I was raised to believe that politics wasn't meant for girls like me.

In my Hispanic household, there were things you simply didn’t talk about — and politics was one of them. Especially if you were a girl.

I grew up hearing phrases like, “Eso es cosa de hombres” (“That’s men’s business”) or “Tú qué vas a saber de eso, estás muy joven” (“What do you know about that? You’re too young”).

1. "Eso es cosa de hombres" (That's Men's Business): How I Was Taught to Stay Quiet

It didn’t matter that I was smart, curious, or full of questions. What mattered was that I stayed quiet.

Early on, I learned that the expectations for girls were clear: take care of the house, smile politely, and never raise your voice—especially not about “serious” things like government, justice, or rights. The unspoken curriculum for young women in my culture was full of rules I never signed up for. Girls didn’t belong in political conversations—we belonged in the kitchen, in the nursery, in the background.

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2. Querer Más (Wanting More): Choosing a Different Path

But deep down, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to help my family, not by washing dishes out of obligation, but by changing the systems that kept people like us quiet.

I saw the sadness in my mother’s eyes when she talked about the university degree she never finished. She became a mom young and had to give up her dreams to care for me and keep our home running. I love her more than anything, and maybe that’s why it hurt to realize that I didn’t want the same life.

Not because hers wasn’t valuable, but because I knew she deserved better. And so did I.

I wanted to become a lawyer. Not just for the title or the career, but to prove to myself and my family that there are many ways to love, to support, to be strong. I wanted my mother to see that her sacrifices weren’t in vain.

That even if her path was interrupted, mine didn’t have to be. I could speak up — and maybe even speak for others who weren’t allowed to.

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3. La Problemática (The Troublemaker): Speaking Up Anyway

But growing up with this dream wasn’t easy.

At home, I was often called la problemática ("the problematic one") or la confundida ("the confused one"). My ideas were “too radical,” “too loud,” “too much.” At one point, my mom even asked me to stop talking about politics altogether, just to avoid arguments with my dad.

I felt trapped between two worlds — the girl my culture expected me to be, and the young woman I knew I was becoming.

There were moments I felt guilty. Like wanting more meant I was ungrateful. Like, speaking up meant I was causing problems. But now, as I stand on the edge of adulthood and prepare to enter college, I realize something important:

The voices that make people uncomfortable are often the ones that matter the most.

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4. Nunca Más Callada (Never Silent Again): Owning My Voice

I refuse to stay quiet anymore.

No girl should feel silenced for having opinions. No young woman should be told that her worth depends on her ability to serve, obey, or stay in line. We belong in every room — in every conversation — including the political ones.

My story isn’t just mine. It’s the story of many girls who were told to shrink, to stay small, to not speak unless spoken to. But I want them to know:

Your voice is not a threat.

It’s a tool. A light. A force.

And I’m ready to move heaven and earth to make sure no young girl is ever told to keep quiet again.

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