Pride Rises From Our Roots

Three young women attending the same college come from very different places, but have one thing in common, they are just trying to be the best women and students they can be.

Hanako Maki holds dual citizenship, as she was born in Tennessee, but grew up in Japan and stayed there until moving back to the states for college last year.

Across the world from Japan, Ana Maria Nunez Perez is from Venezuela and takes immense pride in being a woman and strives to be as successful as she can. She learned to be who she is by watching not only the women in her family, but the women she met in her hometown. 

Paula Freeman grew up right outside of Chicago, but is a mixture of African American, Native American and Indian descent. She sometimes felt ashamed for how she looked because she was in a predominantly white environment, but she has learned to love herself the way she is as a strong multiracial woman.

Watch the video to learn more about their stories.