9. "Trees of Life"; The Succulent in my room

On the shelf in my bathroom, right beside the sunlit window, sits a tiny succulent that has become an unexpectedly grounding presence in my weekly routine. Its scientific name is Echeveria elegans, a species whose Latin name translates to 'elegant.' This description fits perfectly with its neat rose shape and soft, symmetrical leaves. Commonly known as the Mexican snowball, this succulent belongs to the order Saxifragales, the family Crassulaceae, the genus Echeveria, and the species elegans. When I first brought it home, I wasn't thinking about taxonomy or its Latin roots; I just thought it looked cool and added some decoration to my room. Learning more about its background somehow makes me appreciate the plant even more.

Because Echeveria elegans is indigenous to Mexico, the dry environment of Southern California suits it surprisingly well. The warm, indirect sunlight that enters my room mimics the bright, open environments where this plant thrives. When I get up in the morning and enter my bathroom, the first thing I see are the succulent's blue-green leaves reflecting the morning light. The succulent feels quite soft yet firm.

Most of my interactions with this succulent happen during small, transitional moments of my day: as I'm getting ready for school or as I am winding down from school. It kind of reminds me that no matter what happens throughout my day, some things will stay the same. I enjoy the constants that are succulents in my life; they remind me of my closest relatives that are always there for me no matter what. 

The value I place on this plant has grown over time. I wouldn't necessarily say it defines my identity, but it does reflect a part of me: my attempt at bringing calm, order, and growth into my environment. The mighty succulent does not demand much, yet it thrives quietly as long as I give it small, steady acts of care.

If anything connects this succulent to my identity, it's the idea of resilience. Like the plant, I’ve learned to adapt and grow through challenges by conserving my energy, pacing myself, and thriving in environments that support me. It’s a quiet reminder that growth doesn’t always have to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s slow, steady, and happening beneath the surface. Having this plant in my room has made me pay more attention to those small, subtle types of growth in my own life.

Comments

  1. Alyssa HollandNovember 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM

    Hi Rodrigo! This is a unique plant to connect with, super cool. I never could figure out what to do with a succulent. I was always scared about keeping it alive but that is me with every plant to be honest. I thought it was sweet that you connect with them because they remind you of family. Also, I thought your closing paragraph of this blog was a great metaphor for succulents and the way they resemble gradual personal development and perseverance.

    ReplyDelete
  2. TanayaDecember 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM

    Hi Rodrigo, this is really cute that you have a succulent in your room. I love how you describe it as more than just decoration, but reminders of that some things stay constant and your family. You should definitely keep adding to the collection.

    ReplyDelete

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