I was born and raised in Washington Heights, a predominantly Latinx and Hispanic community in New York City. I am the daughter of two Dominican immigrant parents and the eldest of six, making me first-generation (& with hella responsibility). At the age of 12, my father was deported to the Dominican Republic and my mother was left to become a single parent and provider of 5 children.
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As a result of my parents' roles changing and my mother entering the workforce, I transitioned into matriarch and became parentified. Shortly after that, a truck hit my mother and tore her ACL, which required surgery and disabled her. Growing up, I often struggled to prioritize myself and my own needs because I had the needs of my siblings and mother to look after. This inability to set boundaries with oneself and others eventually made me feel disconnected from myself on a deep spiritual level. It wasn't until I entered college and had my first-ever experience with therapy that I learned what trauma was and was able to witness how some of my childhood experiences had a lasting impact on me.