Bilingual Blessing?

I feel very very fortunate and blessed to have grown up bilingual. I learned Spanish before English because my parents were relatively recent immigrants by the time I was born. Throughout my life, I’ve been able to put my bilingualism to good use in singing, vocabulary, learning French, translating, eavesdropping, talking about people without them realizing it…the list goes on and on. I specifically remember being called to the office during class when I was in middle school. I was worried that I had done something wrong, especially after hearing the “oooh” coming from my fellow eighth graders as I walked out. The people at the office had actually just called me in to help them translate the needs of a family that had come to our school but only spoke Spanish. It was then that it really started sinking in that my ability could be helpful not only to myself for fun and selfish reasons, but also in a professional setting where it was sometimes very necessary and possibly uncommon.

But, I didn’t do anything to earn this. I didn’t go out of my way to study Spanish. I didn’t have to put in any hard work into learning how to freely use a new language. I didn’t have to go through hours of homework, quizzes, tests, conversations, reading, practicing, all of that just to become somewhat competent in Spanish.

Yet, I’m still reaping the benefits. I am a competitive candidate for placements anywhere and everywhere solely because my parents came from South America to the US and chose to teach me Spanish at home.

I tend to wonder whether or not it’s fair to me or to those that I may “beat out” for a spot somewhere. Did I get into UCLA just because I am a minority and got decent grades in high school? Did JVC accept me because they wanted a greater diversity in their 2012-2013 group? Did I get chosen by my job site just because they only have a few other bilingual people on staff, and they thought my Spanish speaking skills would be helpful when translations were needed? Or have I been accepted into these competitive positions and others based on my own merit? Did they see that I work hard and put my best foot forward? Was I recognized as someone who is passionate, or just someone who is in touch with her Hispanic side?

I know I’m so lucky to know Spanish, and I will be eternally grateful to my parents for teaching us their native tongue. I know of so many other people who have immigrant parents who chose to not teach their kids the languages of their home countries, and they all wish they had learned it the same way I did. I feel ungrateful for second-guessing the doors that have opened for me due to being bilingual, but sometimes, I just can’t help it. I am constantly smacked with the reality that shows me the amazing and unique opportunities I have been given, and I just hope that I truly earned them and didn’t take them away from someone else who was more deserving.