Latino Trailblazers: Ingrid Pereyra

By Ingrid Pereyra

Latino Trailblazers is a new series by COCINA, where we celebrate and amplify Latino voices all year long, giving the mic to groundbreaking names who are changing the world for the better. In the latests installment, Chef Ingrid Pereyra writes to her 13-year-old self.

Latino Trailblazers is a new series by COCINA, where we celebrate and amplify Latino voices all year long, giving the mic to groundbreaking names who are changing the world for the better. It’s a forum to celebrate the love of community, the wins of today and share the wisdom we’ve learned.

Ingrid Pereyra is a Latin Chef, food & lifestyle content creator, recipe developer, and TV personality.

Chef Ingrid Pereyra, part of Latino, as a child. He's looking very seriously at the camera, holding a puppy in her arms, and wearing winter clothing. She's standing at a living room, with a TV set in the backdrop. Photo courtesy of Ingrid Pereyra. — *Chef Ingrid Pereyra as a child. Photo courtesy of Ingrid Pereyra.*

To my 13-year-old self:

Dear Ingrid,

There are so many things I want to tell you today that it's hard for me to find a starting point. As you sit on your bed in the room that you share with mom, you wonder what will happen to you—if you will ever be able to live a “normal” life or if it will be different from everyone else’s. Let’s be honest, you feel like s… right now.

I need you to stop for a minute and take a deep breath

Anxiety has been your enemy for a long time. I promise you that most of the things you are worried about will never happen. Be patient; there is a lot that the universe has in store for you in the future, so please try to enjoy the moment. I don't want you to waste your time wishing you were older; treasure that age, live every minute because time flies by fast.

People will tell you that the only thing that matters is studying, that cooking is not considered as something serious, that you should not fall in love with people of the same sex, that having hobbies is a waste of time, and that you should choose a serious career that makes you money. And you, at some point, will break down and tell them NO, that no one can tell you what to do with your life. Let me tell you something... you were right. And that rebellious and disobedient attitude of yours will follow you for the rest of your life.

You are very sensitive and vulnerable, but you wear such an effective mask that others often see you as someone who has everything under control. You must know that daring to show your vulnerability and open up to others is not a bad thing. Stop judging yourself with impossible levels of perfectionism; you will feel much better when you understand it.

Chef Ingrid Pereyra, part of Latino Trailblazers, as a young child. She's looking very seriously at the camera, wearing a white dress and a tiara. Photo courtesy of Ingrid Pereyra. — *Photo courtesy of Ingrid Pereyra.*

At this point, you are afraid to try new things

Basketball? You will say that you are too short for that. Swimming? You will think that your classmates will make fun of you. Speech Club? You will say that you are an introvert and that other people are better than you. You feel like you are not good enough at something and that your family will not be proud of you no matter what you do. And that fear is going to follow you into your adulthood.

You don’t know if you like to cook, but you do know that you, your brother, and your parents love to eat. Food was always an excuse to sit at the table, enjoy each other’s company, and talk to each other. Especially for Dad, he gets very excited, so much so that he would take the time to announce it! “Tomorrow, there are Potatoes with Cheese for breakfast; be ready!’’

That enthusiasm and family comfort will lead you to cooking school, specifically Peruvian cuisine. You will work in restaurants in New York City, and I know you can’t believe it right now, but you do. You will find your true passion: food and sharing recipes with others across the internet! Listen to me when I tell you that you can do whatever you want; this is coming from me, the adult version of you.

Chef Ingrid Pereyra, part of Latino Trailblazers, standing and smirking at the camera. She's wearing her chef apron, crossing her arms while posing in fron of a table filled with food. Photo courtesy of Ingrid Pereyra. — *Photo courtesy of Ingrid Pereyra.*

Please stop allowing your fears of failure to stop you from achieving everything you want

You will fail, and you will have embarrassing moments, but you will also realize that you are a feisty young lady. Of course, there will always be someone who can do something better than you, but you will only be good if you keep trying. Do your best; that's all I can really ask of you.

So live in the present, keep enjoying every bite of food, and let go of the anxiety that I promise you that you will be okay! You have a lot ahead of you.

Love, your future self.

PS: When you meet a cute and kind girl, don't be afraid to go up to her and say hi! And don’t forget to ask for her phone number.

If you liked Ingrid's letter to herself, check out more of the Latino Trailblazers series here!