I was born and raised in Washington Heights. Growing up in Washington Heights wasn't always a good thing but I bared to deal with it slowly. I went to both elementary school and middle school here. I went to 2 elementary schools and 1 middle school they were P.S 115 on 177 street , P.S 4  on 160 street, and M.S 328 on 165 street. In these schools I learned that people can be mean, in all these schools I was bullied. I was bullied because I was different. Different meaning, I have a learning disability called dyslexia which caused them to tease me about it and make me feel bad. This showed me that most people from my neighborhood are cold. My kindness was often taken advantage of and it was seen as a weakness. Although the kids in the schools I attended made me feel sad. They gave me all the reasons to hate this place, but I found my happy place in Washington Heights.

   My happy place is on these streets because I could just walk around and clear my mind. This streets taught me how to pick and choose my bottle. I had my first kiss here! I had my first heartbreak here! I have friends up the block I can run too! My family is here! These are the things that I call my happy place, my safe place, my escape, from the world and it’s issues. No politics, no bigotry, and no scandals. I just sit back on my block, I like to feed off the culture around me.

   I live on 521 west 161 street in between Amsterdam and Broadway. I’ve been living there for 12 years which is amazing because we barely moved which is good. I basically grew up in this apartment. The people around my area aren’t that friendly but in other spots in the Heights there’s so many friendly people sometimes they're a bit too friendly. Around my area there’s riverside park and other little play grounds where I used to go all the time and still go too. There’s many teenagers at these parks playing basketball, volleyball and other sports; kind of made me want to start playing sports even if I’m not to great. Seeing the people around my neighborhood playing volleyball made me realize how much I love volleyball because of this I decided to join the volleyball team in high school. This helped me enjoy exercising more which is why I’m fit, I guess.    

   There's many restaurants/bars that represents the culture within Washington Heights for example; South Beach on 180 in St Nicholas, La Casa Del Mofongo on 183 in St Nicholas, Empanadas Monumental on 156 in Broadway, and La Nueva Espana on 173 in St Nicholas. These restaurants have been around for years, as I was growing up my mom would take my sister and I to eat at these places because she wanted us to taste the type of food that’s made in the Dominican Republic and listen to the type of music that’s played in the Dominican Republic. My sister and I never been to the Dominican Republic which is why my mother took us to these places so we can stay connected to The Dominican Republic. She just didn’t want us to forget where we come from which is one reason why my mother decided to raise my sister and I here in Washington Heights because you mostly see Dominicans here.  

   Church has a big part to why I am the person I am today. My family and I come to a church called “La Iglesia Pentecostal de Washington Heights” every Sunday. I’ve been coming here since I was a baby. It’s a family tradition. This church taught me that family is very important. Taught me to respect others and to accept people for who they are. Most importantly it taught me to respect myself. This church helped me believe in myself and to forgive those people that made you feel unwanted and not important. This place really helped me out when I was going through a lot in elementary school, middle school and high school. It basically helped me pass the hard times I’ve had.       

   I feel safe here because you barely see any crimes. The neighborhoods are clean. My family is here, that's where my aunts and uncles matured and became who they are today. It changed them in a good way and it makes me happy because someday I hope it happens to me, even though it's happening slowly. In the Heights it’s easy to get to places which is nice; there's transportation, you can walk anywhere. The bus stops are literally one block away and the train stations aren’t far either.

   I love my neighborhood. Washington Heights is what made me the person I am because of what I’ve seen here. Washington Heights is all about accepting people for who they are and making others feel welcomed, this shows what a positive environment the Heights is. Washington Heights is where my Dominican people are. I feel like everyone knows one another. Most people around here treat others with respect which in my eyes is great, it’s something I love seeing. Washington Heights taught me how to be caring and loving to others which is why I have such a strong relationship with the Heights. My family and I can no longer live in Washington Heights but don’t worry I’m still in the city. I’m moving to a great place called the bronx and I can see the heights across the river, I won’t be far away from home. Maybe one day I will return and take back what was once called home. Washington heights will forever be in my heart because it turned me into the wonderful person I am today!