Grace (Eva Mendes) is a hardworking single mother striving to raise her fourteen-year-old daughter, Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez), amidst the chaos of life. Balancing her job, bills, and an affair with the married Dr. Hartford (Matthew Modine), Grace struggles to provide Ansiedad with the attention she needs.
However, everything changes when Ansiedad's English teacher (Patricia Arquette) inspires her with powerful lessons about growing up, prompting Ansiedad to rebel and mature rapidly. Determined to leave her childhood behind, she crafts a list of goals aimed at her ultimate dream: running away to New York City.
Her journey begins with a simple yet profound task: proving herself to be a good girl. She joins the school's chess team and secures a victory while also regularly visiting an elderly woman she affectionately names 'Maud' at a nursing home. As she gains confidence, Ansiedad befriends the school's most popular girl, Valerie, but faces the dilemma of sacrificing her friendship with her best friend, Tavita, to fit in. Through humiliation and unkind tactics, Ansiedad manages to gain Valerie's friendship, but the cost is heavy—her hurtful words leave Tavita in tears, running off to her boyfriend, Ferguson.
The school environment becomes even more complicated as Ansiedad witnesses a harsh breakup between Tavita and Ferguson, where he callously dismisses their relationship. This leads to a confrontation between Ansiedad and Ferguson, culminating in Ansiedad’s feelings of guilt and a determination to complete her next list task: having her first kiss with the notorious heartthrob, Trevor.
In a bold move, she surprises Trevor in his car, asking about the party that night and boldly requesting to lose her virginity there. The night unfolds with a mix of excitement and confusion as they engage in awkward kissing, but Ansiedad quickly realizes the gravity of her intentions. At the party, she faces betrayal as Valerie leaves her side, and in a moment of panic, Ansiedad finds herself retreating from Trevor, afraid and overwhelmed by the entire situation.
As rumors swirl, and with party guests mercilessly labeling her a 'slut,' Ansiedad rushes home, feeling defeated and alone when she discovers her mother is unaware of her struggles, having spent the night at her co-worker's place. Filled with rage and frustration, Ansiedad lashes out, prompting her mother to confront her about the state of their lives.
Grace, upon realizing the precarious situation involving Tavita, who is now missing, reaches out to Ansiedad with a poignant reminder: > "I don't want what happened to your friend to happen to you." This powerful moment ignites a realization within Ansiedad, leading to reconciliation moments between mother and daughter and a commitment to supporting each other.
As the school year wraps up, the English teacher assigns a reflective essay on coming-of-age stories, while Grace takes pride in watching Ansiedad finally embrace her childhood again—cheering her on during a chess match. With renewed connections, Ansiedad apologizes to Tavita, and a sense of hope flourishes as they agree to be there for one another moving forward. Ultimately, as they board a bus together, the audience is left with the warmth of a story that celebrates growth, friendship, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter.
