i am a daughter essay

Essay on Daughter

Students are often asked to write an essay on Daughter in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Daughter

The essence of daughters.

Daughters are the heart of a family. They bring joy, love, and a unique perspective to our lives. They are the bearers of compassion, empathy, and understanding.

Daughters as Caregivers

Daughters often take on the role of caregivers. They look after their parents, siblings, and later, their own families. They are the emotional backbone, providing comfort and support.

Daughters as Achievers

Daughters are achievers. They excel in various fields, be it academics, sports, or arts. They strive to make their families proud and contribute to society.

In conclusion, daughters are a precious gift. They enrich our lives in countless ways, making the world a better place.

Also check:

• Speech on Daughter

250 Words Essay on Daughter

The quintessence of a daughter.

In the tapestry of human relationships, the role of a daughter is multifaceted, embodying a myriad of identities. She is a beacon of hope, a source of strength, and a symbol of continuity.

Daughters as Catalysts of Change

Daughters are catalysts for change in society. They challenge norms and break barriers, redefining boundaries and expectations. The education and empowerment of daughters have led to societal transformations, heralding an era of gender equality and women’s rights.

The Emotional Pillar

Daughters often serve as emotional pillars within families. They provide support, empathy, and understanding, fostering a nurturing environment. This emotional intelligence, inherent in daughters, is a cornerstone for building harmonious familial relationships.

Daughters and Legacy

As bearers of legacy, daughters carry forward familial traditions and values, ensuring their perpetuity. They are the threads that weave together generations, ensuring continuity and preserving heritage.

The Power of a Daughter’s Perspective

A daughter’s perspective enriches the family dynamic, offering a unique lens through which to view the world. This perspective, which is often different from that of other family members, contributes to a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of life.

In conclusion, daughters are an integral part of the family and society. They are not just carriers of our legacy, but also harbingers of change, emotional anchors, and unique contributors to our perception of the world. The role of a daughter, thus, transcends the boundaries of the familial and enters the realm of the societal, making her an indispensable part of the human experience.

500 Words Essay on Daughter

The multifaceted role of a daughter.

The role of a daughter in a family is multifaceted and complex, encompassing elements of care, emotional support, and continuity of family traditions. A daughter is not merely a female offspring, but an integral part of the family fabric, contributing to its growth, development, and sustainability.

The Daughter as a Caregiver

Historically, daughters have been positioned as caregivers within the family structure. This role is not confined to physical care alone but extends to emotional and psychological support. Daughters often play a pivotal part in nurturing relationships within the family, fostering a sense of unity and cohesion. They are frequently the ones who mediate conflicts, lend a listening ear, and provide comfort in times of distress.

The Daughter as a Torchbearer of Tradition

Daughters also serve as custodians of family traditions and cultural heritage. They are often the ones who learn, preserve, and pass on family customs and rituals, ensuring their continuity across generations. This role is not merely passive, but active and dynamic, as daughters also contribute to the evolution and transformation of these traditions in response to changing societal norms and values.

The Daughter as an Agent of Change

In the contemporary world, the daughter’s role is not limited to the confines of the family. Many daughters are now active participants in the social, economic, and political spheres, challenging traditional gender roles and norms. They serve as agents of change, advocating for gender equality, women’s rights, and social justice. This extends the daughter’s influence beyond the family, impacting the wider community and society.

The Daughter as a Symbol of Empowerment

The daughter’s role in the family and society also serves as a symbol of female empowerment. Her achievements in various fields, whether academic, professional, or personal, are a testament to her capabilities and potential. They challenge patriarchal notions of female inferiority and dependency, demonstrating the strength, resilience, and independence of women.

In conclusion, the role of a daughter is multifaceted, encompassing elements of care, tradition, change, and empowerment. It is a role that is continually evolving, shaped by changing societal norms, values, and expectations. Recognizing and appreciating the complexity of this role is crucial for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, both within the family and in society at large. The daughter is not merely a female offspring, but a vital contributor to the growth, development, and sustainability of the family and society.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Darjeeling
• Essay on Dam
• Essay on Dal Lake

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Essay on Who Am I for Students and Children

500+ words essay on who am i.

In this world, many people surround us. Though we all apparently look similar, yet we all are unique in our own ways. The uniqueness gives us an identity. I am a teenage girl. I am like most teenage girls but I am also different from others. Those differences make me who I am.

I am a girl in mid-teenage. From childhood, I always loved to interact with people. I like to know people and make friends. I am a social person and go out with my friends and family. Also, I like to visit new places. Nature attracts me. Therefore, whenever I get the vacation I always insist on my friends and family for a getaway in nature’s lap.

Travelling gives me immense pleasure. I always capture beautiful moments and places in my camera. Whenever I am sad, I revisit my photo album to look at the beautiful places and moments. The thought of those happy moments and beautiful places makes me happy.

I am serious and disciplined about my studies and read many books other than my textbooks. Reading autobiographies and detective storybooks are what I like. I am involved in extra curriculum activities. I am learning music and love to sing.

Also, I listen to all genres of music but Hindustani classical , semi-classical, Bollywood songs are my favorite. Melodious songs are close to my heart. I always participate in musical and cultural events organized in my school. I also take part in the inter-school competition and have been a winner at an inter-school competition a couple of times. Those are cherishable and proud moments of my life.

Every person is a mix of good and bad qualities. I am not an early riser by nature. I understand that waking up early is very important to become productive. Still, during my holidays I take the liberty of waking up late.

I am an ambitious person and a dreamer. My dream is to become a teacher. I think a teacher is a big motivator and guide. I would like to motivate people and guide them to do good for society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Me in several roles

While growing up I have realized that I am an individual but I play several roles throughout the day. As per these roles, my behavior and attitude keep altering. This variation adds various shades in my personality.

In my home firstly, I am a daughter. I try to listen and follow what my parents teach me. When I do well in studies, they become proud. Yet when I do not obey them, they scold me. I get lots of love, care and attention from my parents.  I also care, love, and respect them. My parents are my first identity in this world.

Secondly, I am a sister. I have an elder brother. He takes care of me and guides to follow the path to success. My brother is also my friend. We spend quality time together playing, laughing at jokes together, and watching our favorite cartoon shows. The love, care, the fight makes a beautiful bond between us.

Thirdly, I am a student. Our teachers always try to guide us to realize our path of life. They want us to be sincere in studies and build a successful career . They also instill in us the values of a good human being. I try to be a sincere and obedient student and always do my homework and do well in studies. I also respect my teachers and am an obedient student. My teachers are patient and they always guide me to overcome my mistakes.

Fourthly, the role that we all love is that of a friend. I have many friends. I love moving out and spending time with my friends. We help each other in times of need. We live happy moments together. Friendship is very beautiful. I love to make my friends feel special, and never miss wishing them on their birthdays.

Conclusion             

Life is full of experiences. Every moment we meet different people and face different situations. In this course of life, we not only get to know different people, but we also get to know ourselves in different ways.

As we grow, our likes dislike interest changes. Our perception and outlook toward life also change with time and experience. Thus, the search to the answer to the question of who I am is a lifelong process.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

FindYourMomTribe » Parenting » Motherhood

A Proud Letter To My Daughter: This Is What I Want You To Know

By Author Ivana Davies

Posted on Last updated: October 29, 2021

Last night, I couldn’t help but look at my little girl in awe at how hardworking and focused she was. There are so many things I want her to know, which is why I’ve decided to write a proud letter to my daughter.

Generally, I’m a positive person, but lately, I’ve been pondering the brevity of life. Does my daughter know how much I love her? Have I been able to instill in her the core values that I pray she lives by?

God knows I tell her how much she means to me on a regular basis. But if something were to happen and suddenly, I was gone, how would she cope?

I can’t exactly just leave my little girl with a quote . That wouldn’t describe all my feelings toward her properly.

This is why I’ve written a beautiful letter that will hopefully help steer her in the right direction, even on the most challenging days.

I want my baby girl to know the importance of hard work, honesty, integrity, and most importantly – self-worth.

I want her to live an authentic, unapologetic life even if one day, I’m no longer there to guide her.

It saddens me profusely when I think about not being by her side during monumental moments of her life.

While I pray we navigate it side by side, here’s a letter to my daughter encompassing everything I want her to know about life.

Dear daughter,

I’ll never forget the first time I held you in my arms. I was so young and scared, but most of all – excited to the bone.

The day before, it was just me and your daddy. I used to have dreams about giving birth to you all the time so when it finally happened, I could barely believe it.

Suddenly, there was a new bundle of joy that had already completely shifted our lives!

It was impossible to describe, yet incredible to feel.

From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be a free spirit. Holding you in my arms was like a dream come true.

You had that spark in your eyes and a baby smile that let me know you were going to become one hell of a woman one day.

And as I’m looking at you now, I can proudly say that I was right.

You’ve already given me so much to be proud of.

The way you handle little adversities impresses me. How you cope with being told you can’t do something is inspiring.

And the way you don’t let anyone tell you what to do (other than your daddy and me) makes me want to hug you and never let you go.

You’ve already proven to me that you’re everything I wished you’d be. To think that this is only the beginning makes me want to cry tears of joy.

I cannot wait to see you thrive through high-school, college, and everything that comes next.

There are so many things that I need to tell you right now and I hope I can keep my composure while reminiscing about all of our beautiful moments together.

I pray to God, we remain by each other’s sides for as long as possible, but in case anything ever happens, here’s what I pray I’ve taught you about life.

Never stop pursuing your ambitions and passions

I love how incredibly passionate you are about people and animals. I watch you proudly every single day as you do little things that you think nobody notices.

Every time I see you pet a stray dog or a kitty, I see that I must’ve done something right. Your kind heart and generosity know no bounds.

The way you care about helping those in need is rare and inspiring.

And I want you to know that you should never stop doing what makes your heart happy.

If this is what you see yourself doing – go ahead and do it! If you want to find a job that allows you to keep showcasing your kind nature, you have my blessing.

If you want to pursue your dreams that don’t necessarily bring in tons of revenue but help so many, that is the noblest thing you could possibly do.

I know you’ll find your way in life. I know that you’ll always land on your feet – you’re too smart not to.

Whatever you end up doing later in life, I just know it’ll be the right decision.

You’re growing up to be a smart, independent woman, and the little things I see you do daily inspired me to write this love letter to you.

