Our communities are under attack, and our safety is threatened. Our communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley are vulnerable because there’s already a lack of safe spaces and resources for our immigrant community.

Like many here, I grew up seeing la migra on a daily basis patrolling our homes. When we are threatened with walls and deportations what’s at stake is the separation of our families, the separation of our communities.

Our immigrant communities are the foundation of this nation, many who sacrificed everything by crossing man made borders so that their children could have a better life.

Our immigrant communities are the foundation of this nation, many who sacrificed everything by crossing man made borders so that their children could have a better life. They’ve contributed greatly to this nation and in return they yet are not given the credit or paid adequately or treated justly for their contributions.

I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents, the ones who’ve pushed me to go on with chants of si se puede. Their love and daily sacrifices is where I pull strength para echarle ganas y seguir adelante. When they threaten immigrant communities they threaten my source of vida and our existence. Sin la comunidad inmigrante esta nación no es nada, what’s at stake is our tomorrow.

When they threaten immigrant communities they threaten my source of vida and our existence.

For me sanctuary status would be a guarantee of our safety. Officials and leaders at every level need to make public statements that they will take action and put into writing that they stand with our immigrant community. They need to state that they don’t stand with the separation of families, that they don’t stand by policies that have given them the license to racially profile and criminalize and that they will not comply or share information with immigration agencies.

If we have all of our local officials and leaders in our community make public statements and put their words into writing and action for me it will make me gain some newfound hope that all politics isn’t just carefully crafted piece of words but that those elected people are actually there for our gente and it will make our efforts that much greater.

Check out this video from Youthwire of young people advocating for sanctuary status in communities across California. 

About the Author:

Olivia Rodriguez, 24, is from Thermal, Calif. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2015 with a Biology degree. One of her favorite places in the Eastern Coachella Valley is the Mecca Park where you can find her playing basketball. At the end of a long day she loves spending time with her family in their garden enjoying a cup of unsweetened chamomile or hibiscus tea. View her author page here.

1. Don’t hit the snooze button. Challenge yourself to get up as soon as your alarm goes off. It may be tempting to hit the snooze button once or twice but it won’t feel as good later when you’re rushing out the door. Maximize your morning by putting the time you spent snoozing into getting your day started. 

   

2. Take a break from social media & emails: Social media has become such a part of our everyday lives that we start scrolling through Facebook and Instagram from the moment we wake up. You’ll make your morning less hectic by waiting until later to catch up on social media and emails. Instead appreciate the sun rays, the birds chirping or the rumble of cars driving by. Your brain will thank you for it.
3. Hydrate. We all need to stay hydrated. Reaching for a tall glass of water first thing in the morning can help! If you’re getting used to the taste of plain water, infuse it with some fresh lemon.  The coffee, tea or juice can wait until breakfast time. Getting into this habit will help you keep reaching for water throughout the day.
4. Stretch. Not everyone has the time or energy to do a full workout in the morning. Instead take a few minutes to do some light stretches. This will help you stay limber and you’ll also be able to identify any changes in your body much easier. There are plenty of videos you can follow along with on YouTube.
5. Check in with yourself. Checking in with yourself should be as important (or more important) as checking on Instagram. Whether you jot it down in your journal or on your phone, make sure to take time to reflect on how you’re feeling and what you could do to keep the good vibes flowing all day long.
6. Nourish yourself. You’ve heard it a million times before but breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Skip the drive thru or processed food options by preparing a breakfast that is jam packed with all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay focused.
   
   
7. Set intentions for the day. Often our days are busy and completing our list of tasks can seem daunting. Put your day into perspective by setting intentions for the day and jotting down your priorities. It is helpful to set realistic intentions. Setting intentions that you won’t be able to complete will just leave you feeling frazzled and overwhelmed.
   
   
   
8. Amp up the tempo slowly. Try to start off your morning by listening to relaxing music and transition into pumped up songs later in the morning. This will help you be more present and ease into your morning more comfortably.
9. Make sure you’re prepared for the day. Have a presentation at school or work? Make sure you have all the materials and tools you need before you head out the door and you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way.

