‘Untitled’ by Ashley Luis
This piece was part of the Ánimo Voices Competition, which invited students to write about innovators, upstanders, visionaries, or rebels that have made a difference in their local or broader communities. The competition was an opportunity to motivate, recognize, and celebrate our strong student voices through writing and art.
Untitled
by Ashley Lopez, 10th grade, Ánimo College Preparatory Academy
A person in my life who inspires me is my father. When I mention this, everyone looks at me surprised. Although it's not common within society's’ norms, my father was the person who raised me throughout my childhood. He has always been my inspiration. He’s been a beacon of hope during my upsetting times. I love my father much more than my mother.
My father has always been my inspiration because he’s been there for me more than anyone else. Like any other father daughter relationship, we have our arguments, but his passion is mirrored in court when he fights for custody of me. When I am heartbroken and need my time to be alone, he gives me space to recollect my thoughts and composure, then, he talks to me about the situation and makes me feel relieved. My dad may be the only person I look up to. Without him or his partner Aida, I would have been stuck in depression. Had my father stopped fighting for me in court, I would have likely been lost and broken, feeling dead and numb inside.
Many might say that a child should be left with their mother, but if you knew my story, you would know why I chose to be with my father throughout my life. My mother, who has gave me the ultimate gift of life, has never been a key factor in my upbringing. I feel as though our relationship is made up of constant “love-hate” moments. To me, the saying “a child should be left with their mother” doesn’t apply towards me. I rather be with my father any day, anytime.
During court, my mother would mock my father telling him that ,“she might not even be yours, so I don’t know why you fight for her.” When my father told me about this, it not only had him in tears but it had me in tears as well. He said he would fight for me because he raised me despite knowing that I may not be his biological daughter. He will continue treating me as his daughter no matter what. After the court case, he told me, “You are my daughter no matter what, even if your mother throws that to our faces, it won’t change the way I feel or treat you. You will always be my princess, my little monster, my child. You will be my daughter no matter what, forever and always.” This is why my father has always inspired me.