel comfortable and truly at home.

Wrigley Stadium was a life changer for me growing up. I feel so free and wild when I am at the stadium that is another side of me. Growing up my parents did not like to take us downtown has much but for Cubs games they would take us to them. Being there was such a big deal we would not go that much maybe two times in the summer. But we had those two times the best every this is where I just fell in love with baseball. Where you can yell has loud has you want and no one would tell you anything and you can just feel the great vibes. I will never forget my first time in the ball park it was the best thing that happened to me growing up. I would talk about it for weeks and watch the games on television and I would say that I went there. After the first game we went to I never saw baseball the same, I saw it has fun and exciting. My wild side came out and I would just be in the zone when I would watch the games. Nothing else mattered to me when I go to the games even to this day when I go. It makes me feel like we are a part of something greater and most of the people there are cheering for the same team that you are. Everyone wants the same team to win and we all go for one reason is to see them win. Also my family are all die hard Cubs fans from my mom’s side my uncles and aunt take me sometimes now has I got older. It is something that we all bond over and love. Baseball is a big part of my life and if anyone knows me that is something that they will tell you. When the Cubs won in 2016 it was one of the biggest moments in life and for my family.

Something that is very important to me, is school and my education. My family knows the struggles of high school and college they support me and help me when they can. I am the second generation in my family to go to the same high school has my mom and aunts. High school was a big step for me has for many people but I was going to walk the same halls has my mom was so weird to me. Also my high school is very big and it was so scary to me to get lost. In the summer they would have programs for kids in the gym but I would never see the whole school. I pass by my high school every day on my way to work, to my friend’s house or to the grocery store. I never really thought of all the memories I have there, not just me but my family. This school was a big part of my life I loved high school and so did my family. This is where I made some lifelong friends and where I made big changes in my life. My family still talk to their friends from high school has well and we still talk about the activities we did till this day. My mom was in many activities in school and always pushed me to do them has well. So happy I was always involved in school and after school programs that made me the person I am today. Going to school early and having too late for practices and learning to manage time helped me going into college. I walk past it every day and see all the kids that come in and out just makes me think of when I use to go there.

A place that I pass by has well and is very close to me is my community building. This places means the world to me, it is honestly a community place. The Lady that runs everything has been there for years, and she lives in the community as well. I got my first job here and I started to meet all the people in my neighborhood here. I did so many after school programs here that made me lifelong friends that mean life to me. This is how I started to meet the other kids that lived close by me and we would all meet up their after school. I also have rented this place for many parties and they always help me plan it. They are always hosting community parties here and we all have get together for holidays or special events. This is where I meet everyone in town and everyone feels at home there.

These places are the places that I think have impacted my life in a very big way. Like in the reading of The Camera Lucida she talks about how " As a spectator I was interested in photography only for sentimental reasons; wanted to explore is not as a question (a theme) but as a wound: I see, I feel, hence i notice, I observe, and I think." This is so true and i felt that i was thinking this when I was taking the pictures of each place. They really have made me to the person I am today. Also they show you a lot about who I am and who is around me. Honestly you never really think of how much a place can mean to you unless you really think about it. Always remember where you came from and how many memories you have their and how it helped you grow has a person.