10. Prep snacks for the day. Being hungry is no fun, especially when you have plenty of tasks that require your attention. Make sure you have healthy on-the-go snacks such as baby carrots, chopped fruit or some nuts, like almonds or sunflower seeds, ready. These will help keep you stay focused throughout the day.

Do you have any tips for creating a successful morning routine? Add them in the comments below!

About the Author:

Paulina Rojas is a native New Yorker, Paulina has spent the past two years reporting on the Eastern Coachella Valley. She joined Coachella Unincorporated in 2016.  While it is different from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, she feels right at home in Coachella. In 2014 Paulinagraduated with a journalism degree from The University of Houston and is a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. View her author page here.

By Juliana Taboada

With school starting so soon, I feel that as students it’s very easy for us to forget the importance of prioritizing our well being. I know for me, personally, I tend to forget that I am a human being who needs as much attention as my school work does. In fact, I probably need more. It seems like when it comes to educational institutions, self care practices are never in the picture. In fact, many of us may not even know what self care means.

If this is your first time learning about what self care is, it is the practice of taking care of yourself and your well being. In other words, its about doing what makes you feel good both mentally and physically.

Self care is a revolutionary act. Being able to step back and take time for yourself is one the strongest things anyone can do. The idea that taking care of ourselves is selfish is ignorant and negative. Don’t allow this view to change your need to take care of yourself.

I believe, the more attention I give to my body, the more successful I am in everything. Keep in mind, self care isn’t a one time act. Self care is a constant activity that helps balance the mind, soul and body. So, here are my favorite tips for helping you start off the school year or everyday life on a brighter note:

Self Care Tip #1

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Self Care Tip #14

About the Author:

Juliana Taboada is a local Xicana poet and community activist. She originally grew up in Thousand Palms but moved to Mecca in 2013. She loves both her communities. She enjoys watching Netflix for hours and bursting out into Broadway and musical songs at any given moment. She is also awkward but very social and also loves pretzels.

Why should young people care about what is currently going on with the American Health Care Act (AHCA)?

This is going to affect them dramatically because young people also get sick. There’s young people that get in a car accident, there’s young people that get injured in sports, at their jobs, that eventually need to go to the emergency department. Also, especially young people in the Eastern Coachella Valley care about their parents and they care about their uncles and aunts and their grandparents and they know that a family unit is the most important unit in our society, especially in our culture. So that if your grandparent is 62 years old now and can’t afford [living costs] because they are spending half of their salary on health care, then that affects your parents and affects their ability to make ends meet.

What is something you would like to clarify about the current discussion around ACA?

One, Obamacare is not failing. You cannot call insuring 20 million more people a failure. You cannot call protecting youth to stay on their parents’ health care up to the age of 26 a failure. You cannot call people who now have guaranteed coverage for emergency care, maternity care, mental health care, pharmaceutical drugs a failure. You cannot call protecting people with pre-existing conditions from being denied health insurance or increasing their costs a failure. So these are successes of the Affordable Care Act.

It is like someone who says you’re gonna fall down and then they pull the rug from underneath you and say, ‘See, you fell down.’

The failure is the willful and purposeful threat and uncertainty that Republicans and the Trump administration have created in order to make private health insurance charge more in premiums and also to force them to leave the exchanges. They’ve done this for political gain, in order to just tell people that, ‘See, these are the problems that are happening.’

It is like someone who says you’re gonna fall down and then they pull the rug from underneath you and say, ‘See, you fell down.’

So we need to break down the true reasons why health care costs are going up. We know that it is the cost of medication. We know that is the cost of health care and this bill [Trumpcare] does nothing for that. Instead, it gives a nice, huge tax break to the pharmaceutical industry.

What is your message to those in the Eastern Coachella Valley that might not be seeking medical care right now because they are scared?

There is no need to live in fear. We have to be dedicated to our families, our society, our community and to our jobs. Folks need to live good lives, with discipline and always be supportive of one another because we are going through some tough times with a lot of risks and threats. I encourage folks to live within their faith so they can continue to have faith that things in our political system will change in the future.