You are truly a gem and I’m so proud to call you my girl.

I hope you know that I love you from the bottom of my heart. Whichever thing you end up pursuing, my support is unwavering.

Your words can leave a lasting mark

But I’m sure you’ve already figured that out. Through life, we all make mistakes. No matter how genuine, hard-working, and kind we are.

It’s okay to slip up – it happens to everyone.

But in your times of struggle, here’s what you should know: What you say during your weakest moments will remain in the other person’s head for a long time.

Be careful what you allow yourself to say. Words have the power to break a person more than you probably understand right now.

To you, it may just be something to shrug off, but to them, it’s something that will haunt them forever.

So please, just be kind to everyone no matter how rude they might be.

Remember – hurt people hurt people! I pray I’ve taught you well enough not to engage with them and just go your way.

Bringing others down will bring you no joy. Find the strength within to walk away from anything that’s counter-productive to your well-being.

Say kind things even when you’re provoked.

Offer a reassuring smile even when you’re being judged. People do unkind things when they’re hurting deep inside.

Show them you’re better than that and don’t stoop to their level. Everybody goes through their trials and tribulations.

But it’s up to you how you choose to react amidst them.

You are deserving of the purest type of love

Sweetheart, you are one of a kind! You deserve the kind of love that will rock your world.

You deserve the type of man (or woman) who will go to the ends of the earth for you.

Never settle in love. Never let someone offer you bits and pieces. You deserve it all or nothing at all.

You see before I met your daddy, I was a little pessimistic about ever finding someone who’d love me the way I needed to be loved.

I’d had a lot of bad luck when it came to men and I let it get to me.

But after feeling sorry for myself, I decided that it was time to snap out of it and give myself an actual chance at love. And as you know by now, that’s when your father swooped in and won me over.

He was everything I never thought I’d get. He was the type of guy I believed existed only in movies.

But as he was standing there in front of me, I realized that this was real. He was my reality.

And boy, did I feel lucky as hell!

The point I’m trying to make is to never give up! You are so young and there will be a lot of heartbreak.

But I don’t want you to let it discourage you from still looking for your true love.

Whether it’s a man or a woman, you deserve only the best. And one day, I promise you, they will enter your life just as you are about to give up. So don’t.

Remain as hopeful and as positive as you are now. Be with people who bring out the best in you. Don’t accept crumbs of affection, you’re worthy of much more.

I wish I could tell you when exactly it’s going to happen but I can’t.

What I can tell you though is that when you least hope for it, that’s when it usually happens (keep your chin up, the best is yet to come!)

Failure isn’t a weakness, it’s a stepping stone to something better

Stay strong no matter what life throws at you. Keep your faith even when it’s tested. That is when you’ll need to be brave more than ever.

Sometimes, it’s going to be difficult to stay on your path. Sometimes, you might even fail. But don’t for one second think that failing represents a weakness.

Quite the contrary, my darling.

Only those brave enough to pave their own way will learn how to cope with failure and use it as a stepping stone to something much more meaningful.

Let your mistakes be just that. A learning curve that will help guide you and steer you.

I know your heart. I know your mind. And I know that you’ll never let anyone trample over you.

I know you’ll be strong even if I’m not there to tell you to keep pushing. I just hope you never let yourself feel like a failure on a bad day.

We all struggle at times, and so will you, my baby girl. But don’t let a bad moment make you think that you’re not meant for greatness!

Because I know what you can achieve. And you should too.

Every single mistake you make will help you never do it again. Every single time you don’t get your way, you’ll learn to find another way toward your goals.

Don’t be alarmed if it takes you a bit longer than you’d originally planned. Life is a journey, not a destination.

How you get there is just as important as your final destination.

You’re only human, and you’ll make mistakes along the way. For as long as you don’t let them define you, you’re going to be just fine.

Never waste time comparing yourself to anyone

I know this is something probably every mom would say, but I genuinely mean it. You are perfect exactly the way you are.

You are gorgeous, smart, funny, intelligent, and genuine. You should never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Comparisons are an utter waste of time.

You were not put on this earth to be the same as anyone else. You were brought here to pave your own way and make a difference!

The way you choose to do things is inspiring because you never let anyone mold your opinions.

You always do things your way, and that is perhaps my most favorite thing about you.

I pray to God that never changes. Never let a guy (or girl) make you feel like you’re not enough.

Those who know how to appreciate you will never make you doubt your worth. Surround yourself only with those who uplift and encourage you.

Weed out anyone who makes you feel lesser. You are way too amazing to be wasting time on toxic people.

Your friend circle should remain strong and small. As you grow older, you’ll realize how important it is to have a few good friends as opposed to a dozen acquaintances.

In life, it’s crucial to have someone you can lean on any time of the day. Anyone who makes you feel like you’re less amazing than you are doesn’t deserve you.

Always be yourself and keep doing what makes your heart happy.

Never follow in anyone’s footsteps and just do you. I promise you, the right people will never make you feel alone for a second.

I love you more than you’ll ever know

Your daddy and I will always have your back. Through thick and thin, good times and bad.

There is nothing you can do or say that will ever change the way we love you, and I hope you know that you can always turn to me in times of need.

Baby girl, you are my biggest accomplishment and nothing will ever compare. The day you entered my life was the day everything else became a little less important.

Family is everything, and you made me see that. I love you more than you know and your happiness is my happiness.

Remember last Mother’s day when you made me that gift from scratch? That meant more to me than any gift you ever could’ve bought.

And do you know why?

Because it came from the heart. It was personal, genuine, and showed me that you know me better than I thought was possible.

I pray that one day you have a daughter every bit as amazing as you are. Only then will you be able to understand the depth behind these words.

A mother’s love knows no bounds. To you, those are just words, and that’s okay. But one day, you’ll see how incredibly true this is.

And I pray that I’m right there by your side when you do to see what kind of mother you’ll become.

Writing this proud letter to my daughter has made me see now more than ever what a beautiful person you are slowly becoming.

Your life is only beginning, my love.

The future holds so many amazing things, and I’m looking forward to seeing you conquer the world one day.

One of the biggest responsibilities of every father and mother is to raise their kids to be happy, stable adults, and I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.

This open letter has allowed me to say everything I carry in my heart and I mean every single word I said. Know that I have your back today, tomorrow, and every following day.

Keep shining that beautiful light of yours, and I’ll always be watching proudly knowing I’ve done something right.

Love you always and forever ,

• Being A Mom Is Hard, But SO Worth It
• A Letter To My Twins On Their Birthday – Why You Make Me Proud
• How To Be A Better Mom: 10 Steps To Move In The Right Direction
• 110+ Most Wonderful 1st Birthday Wishes For Baby Girl & Baby Boy

Like this post? Please share or pin it for later. You can also stay in the loop and follow us on Facebook , Instagram or Pinterest .

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure for more info.

Search 45 years of archives

• Popular Pages
• Readers Write

Essays For My Daughter

Essay For My Ten-Year-Old Daughter, Whom I Haven’t Spoken To In A While, Told In Reverse

I drive to your house, looking backward at where I’ve been. You walk into my arms and tell me goodbye. Your grandparents, who aren’t really your grandparents, wave from the door. We leave together in my rental car, headed to Denny’s.

We talk over lunch, and I’m happy. I stop, then start trying to act like a father — your father. After the waitress has taken away our plates, while we wait to leave, I struggle to think of something to ask you. I put my hat on and drive you to your house and walk you to the door. I drive back to the hotel, where I call to say I’m on my way. I fly home to Minnesota, still facing in your direction. On the phone I ask if you want to get lunch when I visit California. I listen to it ring. I dial your number. I wonder if you’re on summer break, if it’s a good time to call.

Months fold back up into the calendar. It rains, snows, rains. The dead leaves burn red-orange and sail back up into the trees, turn green once again.

I check my phone to see how long we’ll talk: twenty-seven minutes. We talk for precisely that long, and then the phone starts to ring, and you’re gone. Afterward I write down questions to ask you.

Several months pass. You turn nine. At the end of July I fly to California to see you, just like I did last year when you were ten. Then it’s May, April, March. Another year gone by. I think of how little I know about you: who your friends are, what your favorite TV show is, all that. You are eight, then seven, then six. You call me Michael instead of Dad.

An airplane brings me to California for your fifth birthday party. The sun rises in the west as the guests arrive. Kids play in the bounce house. Candy escapes from small hands and shoots up into the broken piñata. I pull on the rope from my spot on the roof, causing the piñata to sway and jerk. Kids take turns sealing it back up with a stick, then line up near you in the front yard. I drop the rope, climb down a ladder, smile and nod to Mr. Garcia when he asks if I want to man the piñata. An hour passes. From several tables away, I watch you wrap gifts. You sit in Alex’s lap while he unties your shoes, playing the role of father. Your aunt tells me you look like me in every way. I tell her you and I have the same smile, our top lip shaped like an m . She says she can see the resemblance. I try not to look upset when she says, “You must be the baby daddy.” Your aunt and I are introduced. I drive to my parents’ house.

You are four and think I’m your uncle. Then you are three and think I’m a cousin or a family friend. When I visit, you chase me around the avocado tree in your yard. All you need me to be is someone you can run after. You turn two. I move from Minnesota to California. I unpack the bed of my truck, unbox everything I own.

You have just stopped being two when I see you next. I tell Mr. Garcia I just wanted to meet my daughter before I leave California. My parents are here with me. You have your arms wrapped around Mr. Garcia’s leg. You do not call him Papa. You leave suddenly, disappearing back into the house. I listen for a child’s voice as I stand at the front door, trying to explain who I am, why I’m there. Mr. Garcia closes the door. I knock on it. My parents and I walk down the driveway, get into my truck, and drive away. At home I print directions to your house.

Months later your mother, K., gives me the home address of Mr. and Mrs. Garcia, the couple who have custody of you.

I run a marathon. I fill out a grad-school application. I volunteer to mentor at-risk youth. I run less and less until I am running just a few miles each day. It is summer again. I write poems that you walk through. I think of you. I try not to think of you. You are about to turn one.

I consider going to grad school. Days pass. I don’t want to think about you. I talk to K. on the phone. She tells me that the couple raising you are good people, that they think their son, Alex, is your father. She says you’re healthy. She says she fucked up and let another man think he’s the father. She tells me I have a daughter. I try to act like I don’t know why she might be calling me. K. apologizes for calling, says hello. I listen to her voice mail, where she says we need to talk. When she calls, I don’t answer the phone.

