Matt de la Peña: Growing up in a border community

I grew up in a border community in San Diego called National City. I used to think that this was detrimental to my possibilities in life. And as a person looking back, it’s probably the thing I’m most proud of. I learned so much in this community. It was predominantly Mexican-American, but my family was mixed. My Dad was Mexican, my Mom was White, but they were both born in National City so they were both native to this community. And it was just good people and good families. And I think when I look back that’s what I value most in my own community now, is family and people being together.