On September 19th, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook the heart of Mexico, as well as other states close by. This earthquake hit exactly 32 years after a huge earthquake that had left a big mark on a countless number of Mexicans.

It was around 1:15 pm (central time) and I was getting ready to watch the streaming of  London Fashion Week when I got a text from my sister, asking if I was okay and if I had felt the earthquake. I thought she was messing with me, because a very strong quake had shook the city 12 days before. Then she said that everyone in her office had been evacuated, and that’s when I turned the T.V. on and my heart started pounding.

Our lives had changed in less than two minutes; buildings started to fall, communications were failing, people were panicking on the streets, there were so many questions, and so many worries. However, it only took such a small amount of time for so many Mexicans to help out, making themselves beyond useful.

Honestly, I was feeling lucky. I was feeling more than grateful that my friends, family, and I were safe, but at the same time, there was this unexplainable and terrifying feeling that filled my whole body. All the noise and the chaos in my head mixed with all my faith and hope in that very moment.

By now, I’m sure you have all seen on the news what the city currently looks like, as well as all the pictures of the people who were helping. Some people were rescuing others from the rubble, others were collecting food and blankets for those who were now in need, and some were preparing food for all the individuals who were helping.

Hours later, experts from Japan, Israel, Chile, and tons of other countries rushed over here to do what they know best, and as a Mexican, I can never be thankful enough for what they did and still do.

Never in my 24 years I had seen my country so empathetic and united, especially with us millennials, the ones who had always been judged for not caring at all. I am beyond proud of our generation. We used everything we knew and did everything we could to help people in this chaotic situation. Not only Mexicans, but people from all around the world were donating, praying, and sending positive wishes our way, and it’s impossible to explain how much that meant, and still means, to all of us.

We still have a lot to do, the worst has not even started yet. We are looking at years of  reconstruction, rebuilding, and finding ourselves again. This quake provided a new perspective to all of us, and it gave us hope to do services for other people in need, not only in Mexico, but in all countries around the world. This earthquake has brought us together so much, giving us the opportunity to save ourselves and not wait for the government to do it.

I personally want to thank everyone that has helped out. It doesn’t matter if they donated one penny, or just send their thoughts and prayers; it helps, and that’s what really matters.

The earthquake not only shook the earth, it shook our hearts, and it made us become a better version of ourselves.