About the Author:

Paulina Rojas is a native New Yorker, Paulina has spent the past two years reporting on the Eastern Coachella Valley. She joined Coachella Unincorporated in 2016.  While it is different from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, she feels right at home in Coachella. In 2014 Paulinagraduated with a journalism degree from The University of Houston and is a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. View her author page here.

COACHELLA, Calif. — On a warm summer night the sound of shoes clacking on the floor radiated from the clubhouse at Las Palmeras Estates, a group of low-income housing units in Coachella. The sound was not coming from children running around relaxing during their summer break. This was the sound of young people from the group Sol Del Desierto practicing ballet folklorico.

Ballet folklorico are dances from Latin America that fuse local folk culture with ballet.

Parents looked on as their children perfected their choreography one step at a time. Glimmers of sweat slowly appearing on their faces. Although they were getting tired, they had many reasons to keep pushing.

“It allows you to express a love of dancing and when we compete it is like teaching people our culture and traditions,” said 10 year old Isabel Gomez.

Gomez kept a smile on her face even as her instructor Maribel De Leon asked her to repeat the steps a few times. She held her colorful skirt up, making sure it never made contact with the floor.

Students encouraged one another to do their best. De Leon’s students were doing more than just dancing. Through this program, funded by the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, the students were able to preserve their cultural traditions while at the same time create a safe space where they all belong. 

De Leon who has been dancing since she was seven said that some of her students are shy when they first start dancing but over time they begin to come out of their shells.

“The majority of the children I have were really shy at school, or if they’re starting school they don’t know how to interact with children or their own peers,” she said.  “So this is an opportunity to help them grow out of it.”

Gustavo Sandoval, Folklorico instructor at Desert Mirage High School in Thermal points out similar benefits of folklorico especially for young people.

“One of the original forms of community is dancing,” he said.  Dancing plays a role in all cultures.  Dancing allows us to express our creativity without too many restrictive boundaries.”

“Folklorico often promotes and increases social and creative outlets” he said. “When people come together, it provides opportunities to socialize and share stories.”

Folklorico has provided Megan Richardson with the opportunity to engage in an enriching cultural exchange.

“So, I am the only person in the group that is white. I think it is a great way to learn about culture and learn Spanish, it is really fun,” she said.  “I have made a lot of new friends and it is a great way to learn how both (American and Latino) cultures came together.

Megan’s mom, Michelle Richardson, said that folklorico has not only given her daughter to learn a dance that isn’t jazz or ballet but it has also increased both of their understandings of Mexican culture.

“This is by far the best opportunity we have had to learn about the music, all the different states in Mexico,” she said. “I mean we all think there’s Mexico and Baja, we don’t understand all about all the states in Mexico, we homeschool so it really is like a whole immersion program for us.”

Even those that are Mexican or that are familiar with the culture might not be aware of the full diversity that makes up Latin America’s largest country. Folklorico shines a spotlight on this rich diversity.

“There are 31 states and all have their unique style of dance and dress. To say that the Mexican hat dance represents all of folklorico is criminal and is trivializing the enormous contributions that have given Mexican Folklore its richness and flavor unique to itself,” said Sandoval.

“There was dance before the Europeans arrived and there was dance after they arrived. There is indigenous dances, and then there is dance that blend the European dances, indigenous dance and elements from other cultures such as the African culture.”

Back at Sol Del Desierto practice De Leon takes a break to check in with her students and their parents to make sure that none of them are falling behind on their studies.

“If they aren’t doing well in school then they can’t come to dance or practice,” she said. “It is important that they focus on school.”

Before parting she shares some final words.

“You have to dedicate yourself to it, it isn’t easy.”

About the Author:

Paulina Rojas is a native New Yorker, Paulina has spent the past two years reporting on the Eastern Coachella Valley. She joined Coachella Unincorporated in 2016.  While it is different from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, she feels right at home in Coachella. In 2014 Paulinagraduated with a journalism degree from The University of Houston and is a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. View her author page here.

