Adults always give me, as well as many other teenagers, little credit because according to them teenagers are too young to possibly know anything about life. I’m not trying to say that at age 17 I know a great deal about life and its ups and downs. But I do know something about life. Every time I give my opinion about a topic or situation, my 27 year old cousin always says to me, “Kid. I remember that just yesterday you were in diapers.”

Maybe he’s right. What could I possibly know about life?

At age nine, I had to translate every piece of mail that arrived for my mom and stepdad. Whenever my mom and stepdad had to go to banks for loans, to try and refinance the house, or to open a new account, I had to go as well to explain certain things to them. In order to be able to do that I not only had to be fluent in English and Spanish, but be able to understand what I was being told, like what the interest rate for the loan would be. I had to understand this at age nine. But then again, what do I know about life?

At age 11, I had to live with an alcoholic relative. During the summer, I was stuck with him all day. On several occasions he got alcohol poisoning and I had to call the ambulance every time he became ill because I got scared that he might die. And there wouldn’t be anyone there with me if that occurred. But then again, what do I know about life?

At age 12 I began cleaning houses on weekends in order to earn money and learn responsibility. Let me just say that cleaning houses is a hard and tiring job. But at least I learned how hard it was to earn a dollar even though it was quickly spent. But then again, what do I know about life?

The summer between my seventh grade and eighth grade years, my mom had surgery. I had to cook (even though I’m not that great at it) the month or so my mom was at home recovering. I had to help her get up and help her shower. I had to do all the grocery shopping as well. But then again, what do I know about life?

When people ask if I have brothers and sisters I end up telling them I have an older brother already knowing what they are about to ask: “Why did you take upon so much responsibility at such a young age if you have an older brother?”

Sure my brother might be 29, but he’s deaf and mute. He was raised in El Salvador the first 17 years of his life. He only went to school in the U.S. for two years. Instead of my brother watching over me, I’ve always had to watch over him since age nine. But then again, what do I know about life?

At age 15 I was involved in a series of difficult situations within my family. I decided to stay at a friend’s house for a while. Around mid-March my mom finally took action and transferred me to George Mason and we moved our belongings into my aunt’s house. But then again, what do I know about life?

On December 16, 2005 , my friend Jose passed away. His death hit me hard. It came as a huge shock. Even to this day, I cry. His funeral was the third funeral I had to attend between July and December of 2005. At least now I’m able to accept death as part of life. But then again, what do I know about life?

I’m grateful that I’ve always had clothing on my back, a roof over my head, and food on my table. So it’s not that I’m complaining about the life I’ve had. Or that I believe I’ve had it rough. This is about my need for adults, especially my relatives, to give me more credit and to not treat me like a child; even though, just yesterday, I was in diapers.