I’M A FARMER’S DAUGHTER—AND SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT MAKES ME LESS

Growing up on a sweet potato farm, I was proud of my hardworking parents but faced judgment at a fancy city high school. Classmates mocked my barn-scented jeans and lack of WiFi, making me hide my roots. I felt ashamed until a fundraiser where my family’s sweet potato pies sold out in minutes. My counselor, Ms. Bell, encouraged me to embrace my identity. Then Izan, a popular classmate, asked for a pie for his mom, sparking

confidence. I launched “Mele’s Roots,” selling farm-to-table pies. Orders poured in, and I shared our family’s story through school projects, even filming a documentary about our farm. Initially terrified, I was moved when classmates clapped and stood after watching it. I learned to own my story, turning shame into strength. Being a farmer’s daughter doesn’t make me less—it roots me.