Junior Alex Gruezo has always been proud of his Filipino heritage; ever since middle school, he has prided himself on his ethnicity, and family is a huge part of that.

“My ethnicity impacts my life greatly. I typically eat Filipino cuisine weekly. My grandmother will call us over when she makes it, and my family will get together, eat Filipino food, and practice Filipino mannerisms,” he said.

When he was growing up, manners and traditional Filipino customs were a part of daily life.

“Although I’m American, I still have a Filipino flag to honor my ‘mother country,'” he said. “We also abide by Filipino manners, so being respectful of out elders is a huge part of the way we’re raised.”

Even though Niles West is incredibly diverse, Gruezo has encountered many stereotypes.

“Filipino stereotypes usually consist of us being ‘fresh of the boat’ and not being able to pronounce the letter ‘f,'” he said. “Others include all parents being nurses, we all play a sport, and we have to be smart because we’re Asian.”

Being Filipino has always made him proud because of the morals he was raised with.

“I find great joy to be in a culture where family and respect are number one priorities,” Gruezo said.