Essay For My Almost-Nine-Year-Old Daughter

Today we talk on the phone for exactly twenty-seven minutes. You tell me about your trip to the river, that you tried to swim but the water was “heavy.” You say chicken nuggets can be breakfast; breakfast is just whatever you eat in the morning. Your mama told you that. You say you get annoyed at your little cousins. I ask how much older you are than them, and you say four years, that this year you’ll be nine and you don’t want to become a teenager and get moody. You say none of your friends have parents as old as yours. You don’t want your mama and papa to get older, because then they’ll have to leave you, and you don’t want them to go. I don’t know what to say other than to agree with this fact. I say something about memories and photographs. You say you can’t wait to get more film for your camera.

You tell me you had a dream last night where your papa took you to a different school. He said, “This is where you have to go now.” You stayed there for years. When you woke up, you were glad it was a dream. Then you had chicken nuggets for breakfast. You ask what I am going to eat for dinner, and I say, “What do you think?”

I don’t know why — if there’s even a reason at all — but you say, “Let me guess: asparagus.”

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter, Who Is Focused On A Painting

At the art museum’s Family Day we stop to get you a drink of water. On the wall by the fountain is a painting, and around the painting are several yellow Post-it notes. A sign on a table reads, “Activity: title the painting.” Beside it is a stack of Post-its, pencils, and nubs of putty.

Did I say, Go ahead , or were you already staring at the painting, reaching for a yellow note?

Is this what it’s like: to watch your child and see in them parts that are you but also parts that are entirely their own?

The painting is of an autumnal forest. There’s a lake in the center, a small body of water surrounded by trees and grass. Yellows and browns, splashes of deep green. Bits of blue morning sky. Someone stands along the lake’s edge, a blurred figure wearing a brown cap, white shirt, and blue pants. I watch you watch them watching the water. Other children pass behind us, uninterested in this activity, and I am caught by a sudden sense of pride: how much you seem to care about art. It’s a selfish feeling, I know, but I don’t ever want to lose this memory.

Is this what it’s like: to be a father, excited to witness what your child is drawn to?

You write something down on your Post-it, stick it to the wall. You tell me it’s called Sorrowful Lake , because it’s beautiful but lonely. I step forward and stare at the blur of a man in the brown cap. “It is,” I say, “isn’t it?” Then I put my hand on your shoulder, and you let me leave it there. Children flood the path behind us.

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter, Ending With A Question

We find a room at the art museum where there are supplies for making paper crowns. I am the only father here, it seems. I wish one of the mothers would tell me what to do. You sit down at the table and look up at me. A mother walks up (lucky me!) and starts showing you how to fold the paper. She says the instructions on the handout don’t make sense. You ask me to pick my two favorite colors. We cut construction paper and crease lines as the mother says, “That’s good.”

Satisfied that we are all right, the mother leaves to help her own daughter. Some kids run out of the room, and more wander in. A few sit down at our table. I am still the only father here. I puff up my chest. The new kids look at us making our crowns and then hold the paper in their hands as if willing it to transform into what we have. I stand up and act like a father. Waving my hands in the air to get their attention, I tell them the instruction sheet is confusing; that they should fold the construction paper like so; cut here, fold again there; tape when ready. “Go ahead,” I say, “pick your favorite colors.”

You look up at me and say, “This one’s yours.” It’s yellow and brown, the colors of Minnesota in late October. You don’t say that last part, but I imagine you know somehow. I certainly know I shouldn’t think these thoughts, but it’s lonely in my head sometimes.

In another room kids make plastic stained-glass windows with Sharpies, yarn, popsicle sticks, and tape. I stand amid the mothers, and some fathers, and I blend right in. I cross my arms and say to you, “You’re doing great.” I watch you walk across the room to ask for blue, and I admire how you are assertive yet polite. (Lucky me!) You finish and say, “This one’s for you.” There is a small red heart on the bottom right corner.

Later, at Applebee’s, you produce a small photo of yourself from the pocket of your overalls and say, “Here.” I have gotten so many gifts today. (Lucky me!) I thank you and say I will put it on my desk at school. You say, “What if someone asks who it is?”

I say, “I’ll tell them it’s my daughter.”

You say, “What if they ask, ‘What’s her name?’ ”

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter, Who Is Asking Who I Used To Be

I sit next to you in the booth at Applebee’s. Scanning the kids’ menu, you ask me what I think you would like to eat. I guess: Quesadilla? Tacos? Corn dog?

“No,” you say. “The hamburger.”

“You would know if you were here more,” you say.

There’s no way around that truth, so I just swallow and say, “You’re right.”

Later, as we eat, you ask what you used to call me when you were younger, like when we first met.

How long have I been a mystery to you?

Whenever we spend the day together like this, I play the father. “Don’t eat too big a mouthful of food,” I say. “Five more minutes to play before we go.” “Put on your sweater; it’s getting cold.” “Because I said so. . . . I’m not asking” — lines borrowed from other parents. I’m trying out fatherhood, seeing how it feels on my shoulders. I affect a firm-but-I-hope-not-too-harsh voice. I make sure to kiss the top of your head.

For a long time you used to call me your “friend.” Then for a while you thought I was your cousin. Even now you switch between calling me Dad and Michael. I don’t mind, truly, though it takes me a while to prepare to be whoever I must be. And then, when I’m alone again and need to be just myself, that takes time, too.

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter In A Different Time Zone

I ’m usually at school when I call to see if you’re home. Before I call, I charge the battery in my headphones. I use the restroom and wash my hands. I turn off the light in my office and prepare to go outside, where it’s sunny. I don’t call right at 4:00, but just after, at 4:19 perhaps. I have a book of poems by Carl Phillips in my back pocket — in case I don’t get to talk to you, or in case I do, and I want to read poems afterward. I can’t say why this helps, but it does. I take a drink of water. I set the water bottle down. I step outside and dial.

You tell me how much you love pizza, how you’ve already done your homework, how last night your sister kept you up until ten o’clock. You don’t remember anything after that. You opened your eyes, and it was 6 AM . You had a smoothie for breakfast. It had raspberries, strawberries, milk, and banana. You’ve been stacking Jenga blocks while we talk. You tell me you’re going to kick the block tower over, that I might hear it crash. I do, and we laugh. You do this again with dominoes. Then you tell me about a science project your cousin helped you with; it involved a letter you sent me in the mail two weeks ago — though your mama, in the background, tells you it was only a few days ago. I haven’t received it, I explain. Maybe the snow in Minnesota slowed it down, you offer. Before we hang up, I tell you I love you and listen in case you say it back.

Essay For My Five-Year-Old Daughter, With A Game Of Tug-of-War Inside It

Another summer visit. Alex is home but stays in the garage.

You and I kick a ball back and forth and talk about I don’t know what. I make you giggle; I know that. I kick the ball over to you. You are standing by the garage window when Alex opens it. You say hi to him. He doesn’t say anything to me, and I don’t say hello to him. I kick the ball to you and wait for you to kick it back. From a radio inside the garage, we hear Latin cumbia music. You tell him not to change the station. Alex turns the music up, and you start dancing, the ball forgotten at your feet. Now I know you like to dance to cumbias .

I pretend to look around, then ask, “Where’s the ball?” A small “Oh” floats from your mouth. You kick the ball, but you don’t stop dancing, so when you kick it, it flies crooked across the yard. I walk over to the bush it bounced behind and pull it from the dirt, dusting it off until it is as clean as it will ever be, maybe even cleaner than when the factory packed it to ship. As I walk back, my steps are short and slow. I take stock of what clouds I can see.

Essay For My Six-Year-Old Daughter In Which Reality Is Bent And Then Restored

It’s complicated, I know: the day you, my girlfriend, and I play in the front yard under the shade of the avocado tree. Your mama and papa are inside talking to my parents. It’s July, so I keep telling you to drink water. You run around, and Lissa and I look at each other as if none of this were unusual, as if we came over to play all the time.

I chase you around the tree while Lissa watches. I tell you to stay hydrated.

To get us both involved, you say, “Let’s play Mommy and Daddy.” Lissa looks at me, and the corners of our mouths lift toward the branches.

You offer us pieces of chalk. You take the pink, Lissa picks neon green, and I choose yellow. “Draw the daddy,” you say. So I do. “Draw the mommy,” you say to Lissa, and she does. You draw yourself between us. You tell me to go to work. You go to school. Lissa cleans the house. Afterward, in the dusty afternoon, we have dinner. There is a pink table with pink legs. We are a family like that for two minutes, maybe more.

Then Alex comes walking across the driveway. He doesn’t say anything, but you stand up, quick and sharp. You run over to him, and without turning my head I hear you say, “We’re playing Mommy and Daddy, and Michael is Daddy and Lissa is Mommy, but it’s not real; it’s just pretend.” Because I don’t turn my head to watch, I imagine you are waiting for him to tell you it’s OK . I imagine the face he is trying not to make — some paragraph of pain you already know how to read, young as you are.

You come back and draw a pink circle around our whole, tiny family — captured. We float over the cement the rest of the day.

Essay for My Five-Year-Old Daughter Bearing Gifts

I say, “I have to fly home. Minnesota.” I say, “I have work. I teach at a school.” I wonder what you imagine when I say, “I have students like you, but a lot older.”

You look at your sandals, wiggle your toes.

When I’m gone, I’ll send letters. Stickers. A stuffed animal.

I say, “Be good.” I say, “I love you,” and think about how many times it might take before the words stick inside your head as a memory. I don’t remember much about being five.

Sometimes, when I leave, you don’t say anything. You turn back to the front yard and disappear into the shade, skipping.

But other times you tell me, “Come back tomorrow. There’ll be lemonade.” You tell me we can go to the park, and I wonder how far that is from here. Most times my departure is a big production: First, handshakes and hugs with your mama and papa. Then the walk down your driveway. The loose strands of conversation. When I leave, I always get something from you to take with me, a gift to carry to the car: boxed chocolates; fresh oranges; a jar of peanut-butter-filled pretzel bites. Your mama and papa are thoughtful like that. They give you something to give to me. I leave with my sunglasses on, waving my hand. Sometimes you call my name, your voice a taut string, and I think Michael might snap in half. But it’s strong — a tether. A song plays as I walk away, and I can’t quite catch the lyrics. I tell myself not to look back. There’s a baby avocado tree in my arms.

