Our grandma Audencia Cana is my older sister’s influence. She looked up to her. Our grandma was a brave woman because she came here from very little with ten kids that she and my grandpa Clemente De Jesus raised. 

She sees my grandma still as a strong-willed woman that doesn’t no for an answer. My grandma shares a lot with us and is still very kind and caring.

My sister sees machismo as something that she has overcome. She doesn’t let people think what they want to think she goes over their expectations she does more than what she is “supposed” to do.

My older sister still thinks machismo is a problem today but says to do what you please and not let anyone get in the way or your hopes or dreams. 

Transcript: 

Karen De Jesus: My name is Karen De Jesus and I will be interviewing my older sister. Um tell me a little bit about yourself .

Clarisse De Jesus: Hi my name is Clarisse De Jesus I am a Mexican-American the eldest of six children. Um senior in high school and one of my hobbies is doing cosmetology. I love the makeup area pretty much!

KDJ:Um so who is one person that has influenced you?

CDJ: One person that has influenced me is my grandma. She came here when she was younger and her and my grandpa had to raise a family here all from nothing and I really admire that my grandma is a really strong willed woman and doesn’t take no for an answer. I really admire her and she has influenced me in many ways has she has um taught me many things and I admire her for that.!

KDJ: How do you see them today?

CDJ: I still see her as very strong-willed she still doesn’t take no for an answer She’s very caring now She wa- she’s always very caring she’s very wise now she’s she shares a lot with me and [little pause] she’s just a great person over all 

KDJ: So what is one obstacle that you have over- [pause] overcome? 

CDJ: One thing I’ve overcome coming from a Mexican household I’ve dealt with a lot of machismo and basically that means that they expect very little from a woman they think that the only thing that she can do is household items cooking cleaning taking care of the kids and that didn’t sit right with me [laughs] being a New Generation I find that that is not what I want to do and I’ve overcome that because I don’t let them push me around I don’t let them see the very little of me I exceed their expectations I do beyond what is expected of me I don’t do the bare minimum 

KDJ: How did that obstacle impact your life

CDJ:I have become a very . It has shaped me today. I have become very strong-willed [grins] I won’t take no for an answer. I always push forward no matter the circumstance no matter what my personal life has going on. I always try to be the best me I can be and I don’t care what people think of me or if they have an opinion of me at all. I will do what I want because it’s my life [laughter] and whatever goal I have I will accomplish. I find that machismo might still be a big problem today because there still are very very traditional parents out there and they want to say in what you can and can’t do. But I never let that affect me and I have taken any opportunity I could and use that to my advantage to become who I am today!

KDJ: What advice would you give me or anybody else advice? 

CDJ: Some advice I would give is do what you please what pleases you of course listen to your parents but whatever you’re interested in follow your passion do what you want to do in your life that will help you [pause] and don’t listen to what other people have to say. If anyone else has an opinion on your life and you care for that opinion that becomes your problem but you shouldn’t care what others think you ,shouldn’t let other suppress you you shouldn’t let others dictate what you can ,and can’t do it’s your life and you should be able to create your own goals. Create your  own path ,and nothing sho- only obstacle in your way is yourself you’re the only one that can bring yourself down or bring yourself up your only one you can count on.Thank you!

KDJ: Thank you for letting me interview you today!