My name is Perla Vega-Ramirez. I am 15 years old. I am Hispanic. I am Latina. I grew up in Iowa. It was a good childhood. We have lived in Fairmont for 9 years.
School has been okay. I’m fluent in Spanish & English. I’ve moved through many schools over the past years. Some teachers are really there for you. There are others that just kinda yell at you. I struggle with school, but I try my best. Sometimes, I’ll ask my teachers for help and they’ll tell me to work with my partner. What if my partner doesn’t know how to solve the problem either? Obviously, I feel discrimination at school. I don’t really take it to heart because, oh well. I don’t really care.
I work at the Taco Truck all summer. In the winter, I help my sister in the store. I like to sleep in my free time. I don’t get enough of that! I also like to help new Hispanics at school. I also like to translate at the courthouse or City Hall. I love to help! I am passionate about soccer. Playing it. Watching it. All of it. I like soccer and watching shows.
I used to go to a Christian school at St. Paul Lutheran. I’ll go to any church. I was baptized in the Catholic church. My faith is important to me.
I have three sisters. We get along…sometimes. Just like any other sisters! My parents inspire me because they have a lot for being here as immigrants. They own a store, taco truck and houses. I look up to them
My values are helping others and being a good person. I’m proud of helping others. I want to graduate high school. I want to go into nursing. Working in my family’s restaurant is like a good backup.
I would like to see downtown grow into businesses. Everything’s shutting down. I would like to see more things downtown - a better, interesting, fun place to be. I would like something to do downtown or somewhere in town. I hope that the school would just be a better place where everyone is treated equally.