• Family and Relationships

Michael Torres

Correspondence

I was taken by Michael Torres’s “ Essays for My Daughter ” [June 2022]. The author’s creative approach to the timeline and controlled release of information let me feel the heartbreak and emotional confusion of both the young girl and her father. This piece will stay with me for a long time.

Also In This Issue

Become A Friend Of The Sun

Selected poems, late delivery, related selections.

Judaism’s Mystical Heart

An interview with dovid din.

Our Son At One Year Old

Send to a friend.

Characteristics of a Daughter

Categories Relationships

Sharing is caring!

• Pinterest 4

One of the most wonderful things about our time is that there are so many opportunities for women. These privileges are beneficial for our daughters, but they also encompass the good characteristics of a person . 

Today, women are free to do so much and become whatever they would like. But what are the essential characteristics of a daughter that we should have?

How to develop the most important characteristics in your daughter

Daughters are a blessing. They can be difficult to raise, but in the end they are worth all the effort.

If you want to raise a daughter that will be an asset to society, you should:

1) Encourage independence and self-reliance as much as possible

2) Teach them to be kind and compassionate

3) Introduce them to new experiences and places

4) Give them opportunities to explore their interests and talents.

What Characteristics Make a Great Daughter?

As a parent, you want your daughter to achieve great things. And as a daughter, you want to be the best you can be.

These are the critical virtues you can share with your daughter:

Stay Healthy

Taking care of yourself is so important. Work hard at being healthy and taking care of your emotional needs, as well as your physical needs. 

A daughter should be a good example of health to her family. If she is fit and healthy, it will influence other members of the family to be the same way.

One way that she can stay healthy is by eating right and exercising on a regular basis.

Track your healthy habits in this Healthy Habits Journal :

Have Confidence

Every woman should strive for confidence and the understanding that she can do anything. Be strong and self-assured when interacting with those around you. 

A daughter should have confidence in herself. She should believe that she can achieve anything that she puts her mind to and has faith in herself. She should not let others discourage her from achieving her goals and ambitions.

A daughter also needs to be independent and self-sufficient, which is why she needs to work hard not only for herself but for the people around her.

This can be difficult for many daughters because of the many negative female stereotypes that exist.

For example, society tells us that if we are beautiful, we are not smart, and if we are tough and competitive, we cannot also be kind and loving.

However, as daughters, if we are confident in our own abilities and know who we are, then this will help with how others perceive us.

We all want our daughters to grow up confident, independent, and strong individuals who are able to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

Be a Good Friend

Friendship is such an important part of life.

The only way to have a friend is to be one. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be a good friend, not only to your parents but to your friends as well. It’s such an important part of being a well-rounded individual.

You want to surround yourself with good people, both mentors and friends, and you want to develop the qualities of a good friend so you can be that in someone else’s life.

Be Aware of Your Emotions

While women are often told to calm down or that they are too emotional, there may be something to that.

Keep your emotions in check as you don’t want people thinking you fly off the handle for no reason.

Be confident in how you react to things, and when the situation calls for emotion, know it’s warranted. 

Be Compassionate

It’s important to raise daughters with compassion. They need to grow up knowing that they’re loved and cared for.

By raising kids with compassion, you’ll teach your daughters to be kind and compassionate.

In recent years, more and more studies have shown the benefits of teaching children empathy and compassion. These skills are essential for maintaining healthy relationships, managing stress, and lowering the risk of depression.

Learning these skills early on will help build better adults who are able to take care of themselves as well as their loved ones.

Daughters need to learn to have compassion for others, especially elders, animals, and children. And of course, their parents.

Provide the love and support that your friends and family need and be open to showing people your kindness. 

Be Financially Stable

Children learn skills by observing their parents. Financial stability is an important trait for parents to teach their children, especially daughters.

For example, if a parent saves for retirement and teaches a child that saving money is important, it makes sense that the child would also save money for retirement when they grow up.

One of the characteristics of a daughter is knowing how to be financially stable. This means she knows how to work hard and make money in order to support herself.

She should also know how to manage her money and spend it wisely.

A strong woman is financially independent and should not depend on anyone else, including her parents.

Be a Good Listener

Being a good listener is one of the characteristics of a daughter. It’s important for daughters to take time to listen to their parents, grandparents, and other significant people in their lives.

One of the best ways for a daughter to show she cares about someone is by listening. By being present and engaged in what they are saying, she will be showing that she cares. This will make others feel loved, respected, and cared for.

It will also show that they can depend on her and know that she is there for them if they need her help or guidance.

For daughters who are struggling with communication barriers between themselves and an important person in their life (such as a parent), it can be helpful to try different things together like going out somewhere or reading books together.

One of my favorite books to learn how to become a better listener is Listen Like You Mean It.

Stop and take the time to listen to others.

Listen to your parents. Understand their frustrations too. They were there for you, so be there for them. 

Be a Trustworthy Partner

One of the characteristics of a daughter is being a trustworthy person. Parents want their daughter to be honest and loyal.

In order to treat people with the respect they deserve, a person must always have integrity. It’s important to be a person of your word, and do what you say you will do.

At some point, you will be in a relationship with someone else, and it’s essential to be a trustworthy partner.

It’s good to be a supportive partner that others will want to be around. 

Be Successful

As a daughter, you can define success in many different ways. You can define success as a daughter by being:

• Someone who is caring for their family members,
• Someone who has faced obstacles and has overcome them,
• Or, someone who has been successful in their career.

The first way of defining success as a daughter is by being someone who cares for their family members. This definition of success is about being there for the people that matter most to you – your parents and siblings.

The second way is about overcoming obstacles and succeeding, despite what life throws at you. This definition of success is about having persistence and overcoming any challenges that you may come across on your journey through life.

The third way to define success as a daughter comes from the accomplishment of achieving something significant in one’s career or profession. This can be viewed as a form of self-actualization for daughters, and denotes how they have grown into productive members of society and are striving to make a positive impact in their community.

Success as a daughter means something different for everyone, and while each person should strive to live up to their personal definitions of success, there is no wrong answer when it comes to defining what success means for oneself.

Whether you’re aiming for success in work or success in being a daughter, sister, friend, wife, or mother, strive for the best. 

Be Generous

It’s so important to be a generous person. You want others to know that they can depend on you.

Generosity doesn’t have to mean monetary donations. It’s also important to be generous with your time and talents.

One of the best ways to be a generous person is by being there for others when they need it.

A generous person is someone who helps others with what they need, even if it’s something as small as giving them advice on a situation that you have already dealt with.

Being a generous person means being a person who is willing to take care and provide for other people in their time of need, whether they need a shoulder to cry on or a hand to help them get back on their feet.

Generosity is a trait most good people have, and it’s important to continue to foster this trait in our daughters.

As a daughter, remember to reach out with your time, especially with your parents.

Show people you are a person who cares. 

What are the best characteristics of a daughter?

Remember, a good daughter is also a good sister, aunt, friend, mother, and wife. Having the strong characteristics of a daughter will ensure your success in all that you do. 

• Conjunctions
• Prepositions

Describing Words for Daughter: Examples and Adjectives

When it comes to describing our daughters, words often fall short. They are the epitome of love, strength, and beauty, and finding the right adjectives to capture their essence can be a delightful challenge. In this article, I’ll be sharing a curated list of adjectives that perfectly describe our beloved daughters, along with examples to help you paint a vivid picture of their unique qualities. Whether you’re writing a heartfelt letter, creating a birthday card, or simply want to express your admiration, these adjectives will help you celebrate the incredible individuals that our daughters are.

From their infectious laughter to their unwavering determination, our daughters possess a multitude of qualities that deserve recognition. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll be exploring a diverse range of adjectives that aptly describe their vibrant personalities. Whether you’re looking for words to describe their kindness, intelligence, or creativity, you’ll find a treasure trove of descriptive words and examples to inspire you. Join me as we embark on a journey to celebrate our daughters and showcase the unique qualities that make them who they are.

Table of Contents

How to Describe daughter? – Different Scenarios

When it comes to describing our daughters, it can sometimes be a challenge to find the right words that truly capture their essence. Each child is unique, with their own set of qualities and characteristics that make them special. Whether you’re a proud parent, a teacher, or simply someone who wants to appreciate and celebrate the young girls in their lives, here are some adjectives to help you describe your daughter in different scenarios:

1. At Home:

At home, we get to see our daughters in their most comfortable and natural environment. Here are some adjectives to describe your daughter’s qualities and behaviors in the comforts of home:

2. At School:

When describing your daughter in the school setting, you may want to focus on her academic abilities, social skills, and overall behavior. Here are some adjectives to help you describe her in this scenario:

3. In Relationships:

Describing your daughter in the context of relationships can help highlight her interpersonal skills, empathy, and interactions with others. Here are some adjectives to describe your daughter in this scenario:

Remember to choose adjectives that accurately reflect your daughter’s unique qualities and characteristics. Don’t be afraid to mix and match these adjectives based on the specific situation or scenario you are describing.

Describing Words for daughter in English

Describing Words for Daughters in English

When it comes to describing our daughters, finding the right words can sometimes be a challenge. We want to capture their unique essence and all the wonderful qualities that make them who they are. So, I’ve put together a curated list of adjectives to help you paint a vibrant picture of your daughter. Let’s explore some describing words for daughters in English.

• Adventurous – Does your daughter have a daring spirit, always seeking new experiences and eager to explore the world around her? An adventurous spirit can lead to incredible growth and personal development.
• Creative – Many daughters are blessed with a natural talent for creativity. Whether it’s through art, writing, or imaginative play, a creative soul knows how to bring beauty and inspiration to the world.
• Compassionate – Compassion is a powerful trait that enables our daughters to empathize with others and show kindness and understanding. A compassionate heart can make a lasting impact on the lives of those around them.
• Curious – Curiosity is a valuable asset that fuels a thirst for knowledge and understanding. Does your daughter have an inquisitive mind, always asking questions and seeking answers? Encourage her curiosity and watch her grow.
• Confident – Confidence is something we all strive for, and when our daughters possess it, they can conquer the world. Confidence empowers them to step outside their comfort zones, take on challenges, and embrace their true potential.
• Resilient – Life can throw curveballs, but a resilient daughter knows how to bounce back and adapt to difficult situations. Resilience builds character and helps them face adversity with strength and determination.
• Caring – A caring daughter has a nurturing nature and is always ready to lend a helping hand. Whether it’s comforting a friend in need or taking care of a beloved pet, their caring nature shines through.

