Isaiah Atencio

Professor Kennia Lopez

ENGL 1120, Spring 2024
1/30/2023
SPAÑA
Where we come from and how we grow up is how we are made into the people we are

today, whether that’d be in a so-called “good” environment, or “bad” environment. Maybe you

get lucky and are raised in a “normal” environment. Española falls right under the “bad”

environment in a way in my eyes, but also a good one, and definitely in other people's eyes as

well. It’s not an easy place to grow up in, and builds you to be stronger than most i believe, its

unique, loved, and hated by many.

I was born and raised in a small town named Española. It is located about two hours

North of Albuquerque. Española has a population of about nine to ten-thousand people, at least

that's what google says. It is referred to as Española Valley because my town is located between

two mountains that surround my town. We are right in the middle and it is one of the most

beautiful places you can visit, during both cold, and warm weather.

I was born in Española as well as raised there. What I am most proud of is that I feel like

I wouldn't want to change a single thing about it. Española has its own unique people, culture,

and other ways of life that are in some ways hard to find anywhere else. I think the best thing

about Española is its community. Down here I feel like we are all so unified in our own way,

whether it’s through negative, or positive ways of relations. Española takes family, and love for

your people very seriously. No matter if people from around else want to talk negatively, and

criticize our home we like to bounce back and defend what we call home.

Española is one big family. We all come together to support all our school teams, local

programs and town offers, as long as it has to do something positive the people will all come
together to support it. This town is filled with numerous ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds,

but the majority of people here are hispanic, and mexican like myself. The cultural background

of hispanics here is beyond anything that i have seen anywhere else. One of my favorite, and

probably everyone from Españolas favorite traditional events that take place in this town is Good

Friday.

Good Friday is a day that everyone, and I mean everyone from Española looks forward

to. Española is somewhat a very religious town. Most of us are either Catholic, or Cristian, I

myself am Catholic. During Good Friday everyone comes together and we walk from wherever

you may choose to start all the way to the Santuario De Chimayo. Most of the community will

wake up before the sun to walk the length they may choose. What's even more amazing is some

will even walk from as far as Santa fe!

Española loves their cars. This town almost revolves around vehicles. No matter where

you go you're guaranteed to see a bad ride. After everyone is finished walking and praying

during the early hours of Good Friday everyone will bring out their vehicles and just start

cruising slowly through town. Española is the Lowrider Capital of The World. Think I'm just

saying that? No, look it up for yourself. The lowrider is loved in Española, but now in the present

there's a mix of modern cars, lifted or slammed trucks, ATV’s, side-by-sides, and of course

lowrider bicycles. Everyone will just cruise theri vehicle through town with the windows down,

and the music blasting. Everyone drops the “beef” with one another and just enjoys this amazing

day. It gets even better during the night. Our town consists of a Walmart and other convenience

spots with big parking lots, and when the sun rolls down everyone will park up in a parking lot,

and Española changes into one huge car show. No matter where you turn into you'll see cars,

people enjoying themselves, and even stands with shirts, food, hydraulic competitions and so
much more. All of this lasts till around twelve a.m. After that the cops will eventually kick

everyone out and send them home but the ride home is just like everything I just described.

I wish everyday could be like this. Remember in the beginning I talked about other

people talking down, hating, and just overall disrespecting Española? Well there's a reason.

Española is a good place, don't get me wrong, but this town consists of so much substance and

alcohol abuse, along with a ton of violence, and more and more homeless everyday. It has not

gotten any better over the years and it's hard to watch the town you grew up in and love just

destroy itself. I have had uncles, aunties, cousins, and unfortunately friends pass away from

mostly drugs, shootings and other types of violence. I grew up around it and it's what I've

normalized myself too. Though it's always been around me it has always broken me because no

matter how much you tell your people, and the community to try and better themselves they

don't. Especially the youth. During my time in high school I lost more people than ever. Friends

got shot, they overdosed, drunk driving and killed themselves along with others, and it destroys

you because those were the people you grew up with and built a relationship with.

Española and its people almost have this mentality that if you grew up here you’ll more

than likely stay here. I feel like I was lucky enough to be a part of the few to realize that no, that's

not what's gonna happen. I'm not letting this place I grew up decide where I end up in life. I

won't get caught up by the law, or in narcotics or alcohol. I knew I could get a good education

and make it out, and I was right! I am a first generation and out of my close friends 3 of us went

on to go to college, and the rest of us got into trades and are really doing good for ourselves and

our future. It;s hard helping others realize that you will not be stuck here. That you can go do

anything, be anything, and go anywhere you put your heart, and mind too. It’s hard because they
don't believe you, and that morality comes from how they were brought up, and what they’ve

been raised around.

Over time I feel like Española has gotten better and its reputation is also getting better.

Our sports…man we love our sports. We take heart in our basketball and in our football. A

couple years back we won the New Mexico state championship, and were Nationally ranked on

ESPN! It meant a lot especially with the reputation of being hard headed, “Loco”, and dangerous

people from this town. Just this year our football team did amazing and I had a couple friends

receive college offers to go play for these schools! Sports have always been the way to keep

yourself out of trouble in Española and I think it's amazing. I myself played basketball for

Española Valley High School and the coaches were amazing of course, but they were also better

figures. They were definitely on our butt’s about everything in, and out of school. No parties, in

the classroom it was expected A’s, B’s, and yes even C’s. To be on the team it was a privilege, a

privilege that had to be earned. About 4 years back we had one of our own Sun Devil basketball

plates get shot while hanging out with friends, he passed. Our town was heartbroken that this

could happen to someone so young, and so great. His picture and name hangs everywhere in our

school. I used it as a sense of realization. Realizing that it could happen to anyone, that you need

to be sure of every choice you make because it could eventually catch up to you, and I've seen it

happen way too many times. Knowing and experiencing all these things prepares you for the real

world, because you've basically been living it your whole life. Work for what you want and hard,

love unconditionally, negativity affects you only if you let it, and to be proud of where you are

from no matter what.

This is my city, my life. I love this town called Española Valley with all my heart. This

town does with no question have its negatives all around, but it also has more positives. If you
come here the people will love, and respect you as long as you keep it mutual. It’ll teach and

show you what living really is like. Growing up and traveling to these other parts of the state,

and even now I still get criticized when I say I am from Española. It's like they don't even expect

it, and my favorite part is seeing the look in their face when that word comes out of my mouth. I

grew up being criticized and it probably won't ever stop just because of the place I'm from.

Española prepares you for how cruel this world really is, and that’ll always be the truth. It’s up to

you on how you deal with the factors that come with being from wherever you’re from.