As young Latinos, there’s no denying the fact that learning to fold our family culture into the customs we acquire as Americans can shape our abilities to handle pressure. In the process of assimilation, we learn how to meet the demands of our parents and our peers all the while juggling the everyday expectations we shoulder while in school.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knows all about managing these expectations. Last year, while addressing the media’s desire to see her pursue her career and fulfill societal expectations of her personal life (AKA get married) the politician reminded her followers that she can handle pressure because she grew up in a Latino household.

To boot, she was the only daughter in her home.

But what about the rest of us?

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It really does set you up to be tough in the outside world. Right, ladies?💪🏽 #GrowingUpLatina ⁠ ⁠ // @aoc

A post shared by Fierce by mitú (@fiercebymitu) on Aug 23, 2020 at 7:30pm PDT

Those of us who maybe aren’t quite yet thriving politicians but manage to succeed in our everyday lives and do it all? We asked Latinas on FIERCE about how they’re able to relate to AOC’s comments and the responses were not only enlightening but a good reminder of Latina strength.

“And the oldest for that matter!! You not only learn to be tough, but also to be resourceful and amazingly great at delegating.” – emramirez1

“So true ughh the oldest child the only female and the first American born and the first to go to college oyeeeee the PRESSURE #mujerfuerte AINT NO ONE CAN TAKE ME DOWN lol por que our familia made us strong!” –paulinacastrellon

“Or the OLDEST daughter.” –m0zz_

“And be a food server for many years…” –kimoti_87

“Only daughter and only child! Thats some other level of #latinohousehold.” –wellnessparalamama

“Or a daughter in a Latino household with a strict father period!” –elliev03

“Look i went through allot and none of it made me stronger im a very shaky person theres a difference between trauma and tough love , i think she had tough love trauama fucks u up.” –__head___in___the____clouds__

“Oldest daughter, of 3 girls! You are the example!” – _cynnrenee

“I only wish the means to becoming tough and handle pressure for a Latina daughter didn’t root in traumatic machismo (male chauvinism) and systematic inequalities experiences. Surely there are ways to learn to have an affirmative tone and handle pressure without the trauma.” – marimukkii

“Or just being in a Latina household, period.” –mar_knut

Notice any needed corrections? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com

Street vendors have been under attack at higher numbers during Covid. Videos on social media went viral showing paleteros being violently attacked to be robbed of their daily earnings. Bernardo Nuñez was one of those victimized street vendors but things just turned around.

Earlier this month, Bernardo Nuñez was attacked and robbed of his paletero cart.

Bernardo Nuñez had his cart stolen outside of a 99 cents store in Long Beach

His gofundme: https://t.co/LFZtUvW8y6 pic.twitter.com/bc2Ku4Zs8k

— 🌙✨ (@walktheluna) July 17, 2020

Immediately, the community started to come together. A GoFundMe was started to help raise some money to help Nuñez recover from the attack. Like other street vendors, he relies heavily on his cart to make money and provide for his family.

“Last Saturday July  11th,  while in #Longbeach they stole Bernardo’s Ice cream bike cart. At 53rd St and Long Beach Blvd in front of the @99centsonly store. He went inside to buy some napkins,” reads the GoFundMe. “When he came back out the Cart was gone.  Let’s Team up and Buy him a Bike ice Cream cart, a push cart is too hard for him to push around all day, he’s 66 years old. Bernardo has a @gofundme so we can help him replace his stolen bike ice cream cart and assist him to get back on his feet. He has no family he’s all on his own, let’s take care of him like he is our Family. #defendpaleteros”

Two weeks later, Nuñez is being taken care of by his community.

The GoFundMe, created by Tito Rodriguez, for Nuñez raised more than $10,000, which would more than replace a cart and bike. The money came pouring in from people around the country who want to help those in need. After all, we all love and support our street vendors because they always take care of us.

There is also a non-profit, co-founded by Rodriguez, that stepped up to really give Nuñez a chance to start again.

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Thank you @univision34 for following us as we come together as a community to help a street vendor. Over 300 individuals helped raise $10k and a new ice cream cart.

A post shared by Local Hearts Foundation (@localheartsfoundation) on Jul 21, 2020 at 2:49pm PDT

The Local Hearts Foundation heard of Nuñez’s loss and they sprang to action. The group managed to raise the money to buy Nuñez a brand new paletero cart. Between Rodriguez’s GoFundMe and the non-profit, Nuñez received a new cart and the $10,000.

“We let him know, ‘Listen, this isn’t us. This is the community; over 300 people who pledged to help you. Understand that your contribution of working hard does not go unnoticed,'” HJ Chong, the other co-founder of Local Hearts Foundation, told ABC 7.

READ: Community Rallies Behind A Paletero Who Was Beat Up And Robbed Of His $70

Notice any needed corrections? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com