Remember, these are just a few examples of the many adjectives that can be used to describe your daughter. They are as unique and special as she is. Select the words that resonate with her and capture her true essence. Celebrate her qualities and let her know just how incredible she is.

Adjectives for daughter

When it comes to finding the right words to describe our daughters, it can sometimes be a challenge. We want to capture their unique qualities and characteristics in a way that truly reflects who they are. That’s why I’ve curated a list of adjectives that can help you do just that. Here are some adjectives that can be used to describe your daughter:

Positive Adjectives for Daughter

• Adventurous: My daughter is always seeking new experiences and exploring the world around her.
• Creative: She has such a vivid imagination and is constantly coming up with innovative ideas.
• Compassionate: Time and time again, she shows empathy and kindness towards others.
• Curious: One of her defining traits is her never-ending curiosity and desire to learn.
• Confident: She believes in herself and approaches challenges with unwavering self-assurance.
• Resilient: In the face of adversity, she bounces back and stays strong.
• Caring: She has a natural inclination to take care of others and show compassion.
• Intelligent: Her sharp mind and intellectual abilities always impress those around her.
• Independent: From a young age, she has shown a strong sense of independence and self-reliance.
• Persistent: She never gives up easily and is determined to achieve her goals.
• Imaginative: Her imagination knows no bounds and she can create entire worlds in her mind.
• Charismatic: People are drawn to her magnetic personality and infectious enthusiasm.

Here you have a range of positive adjectives that can paint a vivid picture of your amazing daughter. Whether it’s her sense of adventure, creativity, or compassion, these adjectives help capture the essence of who she is.

Let’s explore some adjectives that might lean towards the negative side, but still play a role in shaping your daughter’s character.

• Stubborn: At times, she can be quite headstrong and resistant to changing her mind.
• Impatient: Waiting for things to happen is not her strong suit.
• Nervous: In certain situations, she may feel anxious or uneasy.
• Impulsive: Occasionally, she acts on impulse without fully considering the consequences.
• Moody: Like anyone, she has her moments of unpredictable moods and emotions.

Remember, these negative adjectives should be taken with a grain of salt. They are not meant to define your daughter entirely, but rather to acknowledge that even the most wonderful individuals have their moments of imperfections.

So, go ahead and choose adjectives from both the positive and negative lists that accurately reflect your daughter’s unique qualities and characteristics. Use them to celebrate and appreciate the beautiful complexity of who she is.

Synonyms and Antonyms with Example Sentences

Synonyms for daughter.

When it comes to finding the right adjectives to describe our daughters, using synonyms can help us capture their unique qualities and characteristics. Here are some synonyms that can beautifully describe our daughters:

• Adventurous : My daughter is always seeking new experiences and loves exploring the world around her.
• Creative : She has a vivid imagination and constantly comes up with innovative ideas.
• Compassionate : I am constantly amazed by her ability to show empathy and kindness towards others.
• Curious : She has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is always eager to learn new things.
• Confident : My daughter believes in herself and her abilities, which gives her the confidence to chase her dreams.
• Resilient : She shows incredible strength in the face of adversity and always bounces back from difficult situations.
• Caring : My daughter has a nurturing nature and takes care of those around her.
• Intelligent : She possesses a sharp intellect and has a knack for grasping complex concepts.
• Independent : From a young age, she has demonstrated a strong desire for independence and self-reliance.
• Persistent : No matter the challenges she faces, my daughter never gives up and always strives to achieve her goals.
• Imaginative : Her imagination knows no bounds, and she can create entire worlds in her mind.
• Charismatic : My daughter has a magnetic personality and easily draws people towards her.

Antonyms for Daughter

While we celebrate our daughters’ positive qualities, it’s important to acknowledge that they are also human and may exhibit some negative traits. Here are a few antonyms that can describe some of these contrasting characteristics:

• Stubborn : There are times when my daughter can be headstrong and determined to have her way.
• Impatient : She has moments when waiting for things to happen can be a challenge for her.
• Nervous : In certain situations, my daughter may feel anxious or uneasy.
• Impulsive : Occasionally, she acts on impulse without taking the time to think things through.
• Moody : Like anyone, my daughter experiences shifts in her emotions, leading to occasional moodiness.

Remember, these antonyms should be taken with a grain of salt. They don’t define our daughters entirely but rather offer a glimpse into the complexity of their personalities. It’s important to celebrate their positive qualities while understanding and supporting them through their moments of vulnerability.

Now that we have explored both the synonyms and antonyms, it’s up to you to choose the words that accurately reflect your daughter’s unique qualities and characteristics.

Describing our daughters can be a challenging task, as their unique qualities and characteristics are often difficult to capture in words. However, this article has provided a curated list of adjectives that can help us paint a more vivid picture of our daughters’ personalities.

From adventurous and creative to compassionate and confident, these adjectives offer a glimpse into the diverse range of qualities that our daughters possess. It’s important to remember that these adjectives should not define our daughters entirely, but rather serve as a starting point for understanding and appreciating their individuality.

In addition to the positive adjectives, the article also explores antonyms that describe contrasting characteristics. These contrasting adjectives, such as stubbornness and impatience, provide a more well-rounded view of our daughters’ personalities.

Ultimately, it is up to us as parents to choose the adjectives that accurately reflect our daughters’ unique qualities and characteristics. By using a combination of positive and negative adjectives, we can create a more nuanced and comprehensive description of our daughters.

So, whether your daughter is adventurous, caring, or imaginative, remember that she is so much more than any single adjective can capture. Embrace her complexity and celebrate the beautiful and multifaceted individual that she is.

Related Posts

Describing Blood: Adjectives with Examples

Blood is a vital element of our existence, coursing through…  Read More » Describing Blood: Adjectives with Examples

Adjectives for Age: Describing Words & Examples

As we navigate through life, one thing that remains constant…  Read More » Adjectives for Age: Describing Words & Examples

Adjectives for Fight: Examples and Describing Words

When it comes to describing a fight, finding the right…  Read More » Adjectives for Fight: Examples and Describing Words

Who I Am? a daughter, a sister, a mother, a student and a dreamer

valdes_eliana 1 / -   Sep 23, 2013   #1 Who I Am? I am a daughter, a sister, a mother, a student and a dreamer. I am the daughter of a single mother who came to the United Stated leaving everything behind to give her children a better life. I am the oldest of four siblings. I am a single mother of a playful, energetic, and loving two year old girl. I am a student currently working on an Associate's degree and planning to transfer to a four year college. I am a dreamer who hopes that one day she could make a difference. I was twelve years old when my parents divorced and came to the United States with my mother and my three siblings. Because I did not speak English it was extremely difficult for me to assimilate to the American culture. However, within a couple of years I was proficient reading and writing English. Being the oldest sister I have always felt that it is my responsibility to set a good example to my younger sibling. Even though my sister and I all have different personalities we have learned how to get along well. They know that I am a very sensitive person and I know that they are very sarcastic. Regardless of our differences and our busy schedules we spend time together to share our aspirations and goals. I was six months pregnant when I found out I was having a baby girl. Since then my life has completely changed. I found out that a child does not come with instructions and you learn from experiences and mistakes. I spend my weekends watching the same movie over and over again but I wouldn't change it for anything because my daughter is my biggest motivation to keep moving forward. When I found out I was pregnant I knew I had to go back to school and improve my academic performance. I began attending Rio Hondo College summer 2012 without having a major in mind, but I knew I had to have an excellent academic performance. I was fortunate to take a Political Science class with a knowledgeable professor who engaged everyone to participate in class and become informed in government issues. Justice, equality and community needs are of great importance to me that is the reason why I want to major in Political Science. I do dream that I could eventually go to law school and become and attorney. Because of the financial burden I know it is going to be a challenge to finish my education but not impossible. Federal Work Study was part of my financial aid package but unfortunately my financial aid was denied. I have also been found ineligible for additional student services that the college offers because although I do meet income eligibility, I am not considered educational disadvantage. Who am I? I am , unique, persistent, enthusiastic, sensitive, romantic and idealistic yet realistic. My experiences have made me who I am and they will continue to shape who I will become; a role model, an inspiration and a difference.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

Erika l. sánchez, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Secrets and Lies

The most potent theme throughout Erika L. Sánchez’s I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is that of secrets and lies. As the novel unfolds and Julia digs deeper into the secrets her recently-deceased older sister Olga left behind, she comes face-to-face with more and more unsettling truths about her family’s past. In the end, Sánchez ultimately suggests that some secrets are too painful to share—and that some lies are actually a mercy, meant to…

Restlessness and Ambition

Julia Reyes is desperate to get out of the working-class Chicago suburb she and her family call home—she dreams of being a famous writer, of seeing the world, and of living all alone in a big, beautiful Manhattan apartment. Julia’s fierce restlessness and boundless ambition, however, are threatened by several factors beyond her control: her overbearing mother’s strict rules, the poverty that boxes her and her family into a shabby apartment and a dilapidated neighborhood…

Family, Immigrant Cultural Identity, and the Self

Julia Reyes has a large, overbearing, and occasionally abusive family. From her judgmental and gossipy Tía Milagros to the predatory Tío Cayetano to Julia’s impossibly strict mother and aloof, silent father, the extended Reyes clan often brings Julia more confusion than comfort. Julia is embarrassed not just of her family, but in many ways, of her cultural identity as well, and of her status as the daughter of immigrants—she feels disconnected from her family’s traditions…

Poverty and Entrapment

Julia Reyes and her parents live in a roach-infested apartment in a working-class neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Stomping roaches dead and mopping up their guts is a regular necessity—and outside of the apartment, things are sometimes even worse. Julia must endure threats and harassment from neighborhood men as well as a chronic lack of money for public transportation and food . Her friends from school, Lorena and Juanga , face similar problems…

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Who Am I — Who Am I: Creative Writing

Who Am I: Creative Writing

• Categories: About Myself Who Am I

About this sample

Words: 1040 |

Updated: 21 November, 2023

Words: 1040 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Prompt examples for the "who am i" essays, "who am i" essay examples.

