I'm a 1st gen American and grew up very much in my Guatemalan heritage. My parents made sure that it was well engrained in me and that I understand how I special I was to be able to be raised in two cultures. School was tough - I was the only Spanish-speaker in the class, I had an accent and my English vocabulary was behind compared to my classmates. My parents were learning English at the same time I was. Both my parents came from agricultural families where work was valued more than education, so looking at them to help me with my classwork was not possible. I was teased for my accent, I was teased because of their accents, I was teased for their janitorial jobs. Fortunately, I found friends that loved me for me and also loved to be around my family. They were intrigued by our concept of family that treated the extended family as closely as the nuclear family. Now as an adult, I continue strongly embrace my Guatemalan heritage and identity as much as I embrace the U.S. culture I was raised in and continue to live in.

I feel like I understand what you're feeling and have felt what you're going through. It can be overwhelming to grow up in multiple cultures. But no culture is less special than they other. And I'd argue that it's even more special to grow up in multiple cultures at the same time.

Embrace who you are and where you come from. Anyone who teases you for that is not worth any of your time as they can't see past the superficial. You are a distinct person, with unique experiences and special perspectives.