Editor’s note: Alma Ochoa is a Purépecha musician based out of the Eastern Coachella Valley. The Purépecha are a group of indigenous people originally from the state of Michoacan in Mexico. Their presence in the Eastern Coachella Valley dates back to around the 1970s, when few Purépecha spoke Spanish. Over the years the community struggled with both linguistic and cultural isolation. Ochoa, who sings in her native language, is one of only a few female Purépecha singers. She recently performed at The Hue Festival in Mecca, Calif. Coachella Uninc. program associate and reporter, Paulina Rojas sat down with Ochoa to find out how she helps preserve Purépecha culture.

Q: How long have you been producing Purépecha music? 

A: About three or four years ago, I got inspired to start recording my own music. About two years ago, I recorded my first music video and a few months ago I released it on YouTube.

Q: What was the initial feedback like?

A: I wasn’t expecting so many people to like it. I was surprised, but I am happy that so many people are enjoying it.

Q: What inspired you sing in Purépecha instead of Spanish or English?

A: Most of the people that sing pirekuas (traditional music from Michoacan) are men and I wanted to change that … so that women might feel encouraged to make this music as well. With my music I hope to inspire young women to start doing the same. I also want preserve my culture in some way. Little by little we are losing parts of it due to the fact that it is being mixed with Spanish. I want to keep our culture alive so future generations can have the knowledge of what Purépecha culture is.

Q: Did you have to learn Purépecha or have you always spoken it?

A: I was born in Michoacan and Purépecha was my first language. Then my family and I moved to the United States when I was nine years old. After moving here I learned Spanish and a few years later I learned English.

Q: What are some of the obstacles you face as a Purépecha woman making music?

A: Well unfortunately there is a lot of racism against indigenous people. We experience it here (in the Eastern Coachella Valley) as well. I have heard many stories of young Purépechas being bullied in school because of the color of their skin. Even when you see main characters in novelas (soap operas) the main characters are always light skinned while the the roles of maids, gardeners and nannies are always played by darker skinned people. With my music I hope to help darker-skinned people take pride in who they are.

About the Author:

Paulina Rojas is a native New Yorker, Paulina has spent the past two years reporting on the Eastern Coachella Valley. She joined Coachella Unincorporated in 2016.  While it is different from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, she feels right at home in Coachella. In 2014 Paulinagraduated with a journalism degree from The University of Houston and is a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. View her author page here.

Summer is finally upon us and that means every makeup lover is asking themselves the same question, “How do I make my makeup last longer?”

Because I have oily skin and because here in the Eastern Coachella Valley temperatures can reach over 110 degrees during the summer, I figured now is the best time and place to see how much heat my favorite makeup products can handle. See the results below.

While many Youtube gurus rave about high end products, those products can be inaccessible for those that are just starting to experiment with makeup. For this test, I decided to put my favorite drugstore products to the test. Keep reading to see if my makeup was able to beat the desert heat.

• Check In # 1 @ 11:30 a.m. – My makeup is looking pretty flawless if I say so myself. My skin is looking smooth and not cakey. The wings on my eyeliner match (for the most part) and my brows are ready to party.

• Check In # 2 @ 3:00 p.m. – My skin has come into contact with the blistering desert sun, I have chowed down some fish tacos and had a meeting with our youth reporters. Our youth reporters assure me that my makeup looks good, and I believe them. My face is looking slightly dewy, not in a greasy way, more like in, “I just went for a brisk walk,” kind of way. My brows are still here for the party and my blush and bronzer have meshed together seamlessly.
  

• Check In # 3 @ 8:00 p.m. – My makeup endured the work day and the nap that followed. My foundation, bronzer and blush have definitely faded and my skin is looking a bit more oily but not too terrible. My brows and eyeliner show no signs of fading and my liquid lipstick is looking good after reapplication a few hours earlier.

Check out my top picks from the drugstore for items you definitely need this in your collection this summer:

e.l.f. High Definition Powder in sheer

• This powder will leave a seamless and matte finish to your skin and helping your handy work last all day or night.

Wet n Wild coloricon blush

• The formula of these blushes is buttery soft with a subtle hint of shimmer that is perfect for that sunkissed glow.