• Self-Reflection and Identity Explore the concept of self-reflection and the journey to discovering one's identity. How has self-awareness evolved throughout your life, and what factors have contributed to your understanding of who you are?
• Emotions and Self-Perception Discuss your emotional landscape and its impact on your self-perception. How do you experience and express emotions? How do they shape your self-image and interactions with others?
• Self-Esteem and Self-Obsession Examine the dynamics of self-esteem and self-obsession in your life. How has your self-esteem evolved over time, and how does it relate to your self-obsession or self-care? Share personal experiences that illustrate this evolution.
• Social Interactions and Introversion Reflect on your social interactions and introverted tendencies. How do you navigate social situations, and what happens when you step out of your comfort zone? Discuss the balance between introversion and extroversion in your life.
• Leadership and Taking Charge Describe your experiences with leadership and taking charge in various situations. How do you approach leadership roles, and what qualities make you effective in these roles? Share examples of when you've assumed leadership and its impact on those around you.

Who am I: Creative Essay

Works cited.

• Akhtar, S., & Akhtar, F. (2016). A critical study of self-concept and self-esteem. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 21(7), 15-22.
• Benson, K. (2007). The power of personality types in career success. Journal of Employment Counseling, 44(3), 98-104.
• Cassidy, S., & Eachus, P. (2002). Developing the computer user self-efficacy (CUSE) scale: Investigating the relationship between computer self-efficacy, gender and experience with computers. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 26(2), 133-153.
• Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Psychological Assessment Resources.
• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 49(3), 182-185.
• Friedman, H. S. (2010). Personality, disease, and self-healing: An integrative perspective. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(1), 5-9.
• Howard, L. W., & Ferris, G. R. (1996). The employment interview context: Social and situational influences on interviewer decisions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 26(24), 2153-2174.
• McAdams, D. P. (1993). The stories we live by: Personal myths and the making of the self. Guilford Press.
• Swami, V. (2008). The influence of body weight on self-perceptions and partner preferences. Sex Roles, 58(9-10), 651-654.
• Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Science, 185(4157), 1124-1131.

Video Version

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 658 words

2 pages / 732 words

2 pages / 691 words

4 pages / 1619 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Who Am I

Have you ever wondered what makes you, you? In today's fast-paced world, understanding our own personalities can provide valuable insights into our behavior, relationships, and career choices. In this essay, I will delve into [...]

Who am I? For my essay, I would normally start off by listing my age, nationality, religious belief, what school I attend, what I do for a living and so on. But does that truly define who I am? Once I sat and started thinking [...]

In weaving the meaning of my name into the fabric of my identity, I reflect upon the deliberations my parents underwent upon my arrival into this world. When I was born, my parents couldn’t decide on what to name me – my dad [...]

What makes me who I am? This question has lingered in my mind for as long as I can remember. As I delve into the complexities of my personality, I am met with a tapestry of traits, experiences, and beliefs that have shaped me [...]

The person I am today is the result of a complex interplay between life experiences, relationships, and inherent traits. By reflecting on the impact of significant life events, challenges, and accomplishments on my personal [...]

In this essay I am going to explain my family history. It is almost a tradition to go into the army, or into different areas related to that, like the Marines, in my family. My uncle, my mother’s father, my great grandfather, [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

83 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Before You Read

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-9

Chapters 10-13

Chapters 14-18

Chapters 19-22

Chapters 23-26

Chapters 27-29

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Published in 2017, Erika L. Sánchez’s first novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a young adult coming-of-age story set in contemporary Chicago. The story is told from the perspective of 15-year-old Julia Reyes as she navigates her grief and struggles with mental health, her familial relationships, and cultural expectations when her older sister Olga unexpectedly dies. The book has won several awards, including the Thomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award in 2018.

Plot Summary

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,750+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,800+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

Julia’s parents, whom she calls Amá and Apa, are Mexican American immigrants who work thankless jobs to provide for their family. Twenty-two-year-old Olga was proper, obedient, and quiet, the ideal Mexican daughter. Julia, on the other hand, is loud, opinionated, and independent—characteristics that garner judgement and criticism from her devout and traditional family. When Olga gets hit by a truck and dies, the family’s grief further alienates Julia from her parents.

A few weeks after Olga’s funeral, Amá shocks Julia by informing her she wants to throw her a quinceañera—an elaborate party for Latina girls at the age of 15 that marks their transition into womanhood. Julia has no interest in having a party, especially because she is almost 16, but she knows that Amá regrets not having one for Olga.

The SuperSummary difference

• 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
• Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
• 175 + new titles every month

One night, Julia sneaks into Olga’s room and finds several hidden items: a love note, a hotel key, and racy lingerie. Julia turns to Olga’s best friend Angie, who doesn’t reveal Olga’s secrets and blames Julia for caring about her sister too late. Julia’s continuous inquiries at the hotel and at Olga’s college lead nowhere, but she remains suspicious.

As Julia continues to struggle with her grief, her only sources of solace are her best friend Lorena , English class with Mr. Ingman, and the idea of going away to college. She is an aspiring writer, and while she waits for her chance to escape Chicago and see the world, she escapes her mundane, oppressive life by reading and writing.

Julia reluctantly participates in her quinceañera to please her family, but she gets into an argument with one of her aunts. Amá reprimands her and angrily blames her for Olga’s death. Julia spends the summer helping Amá clean houses, and in the fall, applies for colleges. She dates Connor , a wealthy white boy from the suburbs, and their relationship brings her joy, though their class disparity is sometimes a source of anxiety for Julia.

Julia finally finds the key to Olga’s room and moves Olga’s secret belongings to her room to keep them from Amá. Amá, however, finds them, and Julia allows her to think they are hers.  Amá grounds Julia, and Julia’s depression and isolation come to a head. She tries to commit suicide, but Apa breaks through her door and gets her to the hospital. Julia follows a treatment plan of outpatient therapy, counseling, and medication. After she completes the program, Julia’s parents decide that she should go to Mexico, thinking time with her grandmother and extended family will help her heal. Before she leaves, she finds the password to Olga’s computer and discovers old email exchanges between Olga and a married doctor from work.

In Mexico, Julia learns that Apa used to be an artist, and Amá was raped on their journey across the border, resulting in Olga’s birth. The cartel’s violence resurfaces in Los Ojos, and the family decides it is no longer safe for Julia. When she returns to Chicago, she and Amá mend their relationship, and Julia reconnects with Connor.

Julia learns that Olga was pregnant when she died, and she confronts Olga’s boyfriend. He insists that he loved Olga, but Julia has little sympathy for him. He gives her an ultrasound photo.

In the fall, Julia leaves for college in New York City, grateful for the opportunities that she has been given.

Drawing upon Sánchez’s own experience as a first-generation American “struggling to reconcile two conflicting cultures,” the novel explores immigrant cultural identity and its role in familial expectations and dynamics. Julia’s mental health issues are deeply intertwined with other serious themes like trauma, abuse, and poverty. 

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Featured Collections

Chicanx Literature

View Collection

Diverse Voices (High School)

Hispanic & Latinx American Literature

Realistic Fiction (High School)

Enter your email to download PDF and receive updates from OSMO

Scan to get started.

The Assessment App is available only on the Apple App Store . Please scan the QR code below with your iPhone device to download the app.

Who Am I Essay

Introduction on who am i essay.

Who am I? This is a question that keeps bothering you at times. Isn’t it? You want to know what I am and what are qualities that make you unique from others. Before someone asks about you, there has to be a proper understanding of who you are and the things that you do are different. The reason is that when such questions are prompted, you must be in a position to speak fearlessly about yourself without hesitation. Most of the time, you just speak in short sentences about yourself, which includes, name, class, or place that you belong to. But there are people who might be interested in knowing more about you than the brief introduction. It can include your likes, dislikes, passions, goals, dreams, etc. Therefore, you need to analyze yourself and come up with things that you are good at. In this particular who am I essay, you have to speak about yourselves and the things that you like to do. Here is an example for you. 

Who Am I Essay Example

I am in grade 5 and live in California. We are a family of four members. My father is an architect and my mother is a teacher. I have two siblings who are older than me.  I am someone who is an extremely shy and quiet person. This often makes people misunderstand that I cannot speak confidently. But, it is not true as I have immense knowledge on different things. However, I like to assess the place and situation before speaking. When someone approaches me, I would like to be humble and kind enough to answer their questions. 

Most importantly, I’m comfortable with people whom I know, so that the information being conveyed will be interpreted easily. While studying or participating in any activities, I try to focus so that my concentration is towards the things that I’m doing. My hobbies are basically reading, drawing, singing, playing sports, and many more things that fascinate me. I try to give my best in all the activities that I participate in. Moreover, I believe that all the activities require complete focus and dedication in order to gain knowledge and develop essential skills. I dislike or have fear of certain things like slimy creatures, cockroaches, and heights. But, my focus is also towards overcoming these fears. 

I have a lot of belief in dreaming big and setting goals for myself. There are many things that I would like to achieve and do systematically in life. It includes taking care of my parents, siblings, and people around me. The most important thing is to dedicate myself to the service of others. There is nothing more satisfying than helping others. Therefore, I have to educate myself really well on things that I want to do. Apart from this, I am keen on learning new things each and every day. While learning, I pay attention to developing important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, decision making, analytical and communication skills. Moreover, I’m very punctual and like to do things on time. 

I am extremely friendly to all the people around me which makes me a happy person. There is a sense of happiness in spending time with friends. This also gives an opportunity to be part of their lives. We all hang out together and eat delicious food prepared at home or sometimes visit restaurants. Occasionally, we go for a picnic or tour with friends and family members. I am fortunate enough to see beautiful places and learn new things from there. Besides this, I like to do crafts activities at home. This will enhance my creativity and imagination to do something better. 

Hence, the who am I essay is extremely beneficial in extracting the areas that you are interested in. Sometimes, we might not express all this information when you try to communicate with others. This also gives an opportunity to explore your likes and dislikes. 

Also explore: Personality essay and friendship essay .

We hope you found this who am I essay helpful. For more essays, check Osmo’s essays for kids .

Frequently Asked Questions on Who Am I Essay

How can you write a who am i essay in less than 100 words.

