“What Do the ABE Goals Mean to Me” There are various ways in which I fully developed a self-aware and positive social identity for myself. Growing up I always felt different to my friends who were mostly Mexican-American. Although I was half Mexican-American from my father, my mother was born in Brazil. Since my mother had a strong cultural influence in our household, I often felt like I couldn’t relate my peers in a cultural sense. However, I eventually embraced my dual heritage once I realized the positives of having parents from two different countries. For instance, being able to speak Spanish and Portuguese has always given me a major sense of pride. Today, I fully embrace my heritage because it represents where my family originated