Hello, I’m H!
I am a 17 year old Venezuelan boy. I went to another country before ultimately coming to the U.S.. I am currently a Junior in high school.
I was ashamed.
Growing up in an area where there were many cultures had a huge impact on why I felt like this. Not only did my peers not know what or where Venezuela was, but the media at the time wasn’t helping either. This lack of sense of community and increased negative public opinion about my country led me to deny the fact that I was Venezuelan. It got so bad that I stopped speaking Spanish, my native language, to “fit in” better.
It all changed.
Once I moved to the U.S., I found myself in a community full of Venezuelans. Surrounding myself with the culture helped me realize that I had nothing to be ashamed of—matter of fact, I should’ve been feeling proud of who I was. I started to appreciate the slang, food, and music. Now, it’s my time to help others feel what I feel now.
I started Clear the Searches as an initiative to spread positive media about Venezuela regarding the culturally rich, and naturally beautiful country it is. Obviously, there are negative aspects to my country, and it is important not to ignore them, instead, warn others and spread awareness about them. But if it is only the bad things the media covers, what happens to the good stuff? That’s why Clear the Searches aims for others to share memories, experiences, pieces of their culture, and traditions from Venezuela to help others see and appreciate what the country truly was. Especially for those who once felt like I did, I hope this project helps others appreciate the good that Venezuela once had.
Remember: don’t stray away your roots, be proud and embrace them.
*DISCLAIMER: This project intends to stay away from any political topics or discourse. Any kind of political talk will be taken off.