Wet n Wild megaglo Highlighting Powder 

• This highlighter is such a gem. It is buttery soft and leaves the perfect glowly finish to the skin. Can also be used as eyeshadow.

Wet n wild photofocus Foundation

• This formula has a natural finish that won’t leave your face looking too matte or dewy. It is a very liquidy texture that makes it super easy to blend and is available in 20 shades.

Wet n wild photofocus Concealer 

• Perfect for covering up blemishes and dark circles.

Wet n wild megaglo Contouring Palette

• This product is perfect for adding definition to the face and also doubles as eyeshadow.

Milani Prime Shield Mattifying and Pore Minimizing Face Primer 

• Will help create a smooth canvas so your makeup lasts all day. Also available in a strobing version for those looking for a little more glow.

Wet n wild eyeshadow primer 

• Whether you’re going for a natural look or a bit of drama this primer will make sure your eye shadow and liner never fade.

Catrice waterproof liquid eyeliner

• Whether you are into winged liner or something more natural, this liner will ensure your eyes stand out no matter how high the temperatures go.

Essence lash princess volume mascara

• After one coat of this your lashes will be so long they’ll be reaching for the stars.

NYX eyebrow pencil

• Great for those who are beginners at filling in their brows.

Wet n wild ultimatebrow mascara

• This brow gel is a must for the hot summer months and will keep any stray hairs in place.

Wet n wild megalast liquid catsuit matte lipstick

• This product comes in a range of colors and lasts all day.

Final thoughts:

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on makeup, there are plenty of good options at the drugstore for all skin types and skin tones. You might have to experiment with different products to get your perfect heat proof makeup but it is definitely not impossible.

About the Author:

Paulina Rojas is a native New Yorker, Paulina has spent the past two years reporting on the Eastern Coachella Valley. She joined Coachella Unincorporated in 2016.  While it is different from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, she feels right at home in Coachella. In 2014 Paulinagraduated with a journalism degree from The University of Houston and is a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. View her author page here.

Editor’s Note: Coachella Uninc. youth reporter, Berania Barraza uses media to uplift stories from her community, the Eastern Coachella Valley. She was recently accepted into Fusion’s “Rise Up: Be Heard” fellowship program. Through the fellowship, she traveled to Miami to meet Jorge Ramos, news anchor for Univision. In this personal narrative, Berania describes how she first discovered the power of media while in high school. Read her story below.

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something for my community, but I never knew how to make a difference.

One day, my friend invited me to join a club at school. Once I opened the door, I was in awe. I smelled the coffee the moment I stepped in the room and I saw students working on videos and discussing a project they were working on.

Once they were aware of my presence, everyone welcomed me with open arms and they started introducing themselves. Once introductions were over they filled me in on their agenda. They were currently in the middle of creating a documentary dedicated to the Eastern Coachella Valley.

I learned about the importance of fighting for social justice through the medium of film making

After everyone went back to their posts, Mr.Garza, the advisor of the film group F.I.R.M.E (Film. Inquiry. Research. Media. Education), approached me since I was the only new member. I probably looked out of place since I had never worked with film before. He asked me what my dream was, so I told him that I wanted to become a news correspondent. He told me that the best news correspondents were the ones who used a critical lens.

At first I didn’t understand what he meant but after he assigned me to shadow the seniors as they were working, I began understanding what he meant by using a ‘critical lens.’ After reviewing the interviews the students were editing, I began understanding that there’s more to reporting than just writing what you see. It’s about asking critical questions and understanding the material as it’s being given to you.

When I entered the classroom I thought I was going to learn how to edit videos and use a camera, but I learned so much more. I learned about the importance of fighting for social justice through the medium of film making. I even began going out more, something I was afraid of doing as an undocumented person.

Through this group I began creating videos dedicated to my community. I was creating content that mainstream media wouldn’t give a second glance but that was important to our community.

Even now I use the basic skill sets and critical thinking that I was taught in F.I.R.M.E. The group opened doors for me that I would have never thought of opening. I never thought that four years after I first stepped into that room, I would still be dedicating my time creating media from my community, the Eastern Coachella Valley.

