Mia loved to wear sparkly tiaras, play dress up and play with her dolls.

But she also loved cars, especially trucks and lowriders. She had the dream of having a truck when she was older.

Mia had an older brother, named Adrian, he was the one who taught her everything she knew.

Every weekend, Adrian worked on cars in the driveway. Mia would sit on the side and ask questions about the tools and the car parts.

At school, the girls didn't always understand her. They would play dress up and dolls. "Mia! What are you doing? Girls don't play with cars."

When Mia joined to play basketball during recess, the boys would complain. "You're a girl you can't play" one said. Another one added, "Why are you into cars you're a girl." This made Mia feel stuck in the middle. 

During lunch, Mia sat by herself. She stared at her food and wondered, " Why can't I like both? Why do I have to like certain things?" Mia felt like she didn't belong with her classmates. 

That afternoon, Mia sat quietly in Adrian's garage. "What's wrong kiddo?" He asked. Mia sighed, "Everyone thinks I'm weird, I don't fit in." Adrian wiped his hands and patted Mia. "You fit right here," he said, pointing to her heart.

Adrian handed her a wrench. "Sometimes people don’t understand what they’ve never seen before,” he said. “But if you stay true to yourself, they learn from you." Mia smiled a little. Adrian always made things clearer.

The next day, the teacher announced, "Things that make me... Me" project. Everyone would make a poster about hobbies that they love. The girls chose dance, art, and fashion. The boys chose, robots, sports, and cars. Mia stood quiet, she liked all of that.  

Things that make me...Me