My HISTORY
Name: Betty Tinoco, Sapphire Angel, Sapphy, Saph, angel, Mimi, Otilia...whatever
Age: 15
Race: Latino/White
I was born on September 20, 1988 in New Orleans, Louisiana in a Charity hospital. I never had a real father around. He left my mother when she found out she was pregnant. My mother raised me alone along with my grandmother, grandfather, uncle, and cousin. I grew up in many houses. But, mainly in a small house in Algiers. My grandfather passed away when I was about 6 months old. I don't remember him, but I have tapes and pictures of him. My cousin left and got married. I've never heard of him since. My grandmother passed away when I was 7 years old. I have many memories with her. I miss her tons, and wish she would come back so I could talk and tell my problems to her. But, I know she listens.
My mother and uncle live with my now. I'm the only child, and it sucks. Sometimes, I wish I had someone to talk to or hang out with. But, then I'm glad I'm the only child. My folks have enough money problems as it is now, so it's best if no more children are involved. I am not spoiled as some of my cousins are. I don't have much things and I haven't really gone to the best schools. But, I've managed to become a very intelligent girl. I guess life throws these obstacles at you to see if you can survive. In my state survival of the fitest is something you have to learn on your own.
I've been low class mostly all my life. About 2 years ago, we hardly had food in the house, and we couldn't even feed our dogs. It was terrible. My mother was struggling through paying for my Private middle school, and providing bread for the family. The school would charge so much. We couldn't go on welfare because my mother works, and the government won't give us food stamps. When I graduated from 8th grade my mother sent me to a public school. We are much better now. I have clothes, I go to the movies, we go to the mall. It's a lot better now. But, I still wish I could go to a better school than the one I go to. My grades are too high, and my school's academic achievement is one of the lowest in my state.
I've also gone through much pain and suffering. My cousin was killed in a car accident in August 2001. I've never gotten over it. It was like one day he was there, and the next he was gone and was never coming back. Then, about a years later my uncle killed himself with a gun. I was lying on my bed thinking about Aaliyah's (the singer) death, and heard a knock on the door. They said 'It's the police!' My uncle answered, and I woke up my mother. When he said that my uncle committed suicide I collasped on the couch, and started crying. He wasn't the most kindest in the world. He was my aunt's husband, and he had molestered me when I was a child. But, it was still the most terrible news in the world to hear. I just knew my aunt would be desperately heartbroken, and after a year she still is.
Well, that's enough tears for now. On to happy things. I have a huge family, and I'm very close with one of my cousins. We are like twins, and we think the same things a lot of times. He's a boy, and is a month younger than me. He is the kid, and I'm the grown up. I don't think he'll ever grow up. I've always been more mature than most of the teens, and kids in my family. I look young, but I feel like I'm an old soul inside. I have seen, and been through things that most people haven't even heard of.
I'm really mature for my age, and in a way I really like it. I'm not like most teenagers who go around partying, clubbing, and lazying about. I'm up to date, very creative, and not really social. It makes me mysterious I guess. Mystery can be good.
