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Me

My name is Angela Gonzalez, known as Angie. I was born and raised in Miami Beach, Fl. My parents are Saowakon and Cesar Gonzalez. I have two sisters, Gloria that is turning 22 years old, and Katrina that will be 11 this year; and I’m 19. I am a very independent person, which is the reason why I moved out of my house. I wasn’t forced to move out like my mom, or I didn’t have a reason to move out like my grandfather. I moved out just because I like to be on my own. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy living without my parents, but so far, I have managed. At times, though, I get very stressed out! My life right now is just going to school, working, and being with my wonderful boyfriend, Nick. Usually when the word “initiation” comes to one’s mind, the word “painful” is the next thing they think of. In my case, I don’t consider moving out a painful initiation, but I do believe that it is the biggest initiation in my life that has made me the independent woman that I am.

“Independent Woman” by Destiny’s Child, is a song that I believe is most associated with my initiation. The title of this song pretty much explains what the song is about. The song talks about independent women who are taking care of themselves without anyone’s help.

I think moving out is one of the hardest initiations a person can go through. Once you move out, you’re out in the real world with no one to help you. I moved out of my house as soon as I graduated high school. Two weeks after graduating, I moved all my stuff into the dorms of FIU. Some might think that moving into dorms isn’t as tough as having your own apartment or house. But, I think it’s just as hard. A payment to live on campus for a semester averages out to the same you would pay monthly for an apartment. You also have to pay for food, school, books, and living expenses. Without a scholarship, it’s pretty hard! Living on campus was a different life style. I had roommates, which meant that I had to live around everyone else’s time. It was hard to manage school, work, and bills at the same time. But I still loved being on my own. So I stayed living on campus for the rest of the school year.

After a year, I got tired of being in the dorms. I really wanted to be on my own, not with four other roommates. So by working and saving my money, I was able to buy a town house with my older sister. Things are obviously different, but I like it. Not only has moving out on my own matured me, it has taught me how to be more responsible as well as to prioritize my responsibilities. I work constantly in order to pay all my bills and buy the things that I need and want. Paying for my house, my car, my bills, and other expenses has made me appreciate the value of money. A part of the song says, “I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get. Ladies, it ain’t easy being independent…” Sometimes you have to sacrifice things for other things that are more important.

My attitude has also changed because of being on my own. My family seems to have a higher respect for me now since they see that I’m handling my business and taking care of myself. I know I don’t have anyone to depend on for anything anymore. I feel better and enjoy myself more knowing that everything I have is from my hard work and not from someone that bought it for me. Destiny’s Child sings, “…bragging on the cash he gave you is to front; If you’re gonna brag, make sure it’s your money you flaunt; Depend on no one else to give you what you want”.

As you can see, moving out has been the initiation that changes a child to an adult in my family. For each of our initiations, we were all able to find a song that we feel represent our own story throughout that time. The different songs that represent each of our personal initiations also come from different time periods. Yet, they all give the same message. All three songs pretty much talk about being on your own and surviving.

Although we all had the same type of initiation, they were all for different reasons. It's funny how even though we all came from different places of the world, and different time zones, moving out has been the most important initiation in our lives. My grandfather moved out because he needed to take care of his family, my mom moved out because she really had no choice, and I moved out because I wanted to. No matter what the reason is, we’ve all been initiated to becoming an adult by moving out and being on our own. This initiation overall initiates us to becoming a better person. We’ve all matured in our own way; we’ve all become more responsible; and we’ve all learned to value more important things in our lives.


"Independent Women Part I"

Question: Tell me what you think about me

I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings

Only ring your cell-y when I'm feelin lonely

When it's all over please get up and leave

Question: Tell me how you feel about this

Try to control me boy you get dismissed

Pay my own fun, oh and I pay my own bills

Always 50/50 in relationships

Chorus:

The shoes on my feet

I've bought it

The clothes I'm wearing

I've bought it

The rock I'm rockin'

'Cause I depend on me

If I wanted the watch you're wearin'

I'll buy it

The house I live in

I've bought it

The car I'm driving

I've bought it

I depend on me

(I depend on me)

All the women who are independent

Throw your hands up at me

All the honeys who makin' money

Throw your hands up at me

All the mommas who profit dollas

Throw your hands up at me

All the ladies who truly feel me

Throw your hands up at me

Girl I didn't know you could get down like that

Charlie, how your Angels get down like that

Girl I didn't know you could get down like that

Charlie, how your Angels get down like that

Tell me how you feel about this

Who would I want if I would wanna live

I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get

Ladies, it ain't easy bein' independent

Question: How'd you like this knowledge that I brought

Braggin' on that cash that he gave you is to front

If you're gonna brag make sure it's your money you flaunt

Depend on noone else to give you what you want

Repeat Chorus

Introduction
My Grandparents
My Mom
Me