Discussion: Respect for Older Adults
While growing up, the Latin culture has great respect for older adults. A young family member is always expected to take care of their older family members, especially the older females. Grandma’s, Aunt’s, and Mom are always the first to have priority in any situation, starting with the eldest one. The older males in the Latin culture are not left out behind, but typically are carefree to many situations, just wanting everyone to be happy regardless of where they stand. When I was about 5 years old in 1997, the respect for adults was already instilled in me. Always making sure that adults are respected and listened to what they asked of me. In 2007 I was 16, and things started changing, I would be able to challenge adults’ questions and figure out why things are the way that they are; this was a rebellious stage, but I was just trying to figure out why. Fast forward from the rebellious stage, 2011 I was 20 years old, and now had the knowledge as to why adults did what they did, and I understood the meaning behind it. The older adults in the family would now see me as an adult, and although the respect continued as such, I was now an adult as well with my own opinion and choice, regardless of their input.
The way we act and treat others is highly influenced by the upbringing that we have experienced as children, in my opinion, and therefore it is especially important for me to continue what I have been taught as a child, in the workplace, and continue the line of respect with those that surround me. In 2017, my niece was born, and now I find myself also educating her in what is acceptable and not acceptable in our eyes, to continue the same respect and behavior towards other, with her. For us, it doesn’t matter what color you are, which gender you like, where you live, which car you drive, which gender you are, what matters to us is the quality of person you are in the world and how you treat those that surround you.
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