Here is an example of a who am I essay in less than 100 words: I’m the youngest member of my family, but I have several other roles to play. I’m a good and responsible daughter to my parents, a good sister to my siblings and a supportive and understanding friend. I set goals for myself and work hard to achieve them. I love to play basketball and I am learning to play the piano too. My hobbies include reading, baking and listening to music. Like everyone I too have bad habits, but I constantly work towards making myself better person.

How to write a good essay on yourself?

Some of the steps to write a good essay about yourself are 1. Describe yourself in detail with honesty. 2. Write about your hobbies and interests. 3. Include your achievements but avoid boasting about yourself. 4. Use personal experiences and examples. 5. Add some personality and creativity to make the essay more interesting.

Subscribe to Osmo & get

your first purchase

You’ve been subscribed with

Check the welcome mail to download the printables and avail your discount.

Explore our award-winning products for kids learning.

* Offer valid only for 7 days.

Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents Essay

Frances Bowen, a respected academic in innovation and sustainability, once said that “to become a thoroughly good man, is the best prescription for keeping a sound mind in a sound body.” Upon reflection, I am convinced that I’ll reap handsome benefits from demonstrating goodness to both my parents ever since I was a small child. This short paper aims to illuminate the reasons why I am a good son to my parents.

Firstly, at a personal level, I believe I am a good son to both my parents as I have never questioned their authority in an irresponsible manner. Although it is true that some parental control can be perceived as demeaning and dictatorial, especially in adolescence, I have always found a way to address my parents’ concerns in a mature and firm manner. When I finished high school, for example, I remember my father standing his ground that I should pursue a course that I never had an interest in.

Although our arguments at home were potentially explosive, I managed to bring on board one of his best friends to make him understand that I needed to be given a chance to choose my own trajectory. Eventually, the problem was settled, and the respect I had earned from my parents still remained intact for not questioning their authority in an irresponsible manner.

Secondly, I have never neglected to abide by the advice received from my parents. Personally, I believe that internalizing parental guidance is fundamental to my personal and professional growth because it is difficult for parents to mislead me as some of my friends would do. I remember one time when my parents advised me to develop a profoundly religious orientation so as to ground my life on sound values and virtues. While most of my friends were demonstrating open revolt to the advice provided by their parents by attending dance parties instead of religious gatherings, I decided to follow my parents’ advice by going to church and practice the teachings as received from our pastoral staff. The result of this undertaking is that my parents, as well as siblings, can now depend on me for moral and spiritual support.

The third reason why I believe I am a good son to both my parents is grounded on the fact that I have been, and will always be, a shining star in academics and extra-curricular activities. I can still remember how happy my mother was when she came to collect my academic reports from middle-grade level through senior high school. She always went with a radiant face knowing too well that she would be called upon to address other parents on motivating students to perform better academically. Similarly, my father always accompanied me in major sports competitions, knowing that I would shine in several field and track events. To date, my parents are very fond of the photographs taken during these ceremonies, and I can tell that these priceless photographs still act as a fundamental source of happiness.

The fourth reason is that I have always been there for my parents in times of need or discomfort. When my mother was diagnosed with a severe but treatable health condition a few years ago, I remember I canceled a holiday I was going with close friends just to be by her side. Upon reflection, I realized that this particular gesture provided my mother with a great deal of moral support. Owing to this and the medical attention provided by doctors, she responded well to treatment and was out of hospital earlier than expected. To date, my parents thank me for standing by them in that trying period.

Although I cannot fully exhaust the reasons why I perceive myself as a good son to my parents, I know that goodness is an asset that has assisted me in laying a solid foundation for success in my future personal, family, and professional endeavors.

• Relations of Parents and Teenagers
• Parental Involvement in Education
• Steve McCurry’s Photographs
• Adapting Family Network Issue
• Family Role Switching: Pros and Cons
• African American Family in the "Soul Food" Movie
• Dream Family Vacation and Its Benefits
• Family System in "The Kids Are All Right" by Lisa Cholodenko
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, April 4). Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-am-a-good-son-to-my-parents/

"Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents." IvyPanda , 4 Apr. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-am-a-good-son-to-my-parents/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents'. 4 April.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents." April 4, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-am-a-good-son-to-my-parents/.

1. IvyPanda . "Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents." April 4, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-am-a-good-son-to-my-parents/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Why I Am a Good Son to My Parents." April 4, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-am-a-good-son-to-my-parents/.

I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter

By erika l. sánchez, i am not your perfect mexican daughter themes, the value of secrecy.

One of the most important themes in I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is secrecy. Following her sister's sudden death, Julia is overcome by the idea that Olga led a secret life and kept essential information from her family. Julia is determined to investigate Olga's idyllic image as the "perfect Mexican daughter," and she crosses numerous boundaries—both literally and metaphorically—in order to uncover hidden truths.

After sneaking into Olga's bedroom on various occasions, Julia unearths a hotel room key and a box of lingerie. Although she attempts to interrogate Olga's friends in order to learn more about the intricacies of Olga's life, Julia's most important discovery occurs after hacking Olga's computer. While sifting through Olga's email inbox, Julia learns that Olga was having a years-long affair with an older, married man at her office. Additionally, Julia finds out that Olga was pregnant with this man's child at the time of her death. While Julia feels a sense of gratification for following her hunches, she is now faced with a new dilemma. Should she tell her parents about her discovery, thus shattering the notion of their chaste and mild-mannered dead daughter? Or should Julia keep her findings to herself?

As the novel progresses, it is clear that Julia's hunches about Olga's secret life cause her to feel even more pressure. These insurmountable emotions lead Julia to a suicide attempt. Following Julia's treatment in a mental hospital, she is sent to visit her family in Mexico. While there, she learns of another tragic secret—Amá was raped while crossing the border to the United States. This secret reframes Julia's entire life—she realizes that Olga is the resulting child of the assault, and she feels empathy for Amá for the first time.

While Julia previously held a rather contrived view on secrets, her discoveries throughout the novel lead her to realize that truth does not signify freedom. Ultimately, Julia decides to keep both secrets to herself. In the novel's closing scene, when Julia looks at Olga's ultrasound against the New York skyline, she understands the fragility, beauty, and value of knowing and managing secrets.

The Psychological Effects of Poverty

Throughout the novel, Julia describes her claustrophobic, roach-infested apartment located in Chicago's South Side. The claustrophobia the protagonist feels transcends a sense of physical confinement—it translates directly to Julia's stifled feelings and mounting depression. Julia's closest friends, Juanga and Lorena , often undertake desperate measures in hopes of freeing themselves from their socioeconomic condition. In this way, Sánchez depicts the cyclical nature of poverty and its psychological effects.

At the beginning of the story, Julia describes the anger and resentment she feels towards Amá and Apá. However, as the story progresses, she realizes that her family's socioeconomic status greatly shapes her parent's emotional bandwidth, thus affecting the ways in which they relate to one another. Julia often remarks on her mother's coldness and hostility, but it isn't until she accompanies Amá to work that she witnesses the condescension and abuse she endures as a housekeeper. A similar realization occurs after Julia's trip to Los Ojos. After learning that her father was once a talented artist in Mexico, Julia understands that Apá's decision to work undocumented in the U.S. caused him to sacrifice his passions and talents in order to make ends meet for his family.

While Julia is frustrated by her experience with poverty, it is the only life she knows. It isn't until she begins dating Connor that she truly understands the existence of the wealth gap. Although Connor grows up not too far away from Julia, their lives couldn't be more dissimilar—he lives in a huge home and never has to worry about food being on the table. Connor's socioeconomic privilege allows Julia to reflect on American society and the disadvantages that undocumented immigrants face.

The Many Sides of the Immigrant Experience

Julia's family dynamics are an essential element in I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. As a first-generation American growing up with undocumented Mexican parents, Julia often explains how she straddles two disparate immigrant worlds. In Chicago, Julia's "American" experience is profoundly shaped by her Mexican heritage. She finds community with other first-generation Mexican-Americans, yet feels a clear cultural distinction between her parents and herself. When in Mexico, Julia finds herself feeling more American—she is more comfortable expressing herself in English than in Spanish, and she realizes how some of her habits have been influenced by her upbringing in the U.S.

Julia's preoccupation with uncovering the details of Olga's life is fueled by the notion that her late sister was the "perfect Mexican daughter." As the story progresses, we learn that that being the perfect Mexican daughter is synonymous with being subservient, deferential, and easygoing. Julia, who is ambitious, creative, and loud-spoken, finds herself in stark opposition to her family's expectations. In addition, Julia's inability to make tortillas only further exacerbates her feelings of inferiority and her inability to fit in.

Although Julia was first preoccupied with her own, personal experience with immigration, her trip to Los Ojos allows her to gain insight into her parents' immigration experience. For the first time, she truly sees the many things that Amá and Apá had to sacrifice in order to build a future across the border. When Julia returns to Chicago from Los Ojos, she is able to use her writing talent to articulate both her experience and that of her parents—she uses her college admissions essay to tell her family story. Writing enables Julia to have a different perspective on life's events, and she is able to process her pain in a formative way.

Julia's Coming of Age

When the reader is first introduced to Julia Reyes , she is in the midst of inexplicable tragedy. Her older sister, Olga, was killed after being suddenly struck by a bus while crossing a busy Chicago intersection. Although the audience is unaware of who Julia was before the accident, the events that follow allow the reader to understand how Julia grows and shifts throughout her tumultuous adolescence.

Immediately following Olga's death, Julia is fueled by her feelings of anger and resentment. Her relationship with Amá, already turbulent, becomes even more volatile. Instead of taking the time to sit with her feelings and understand how to prioritize her mental health, Julia continues to move through her life full speed ahead. One day, Lorena confronts Julia and explains how her defensiveness only prevents her from forming and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships. Julia realizes that she is unable to articulate her growing feelings of inferiority or cope with the weight of her grief.

After Julia's suicide attempt, she is forced to think about her pain and prioritize her mental and physical health. Julia realizes that in order to leave Chicago and live independently, she needs to understand how to best take care of herself. Following her time in the hospital, Julia reconnects with her family in Mexico and begins to approach her parents more empathetically—she finally begins her healing process. This full-circle moment demonstrates how the novel is a bildungsroman. Julia's growth and maturity have led her to reflect on her past. Ultimately, Julia is able to use her pain to inform and build towards a brighter future.

