Even if you are from the same neighborhood as someone else, you might still be coming from different places. Where you are from is a complicated question and it elicits complicated, but interesting and thought-provoking responses. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Karen Rigby | Poet & Writer

There is a popular quote by a novelist, L.P. Hartley: “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” I’ve always found that to be expressive. I can neither return to the tropics of my birth, nor can I explain everything about it. I was born in Panama City, Panama, in 1979. My father is Panamanian-American, and so I grew up with a sense of duality: two languages (English and Spanish), two seasons (rainy or dry), and two citizenships. Add to this a third culture: my mother is Chinese, from Hong Kong. And the fact that both of them worked for the Panama Canal, which connects two oceans. Read more>>

Catherine Anaya | Three-time Emmy-award winning journalist and television host

I’m from Santa Ana, California. I’m a fourth generation Latina. I’m currently writing my memoir (which will become a gift for my children) so I’m immersed in my childhood memories right now. I’m realizing that my parents’ divorce at eight years old was far more traumatic than I realized and absolutely shaped the person I’ve become. The internal and external challenges that family situation created though, also gave me strength, fierce independence, resilience and tenacity that has served me well in my life and in my broadcast journalism career. I have been on my own since I was 17 when I left for college. I became the first in my generation to obtain a college degree. Read more>>

Chris Knudsen | Mane Attraction Salon Owner. Stylist. Educator.

I actually grew up around the hair industry in Wisconsin and I am a proud third generation hairdresser. Watching my parents Erik and Carol Knudsen, who are internationally recognized hairdressers and entrepreneurs, succeed in the industry was very inspiring to me at a young age. However, deciding to go into the industry myself was intimidating because I had very large shoes to fill. So as a young adult I wanted to keep my distance and set a course of my own. I graduated from the University of San Diego Magna Cum Laude with a Business Degree in Management and Marketing in 2005 and began working for a marketing company. After some soul searching, mentoring and watching my brother, Alex Knudsen, get started in the industry, I decided I couldn’t stay away from my roots. So in 2007 I began cosmetology school. Read more>>

Emmanuella Igboanugo | Chef, baker and a small business owner.

I’m from ogidi Anambra state in Nigeria Africa. My background and upbringing impacted who I’m today because my mom is a very good cook and she loves cooking. I would always watch her do the cooking for me and my siblings when I was growing up. Seeing her happy while cooking made me chose to be a chef and a small business owner that I am today. Another reason is growing up and seeing all those hungry kids on the street with no foods gave me the idea to open a small online business that makes Authentic AfricanNigerian Cuisine. Read more>>

Juma Amanda Martinez | Microbiologist, Artist and DJ

I am from Mesa Arizona. My upbringing was one that usually becomes a horrific lifetime movie that involved poverty, abuse, parents struggling with drug addiction and watching my mother struggle through life as a single parent. That impacted me to be a strong individual and push through every obstacle in life. I strive to do everything I put my mind to, and I gained a great amount of gratitude for the life I’m living today. I am humble and know what it’s like to have nothing at all so being grateful for everything is what I stand on today. Read more>>