Part I: I grew up as Mexican American therefore I grew up living two different cultures at the same time. Ritual play a big part in both the American and Mexican culture. Different factors play a role in different rituals, such as economic statues, culture, religion, location, etc. In the American culture holidays, graduations, American Dream, Presidential elections are rituals seen within the US culture. However, a main ritual I think is important in my Mexican culture would be quinceanera. Quinceanera is a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday celebrating her transition from a girl to adulthood. A quinceanera are very common and traditional in the Mexican culture. A Quinceanera is a huge celebration taking months of preparation typically including a religious mass followed by a party. When I turned 15th I had the opportunity to have a quinceanera celebration, similar to a sweet sixteen event. I grew up in a very divers Hispanic/Latino community within Grand Rapids so quinceanera were common throughout the year. However, I had some American friends that were not 100% aware of what a quinceanera was. A quinceanera takes month of preparation and it’s a very expensive event. Months before the day you have to select location, a traditional quinceanera dress, invitations, practice dance performance, etc. On the day of your Quinceanera you start with an early mass, followed by a reception (which you get to eat traditional Mexican dishes) than followed by music and dancing. A main dancing is the father and daughter dance when the father begins by removing his daughter shoes and replacing them with heels, signification her becoming a woman. The birthday girl also receives her last doll, meaning the end of her childhood stage. I was fortune and blessed to have been able to celebrate my 15th birthday in a quinceanera style filled with traditional Mexican culture.

Part II:
A ritual of transition I have gone through myself was college. I attend Michigan State University and I had to leave home to attend college. College is a common ritual in the American culture. I remember being nervous the night before move-in day but also feeling excited because I was going to start a new stage in life. Attending college is a rite passage to adulthood and independence. In the beginning I was nervous and scare because I grew up in a very controlling/protective/traditional Hispanic household, where I had to ask my parent for permission regardless my age, even when I go back home till this day. So I was excited I was going to have more freedom to make my own decisions. In college I grew to be more independent and not rely too much on my parents for the smallest inconveniences or problem I have had. I learned to make my own decisions, either good or bad, and how to become an adult and take full responsibility for my actions. During this transition I have learned to find myself. I learn more about myself, about self-love, my passion, hobbies, my character, my flaws, etc. At this moment I love the transition of college I have gone through because it helped me become ME.

Part III:
The concept of belonging-liminality-belonging can definitely be applied to my college experience at Michigan State University. I have lived my whole life before college under my parent roof following their rules. When I went off to MSU I was my own person, responsible for my own actions. I was capable now of making my own rules and own decisions. I think that belonging-liminality-belonging is something everyone has/will experience in their life. Like its true when people say that people are temporary and people change. Because I come back home from college, my high school friends became distant, harder to connect/catch-up with people that have taken different paths. Because people change and experience different journeys. College gives implicated messages and explicated messages on how men and women should behave based on gender. An implicit message is which classes a person should take bases on gender. I took and Women and Gender class this past spring semester and the classroom was only females, not a single man was taking a class on feminist studies. I asked a male friend is her would ever take a feminist class and he said no because only girls take that class to take bad about men, stereotype. An explicated message at MSU would be during the night life. They always tell girls to be careful, watch what you wear, who you with, travel in groups. While guys are simply told to have fun.