The Legacy of Intergenerational Trauma

Intergenerational trauma is defined as "trauma that gets passed down from those who directly experience an incident to subsequent generations." Intergenerational trauma may begin with a traumatic event affecting an individual, traumatic events affecting multiple family members, or collective trauma affecting a larger community—a cultural, racial, ethnic, or other group/population.

In I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Julia moves from solely experiencing her own grief to exploring the traumas that have affected her parents and her greater community in Los Ojos, Mexico. While in Los Ojos, Julia learns from Mamá Jacinta that Amá was raped by a coyote (a person who smuggles immigrants across the Mexico–United States border). Julia is shocked by this story, and she is forced to think about the inevitable psychological effects it had on Amá. Although not the direct victim of the assault, Apá witnessed the attack and was deeply affected as well. Knowledge of this event prompts the reader to ask questions. How did this deeply traumatic incident affect Amá and Apá? How were their parenting styles impacted? To what effect did this incident impact Julia's subsequent upbringing?

Additionally, Julia's trip to Los Ojos sheds light on the lingering violence that once permeated life in her Mexican community. While at the pig roast with her family, Julia witnesses a drug-related shooting. Although drug-related incidents have since subsided in Los Ojos, it was a ubiquitous danger that was particularly apparent during Amá and Apá's upbringing. This violence was one of the motivating factors for Amá and Apá's decision to immigrate to the U.S. After visiting Los Ojos and understanding this part of the culture, Julia considers how growing up in a town controlled by drug cartels could traumatize family members and affect future generations.

Education as a Path to Opportunity

Although Julia runs into trouble with authority figures, school proves to be a grounding and stabilizing presence in the protagonist's life. While she struggles in math and science, Julia is a talented writer and excels in her English class. Julia's English teacher, Mr. Ingman, is an encouraging and supportive mentor for Julia. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Ingman is also attuned to Julia's mental health. He recognizes the psychological effects of her grief and attempts to find therapists and other support networks to get Julia the help she needs. Throughout the novel, he is one of the only characters that externally acknowledges the struggles Julia has faced and approaches her with empathy and understanding.

As the story progresses, we see how education allows Julia to create a new future for herself. She is able to break free from the poverty cycle and venture outside of her closed community. This is a rare opportunity that many of Julia's peers and colleagues are unable to share. Following graduation, both Lorena and Juanga have limited access to mobility due to the responsibilities they hold. When Julia lands in New York to begin her first semester at NYU, we see how she carries her past with her as she embarks on a new life chapter.

Individual Grieving Processes

While Olga's death affects the entire Reyes family, it is clear that each individual family member processes their grief in their own way. Although tragedy sometimes has the power of unifying disparate people and personalities, Olga's death deepens pre-existent family fissures. For Amá, Olga's death triggers past traumas. Her neurotic behaviors are exacerbated, and she places feelings of blame and resentment onto Julia. While Amá's emotions are outwardly expressed, Apá becomes increasingly withdrawn and solemn. Ultimately, Julia feels destabilized by her parent's disparate reactions.

In addition to coping with grief, Julia feels a sense of guilt surrounding Olga's death. However, she is unable to confide in her parents due to their respective sadness. Ultimately, each family member is so blinded by their own grief that they are unable to practice empathy or understanding for one another. It isn't until Julia's suicide attempt that Amá and Apá realize how their daughter has been affected by recent events. Julia's subsequent hospitalization prompts the family to reconnect and be in tune with one another's emotional needs.

I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Where is the quote: I refuse to conform to societal pressures and stereotypes. I am my own person?

I am unable to find any evidence of the quote above in the book, I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

What does Julia do when she’s nervous and starts to get panicky?

Julia tugs at her ponytail.

The narrator tugs at her hair (ponytail) when she gets nervous.

Study Guide for I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter

I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter study guide contains a biography of Ericka Sánchez, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter
• I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter Summary
• Character List

Lesson Plan for I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• I Am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter Bibliography

• Newsletters
• Account Activating this button will toggle the display of additional content Account Sign out

Help! My Stepdaughter Just Delivered an Essay About How Awful I Was to Her Growing Up.

The ingratitude is galling..

Every week, Dear Prudence answers additional questions from readers, just for  Slate Plus members . Submit questions here.   (It’s anonymous!)

Dear Prudence,

Ten years ago, my sister died and left her four children orphans. I had a preteen stepdaughter and a toddler in a small three-bedroom house. My husband and I did the best we could. But the choice was either separate the kids or look into foster care. We couldn’t do that. My stepdaughter ended up giving up her room to my nieces and moved back full-time with her mother. My husband came to every dance recital and every game even when I couldn’t.

Recently, my stepdaughter and her girlfriend came over. We thought they were going to announce their engagement. Instead, my husband and I were subjected to a pretty polished essay about how awful we were to my stepdaughter growing up. Since we gave away her room, she felt abandoned by us. I told her that I was sorry that my sister’s death was such a great inconvenience to her. And I asked her what she expected us to do. Just take my nephew and separate the girls? Take my sister’s life insurance to buy a bigger house? Exactly what did she want us to magically do?

My stepdaughter snapped that it wasn’t fair to ask her. She had just been a kid. I snapped back that she wasn’t anymore. She is a college-educated adult and could have a smidge of empathy. The situation sucked and we all had to suck it up and deal. My husband asked if she wanted to call her cousins and ask what definition of “fair” they had compared to hers. My stepdaughter and her girlfriend got up and left. We aren’t speaking to each other and the other kids are concerned. I don’t want my nieces to find out about this conversation. They idolize my stepdaughter. My husband thinks we just need to apologize and move on. I can’t. There were some days we would skip meals so the kids would have enough to eat. I didn’t get a new pair of glasses or clothes for years so they could. How do you handle this?

—Broken Heart

Dear Broken Heart,

I’m stuck on the phrase “ended up giving up her room to my nieces and moved back full-time with her mother.” What do you mean “ended up”? It sounds like this decision wasn’t hers. In other words, she was pushed aside and deprioritized. Sure, maybe for a very good reason! But that’s what happened. I’m sure you can imagine how much it hurt, if you stop mentally competing for who had it harder and try. She’s not complaining about being “inconvenienced”—she’s telling you (apparently in a carefully thought-out way) how much pain this caused her. What would it cost you to apologize and help her heal? Nothing.

More Advice From Slate

I have three boys: a teenager, tween, and toddler. The toddler is about as demanding of attention as a toddler usually is. The teenager has mental health issues and requires lots of attention. That leaves my tween. He is an amazing kid. The problem we’re facing is that because he’s so low-maintenance, I’m afraid he’s going to feel neglected.  What should I do?

Ask Amy: Should I accept my estrangement from my brother?

Letter writer let her brother know she’ll be there when he’s ready to talk again.

Dear Amy: I am a 67-year-old woman. I have one sibling, my brother “Charles,” who is 60. We live very near each other in a rural area. Over the years Charles has cut ties with nearly all family members, including his three children. Still, he maintained a cordial relationship with my daughter and me — and especially with my son. They were more like brothers than uncle and nephew.

A couple of years ago Charles became very critical of my daughter and became offended by any little comment she made, no matter how innocent. Then he became that way toward me. A few weeks ago he came to see me in a rage over some imaginary wrong he thought my son had done to him (my son lives in another state for work, but visits regularly). Charles told me that he did not want my son around anymore and made horrible accusations against him. I just listened and when he finally finished ranting, I tried to have a normal conversation with him. When my son tried to talk to him the situation went from bad to worse, and now they are not speaking.

I have texted Charles a few times and sent him a card for his birthday but have gotten no response. My brother remarried a few years ago. He has become more isolated since then. I believe his actions, so out of character, are a combination of his wife’s influence and possibly some mental health issues. I wrote him a note telling him that I love him and will always be here if he needs me or wants to reconnect, but got no response to that, either.

At this point I have decided to continue to send cards for special occasions, but to stop trying to reconcile and respect his choice to cut us out of his life. Should I do more than that?

— I am a Sad Sister

Sad Sister: Some estrangements get started because of a definite disagreement: Things get said, apologies are not offered — or accepted — and people retreat to their separate corners. (And, decades later, the next generation doesn’t know why they’ve never met their cousins.)

What you describe is a subset of the phenomenon of familial estrangement, which I’ll call: “I don’t know what I did to offend you.” The “X” factor here is your brother’s wife. (Are you ever in touch with her?)

Your brother also might be suffering from a mental illness or cognitive decline. Aside from sending weekly edible bouquets, I’m not sure what more you could do to try to win him back. Your response to him has been measured, loving and compassionate.

I think you should continue to lightly keep in touch with him. Don't push him for an explanation, but because you live nearby you might send him an occasional text and photo reflecting something local: (“Did you and Wendy see that sunset last night? Amazing.”) Including his wife's name in your queries might help.

Dear Amy: My fiancé and I are getting married this summer.

I’m from a very small family. I have one sister and very few cousins. Our dad died and we don’t have any male family members I feel close to. I asked my mom to walk me down the aisle to give me away, but she doesn’t want to do this. Now I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to walk down the aisle alone.

Do you have any ideas?

— Sad Future Bride

Bride: I wonder how you might feel about walking down the aisle hand-in-hand with your future husband. I think the whole “giving the bride away” concept is antiquated — because you aren’t anyone’s property — but this is also a symbolic joining of two families, and having a family member walk you down the aisle would fulfill this symbolism. If you and your fiancé don’t want to do this together, you could ask your sister to accompany you.

Dear Amy: Thank you for telling “ Living a Lie ” to come clean about his lack of military service. My late husband worked at the National Archives in St. Louis for 15 years. He told of many letters sent by folks trying to claim their late relative’s many medals. Many times he had to report that there was no history of military service, or that their relative had totally fabricated or inflated their service. Families were devastated.

Marion: “Living a Lie” reported that he wants to spare his son this experience.

© 2024 by Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.

More from Advice

Carolyn Hax: Waking up the neighbors and loving it

Ask Amy: Ex won’t communicate for the sake of the kids

Miss Manners: ‘Please change your voice so it doesn’t annoy me’

Ask Elaine: What if I’m the person holding me back?

Meghan Leahy: How young is too young to wait for the bus alone?