Enough about me already

Let’s hear from other people to find out what they did and did not like about growing up in a border town.

Serena Sullivan, 22:

“I liked being able to cross the line to drink and go party when I was 16,” she said. “I also liked being able to go over there to buy food or have dinner,” she added.

Serena also said she enjoyed experiencing Mexican culture.

“We don’t have as much culture over here,” she said.

What Serena didn’t like about growing up so close to the Mexico was constantly being surrounded by the Border Patrol.

“Having them everywhere is like having the government around you all the time. Even though they don’t have anything to do with me they’re everywhere and I’ve always hated that,” she said. “They can pull us over and hold us if we’re speeding and they’re not even cops,” she added.

David Gallaher, 22:

“I liked the convenience of being able to go get palettes and fresh tortillas and stuff like that,” he said.

David also liked the varied experiences that living in a border town exposed him to.

“It’s cool because there are all kinds of different people that come through the area,” he said.

But being Caucasian sometimes made David feel uncomfortable when he crossed the border in Naco, Senora.

“I feel kinda awkward, like the outcast, when I go over there because Naco is pretty segregated,” he said.

Sage Alexander, 21:

Sage agreed that one of best parts about living in a border town was being exposed to a wide variety of cultures, customs, and people.

“There are so many different kinds of people,” he said. “Now I’m comfortable with a lot of variety,” he added.

But Sage says there is a negative aspect to the Mexican culture as well.

“There is more aggression in the Mexican culture. I saw more people getting fights that were Mexican,” he said.

Christina Gomez, 22:

Christina was grateful to live close to the border because it made her appreciate even small things about living the United States.

“As soon as you get into Naco everything is so trashy and you can instantly tell you're in Mexico. It made me appreciate our 'every once in a while pothole' and the two stop lights we have in Bisbee.”

Appreciating the opportunities we have as U.S. citizens only made Christina more compassionate towards the illegal immigrants she constantly saw during her youth.

“It's so sad and I feel so bad for them,” she said. There way of life it so sad that they're willing to risk there lives to come to our country,” she added.

Christian Ramirez grew up three miles north of the U.S./Mexico Border in California. Click here to read his story and find out how his expereinces have shaped his life.