Monica Torres was only 10 years old when her responsibilities became bigger.
As an older sister, she thinks being an older sibling is a great and difficult part of life. She would find taking care of herself and another child was difficult for her young self but as time passed she started noticing what doors this would open up and what opportunities were waiting for her.
Monica talks about her and her sister growing together and all the measures she would take for her sister when no one else was around and how much easier her life would now be.
Transcript :
Nathalia Garcia: First, what’s your name?
Monica Torres: My name is Monica Torres.
NG: Okay and tell me a little bit about yourself.
MT: Well, I am 23 years old and I am a medical assistant.
NG: Okay, so for the first question of this interview who has had the biggest impact in your life?
MT: I would say, uhm my little sister she is thirteen years old. I would say she impacted my life because I was 10 years old when she came into my life and after that you know my mom was never really home so I would take care of her most of the time. Change her diaper, feed her, you know, do this, do that so I feel like having her in my life I have matured and I felt like by the years I just started becoming a better person.
NG: Okay, now was it difficult maturing quicker than you should’ve?
MT: You know I believe so just because I only had my mom in my life I didn’t really have my father most of the time um and you know how Hispanic families go I didn’t really get much of those important talks so I really just had to figure it out well on my own throughout the time so yes it was difficult.
NG: Uhm okay and how was your experience raising a child while you were still a child yourself?
MT: Well that was pretty hard, you know uh I would say just because you know taking care of another child a child um needs you know a lot, needs food, needs clothes, needs a change of diaper, you know um and you need to learn those things and it’s not easy.
NG: And can you say that your little sister still impacts your life today?
MT: I would think so just because I know growing up she was using me as a role model and I would like to teach her what’s good, well what’s right from wrong um and I think till this day she’s doing perfectly fine. She’s doing perfectly fine in school the way she is as a person. She’s a great person and I feel like I did a great job. You know myself and now it’s like I look up to her.
NG: Okay and do you think you impact her life like she impacted yours?
MT: Uhm I’d hope so um just because growing up she didn’t really have anybody growing up but my mom and myself. Uhm and like I said before she has been looking up to me for the last couple of years of her life um well I’d hope so we would have to ask her that.
NG: Is there something you’re proud of that you did yourself you would want your little sister to take after?
MT: Yes I went to college… so I would like her to go to college as well.
NG: Okay and do you want to talk a little about your college experience?
MT: Sure, Uhm It was actually a great experience uh just because you know learning a new career, new subject is pretty fun especially for my career as a medical assistant.
NG: Were there any challenges you faced during your college experience?
MT: Actually there was at the time of me going to school COVID had just started so I was in and out of class due to Covid. As a medical assistant the best way was to work hands-on but it was just difficult because everything was online.
NG: Okay and how were you able to accomplish your college career?
MT: I would just say pushing through, just continue studying and work hard and play hard.
NG: Okay my last question to you is what would you want your little sister to accomplish for her future?
MT: Mm well I do want her to finish school and I do want her too have people look up to her the way she looked up to me um and yea.
NG: Okay well thank you for your time.
(Nathalia Garcia)