About the Author: 

Berania Barraza loves to live on the edge. Though she’s allergic to gluten she loves to eat doughnuts. Another fact is that she loves learning about other cultures. She’s currently fluent in Spanish and English and can even introduce herself in Korean, Japanese and French. Her goal is to one day become fluent in five languages.Career wise she hopes to become the first DACA recipient to become a foreign news correspondent.

Nota del Autor: Todos estamos conscientes del peligro que los inmigrantes enfrentan al cruzar la frontera para venir a los Estados Unidos. Quería brindarle a los curiosos el gusto de saber la historia de una mujer inmigrante. También quiero que todos comprendan su fortaleza como mujer al tomar este trecho a los Estados Unidos. Esta mujer es mi madre.

P:¿Hace cuantos años viniste a los Estados Unidos?

R: En 1997. Hace veinte años.

P: ¿De donde eres? Es decir, ¿de que parte de Mexico vienes?
R: De Guanajuato, Irapuato.

P: ¿Cuáles eran las condiciones en que vivías en tu rancho?

R: Pues, no eran buenas. En primer lugar no había agua dulce, había agua salada. En segundo lugar, no había drenaje. Era pura pobreza. Éramos muchos hermanos, éramos nueve hermanos, y yo era la más grande.

P: ¿Cuál fue el punto en el que finalmente decidiste tomar el trecho a los Estados Unidos?

R: Por qué pensaba que venirme a los Estados Unidos era mejor para mí, para mi familia. Pero, mi papá no me dejaba venir.

P: ¿Por que no te dejaba venir?

R: Me dijo que él no tenía dinero para que me viniera. Decía que el trabajo era muy duro aquí [en los Estados Unidos]. Como me dijo que no tenía dinero para que me viniera, yo conseguí ese dinero.

P: ¿Cómo conseguiste ese dinero?

R: Con una tía que no tenía hijos y tenía sus ahorros. En ese tiempo conseguí mil dólares. Era mucho dinero, pero el coyote me pedía quinientos dólares para venirme por Mexicali.

P: Entonces, ¿El camino que decidiste tomar para los Estados Unidos fue por la frontera con Mexicali?

R: Si, por Mexicali, pero no por el borde. Caminamos por perchas. Y no se por donde nos llevó el señor pero avanzamos caminando.

P: ¿Qué desafíos enfrentaste cuando tomaste este viaje?

R: Caminaban muy rápido sin saber qué terreno pisamos de noche. Solo fue una sola noche.

P: ¿Hay alguna cosa que no se te olvida o que fue especialmente memorable sobre tu viaje?

R: Si, me hizo daño la comida en Mexicali. Y otra cosa, caminamos mucho, pero luego llegó un carro por nosotros. Allí tenía que venir escondida donde uno se pone los pies, acostada abajo. Mis pies, en ese punto, estaban dormidos.

P: ¿Tenias algún miedo al venir para los Estados Unidos?

R: No se por qué, pero no tenía miedo. También soñaba. Soñaba cosas antes de venirme, en algo que no lo explico, pero me soñaba en el bus sin estar allí. Dos veces soñé eso.

P: ¿Cuál fue tu primera impresión de los Estados Unidos?

R: Pensaba que era diferente aquí, pero los primeros meses no fueron tan fáciles. No encontraba trabajo. Me fui a Los Ángeles. Allá no conocía a nadie más que una prima, pero ella ya tenía su trabajo.

P: ¿Qué emociones tenías cuando viniste a los Estados Unidos?

R: Emociones tristes, muy tristes. Tristes por que aveces me acordaba de mi familia y me sentía muy sola y me ponía a llorar. Y también por qué siendo mujer, aunque tengas parientes aquí en los Estados Unidos que son tus primos te tratan mal. Y tienes que aguantar.

P: ¿Qué era lo que te hacía aguantar?

R: Por qué no me quería regresar sin dinero ni nada a mi pueblo. No quería que fuera en vano. Como quien dice, un fracaso.

P: ¿Tu papá supo cuando te viniste?

R: Si. Me dejo venir, pero no me dio dinero.

P: ¿Qué extrañas de México?

R: Lo que extraño es la comida.

P: ¿Algo en especial?

R: Si, el tipo de carne de México. Todo tipo de carne de México. Se me hace distinta la de aquí. Lo diferente que tiene es que es más fresca allá. Y aquí es muy refrigerada. Y allá tiene otro sabor mejor.

P: ¿Qué es lo más difícil de ser un inmigrante?

R: Lo más difícil de ser un inmigrante es ser discriminado. Por qué hay gente que te discriminan o te hacen sentir mal por el hecho de que no puedes hacer cosas que ellos pueden hacer. Y también el no saber inglés, también es muy duro por qué te puedes hallar un trabajo, o hay trabajos que ocupen que estés bien legalizada y no puedes.

P: ¿Hay un momento en específico que recuerdas ser discriminada?

R: Si. Una vez que todavía no era residente, quería aplicar para una fábrica y me dijeron que yo no tenía documentos buenos, y les dio risa. Y me sentí mal. También hay veces en las cuales aunque trabajes muy duro en los trabajos te dicen que saliste muy caro. Pero tú sabes que le estás dando a todo lo mejor. Y siempre salen con que uno “va muy despacio”, pero andas trabajando muy rápido. Y siempre hay contratistas que dicen que vas muy lento, pero no es cierto, somos trabajadores.

Sobre el Autor: 

Guadalupe Sandoval, más conocido como “lupes de frutas”, es una risa sonriente. Ella es un ávido y fiel entusiasta de Netflix. Ella tiene un sketchbook ocultado. Probablemente nunca verá lo que ella dibuja o si realmente tiene algún tipo de habilidad artística. Ella está abierta a probar cosas nuevas, simplemente no la hagas correr. Ver su página de autor aquí. 

I’ve felt grief. I’ve felt hatred. And I’ve felt self-doubt. I’m only 18 but I feel like I’ve already gone through the hardest part of my life.

The most significant challenge I’ve ever faced was the depression I faced about three years ago. At the time, my mother was at the hospital all day every day for months, due to my father’s lung collapsing. My father was given just a few more months to live.

This was devastating for me. The idea of losing my father was something I never thought was possible. Shortly after my father’s diagnosis, another incident affected my life. My oldest brother was under the influence of cocaine and other drugs, leading him to try committing suicide three times.

The third time he tried, I’m the one who found him in a shed, talking to himself, out of his mind.

My sister and her husband tried helping. They took him to a rehabilitation center, but three hours later, the center called to let us know my brother checked himself out of rehab. My sister searched for hours trying to find our brother. She eventually did find him roaming the streets; he had just injured himself again.

Being a witness to my brother’s suffering, and the thought of my father dying, tore me from the inside out.

Being a witness to my brother’s suffering, and the thought of my father dying, tore me from the inside out.

At such a young age, I did not know how to deal with all this stress and grief all alone. With no one to share my pain with, I became weak and vulnerable. On top of all those family issues, I was being bullied at school.

For weeks, I would cry myself to sleep. Tears were my friends. They were the friends that greeted me as I awoke, and they were the friends that rocked me to sleep.

Tired of losing my strength and stability, slowly but surely, I made progress for myself by getting help from family members. I let them know how I felt physically, emotionally, mentally, and I was truthful about what was going on with me at school. I was also able to get close with counselors who would evaluate me, give me advice, and reassure me that everything was going to be okay. They helped show me strategies to get through my ordeals. One very helpful strategy I learned was to write down everything I was feeling, which made it easier to talk about and to overcome.

Today, I am a young man determined to succeed.

Eventually, my father pulled through and brother got the help he needed in rehabilitation. But I learned from this time in my life how cruel and unfair life can really be. Because of this, I became a stronger person, and I no longer let others push me around. Nor do I let a bad day turn into a bad life.

I’m a person with goals, and I am driven to fulfill them, no matter what obstacles I face. I’ve already accomplished quite a few goals in my short life, and I’m on my way to a better future. Today, I am a young man determined to succeed. I’m happy to say I was just accepted to my dream school, UCLA, and I am someone who will influence the world to make it a better place.