Traversing through the cobbled streets and red tiled roofs of local markets that are home to lively trade between Mayan communities, I spent hours indulging the bright and endless stalls filled with fresh fruit, livestock, clothing, and handcrafted goods of Guatemala in 2015. The visit back to my home country after leaving in 2011 was sentimental, reminiscing of the childhood memories I left behind for a promising life in the United States. For three months during the summer, I worked inside one of the Mayan markets in the tiny town village of Chichicastenango where I learned unforgettable things. I was responsible for selling hand woven traditional fabrics for people who frequent the market in hopes to find the right piece. I experienced the bustling rapid hours of selling indigenous clothing and goods alongside Mayan individuals who are not afraid to embrace their culture, happily explaining the unique traditions and practices of the ancient civilization to me and tourists purchasing the rich goods. I trained and engaged with knowledgeable individuals on historical Mayan traditional fabrics, learning about the preservation of culture through the selling of vibrant red, blue, purple, and yellow hues of the traje tipico (traditional clothing). On the other hand, I learned why indigenous markets continue to be accessible. The Mayan community faces high rates of poverty, harsh living conditions, and discrimination, so the people support each other amidst adversity. Uplifting each other through trading resources and materials has become the cornerstone of cultural perseverance, which allowed me to see a new perspective of endurance. This realization opened my eyes to the many barriers ethnic groups in Guatemala face day by day. While it was a learning experience, I could not forget the trials and tribulations of the villages. The prominence of Mayan communities is a testament to their tenacity and resistant attitudes after the Guatemalan Civil War in 1960. One moment that resonated with me was the communication among the people of Chichicastenango. With over 25 languages, Guatemala’s native population keep their culture alive within these markets in prideful ways. I was fortunate enough to encounter conversations with K’iche’ Mayans by learning of their spiritual practices, pottery making, and medicinal processes in their language. I was exposed to nuances of the K’iche’ community and how its traditional ways translate into contemporary life. Working in the markets served as an educational and personal lesson, providing invaluable insights of the diverse communities of Guatemala. In hindsight, immersing myself into the daily lifestyle and collaborating with my Mayan peers made me grateful to have the privilege of learning about culture. This makes me delighted to have the opportunity to eventually travel and learn about underrepresented groups during college through study abroad programs. Traveling around the world bridges the gap between cultural connections and knowledge, bringing unique insights into countries and its people. Just like the thrill of learning a new language, absorbing cultural beliefs and values in different countries magnifies and broadens one’s own ideologies — challenging the individual’s thinking.

My abuelita, or grandmother, became my parent and best friend at two years old. She took me under her wing once my mother set back on her work obligations after a year of maternity leave, as her jobs as a secretary and house cleaner were demanding. In Guatemala, the old traditional way of motherhood consisted of homecare and childcare. However, my father was working inexhaustibly to make ends meet in the United States and Guatemala. In turn, my mom sacrificed the joys of motherhood to responsibly manage finances and support the family. Thus, the woman that stepped in to alleviate the sense of loss was my grandma. She raised me when I was two years old and introduced me to the external and internal beauties of life. Together, we traversed through the cobbled streets and red tiled roofs of local markets that are home to lively trade between Mayan communities and representatives. We spent hours indulging the colorful and endless stalls filled with fresh fruit, livestock, clothing, traditional fabric, and handcrafted goods — all adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Though we were unseparated, my grandmother never demonstrated her love and affection through physical touch. Her cooking was her way of showing how much she adored her granddaughter unconditionally. I admired the way my grandma poured her love into delivering the most exquisite edible art and transcending meaningful solutions inside the kitchen with wide varieties of flavors that satisfied one’s palate. The kitchen was a special and sacred place for bonding with the family, so she meticulously tinkered her plating with such detail and preciseness. Although my time with grandma was short lived when I had to leave Guatemala in 2011 for a promising life, I felt motivated to learn her recipes and grasp onto the connection we have culminated over the years. I found our interactions through the sliver of a phone screen precious, delighted to speak with her even for a few hours, and cherishing the words of wisdom she would often express about my academic and personal life. Most importantly, abuelita had given me the power to push through in my educational journey as her schooling was halted abruptly due financial instability, hindering her dreams of pursuing law school. She also sacrificed her personal goals to raise her five children after a long custody battle. Following in her footsteps, I plan to accomplish the goal that my abuela dreamt of doing. So, as we speak over the phone, I update my grandma on accomplishments in college, such as completion of my Honors program research papers and earning a certification for the program or attending a pre-law webinar to learn about different law school journeys from prospective students — all with a smile on her face. As I continue to grow as a scholar, I preserve her wise words: ‘Avanza y no mires atrás o te perderás la luz’, which translates to, ‘move forward and do not look back or you will miss the light.’ The light refers to remarkable opportunities as I rise in higher education. I learned that I have the potential to achieve my ambitions with a self-actualized mindset. With an optimistic mindset and strong work ethic, I believe this scholarship will contribute significantly to my educational expenditures, and it will allow me to work towards my Sociology bachelor’s degree and a step forward in applying to law school. Abuelita sacrificed any means to be able to serve the family, inspiring me to one day be of service for the community and change a multitude of lives in the future as a future personal injury lawyer.

I believed that my parents were invincible. They were heroes of my story, the ones that could tidy up any incongruence and problem in me and my sister’s lives with one snap. However, this belief turned on its head when I was six. My family and I assimilated to the United States in 2011 due to the ongoing damage and wavering atrocities of the Guatemalan civil war. Education was the fundamental tool for my parents, so I became the stepping stone in my household to pursue higher education within the cultural assimilation. Consequently, assimilation came at a price - systematic racism. The institutions I was taught in believed that Latinos did not belong in traditional career spaces. I was oftentimes discouraged by the daunting lessons and demographic gap of Latinos in university, but I did not let it hinder my educational plans and prospects. Moreover, my father – our only provider – had lost his job after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, then undergoing surgery for it. The financial cost that came with fixing an injury became tumultuous. For years, we faced financial instability after living off government checks that could not supply enough for a family of 4. My parents endured a housing crisis and endless nights of saving money to pay off loans. After moving to a new apartment this year in April, financial instability and assimilation continue to be my trials, but I learned to be resourceful and adaptable in the midst of it. My resourcefulness was my survival skill, so I applied it when I enrolled in community college instead of attending a 4-year university to save money; it was also an opportunity to explore my passions. For instance, I took a Computer Science course to fulfill my curiosity for coding. I became enamored with the nuances of engineering a website to make something useful out of it; whether it be for a small company or family business, I was prepared to learn. Through computer science, I design websites with the aim of making them accessible for diverse communities. In my Sociology courses, I fight for advocacy by analyzing data in social samples to understand marginalized groups. Being resourceful led me to work at my campus library after attending career fairs, thus helping fellow students seek writing resources. My adaptability and resourcefulness continue to influence me to participate, attend, and join campus organizations and clubs. These skills translated when I applied to be a UCLA Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) scholar and utilize the plethora of resources to help me become a strong member of society and a motivator for other transfer students. I want to join student-led organizations like ÚNICA (Unión Centroamericana de Estudiantes) and Hermanas Unidas. I plan to minor in Digital Humanities once I transfer to UCLA and explore text analysis, digital visualization, and interface. Furthermore, I will shadow professors in the field of Sociology to conduct and publish my own research. Being a community member on campus helps me teach peers on how to be resourceful and help them navigate the college system as first-generation scholars like me. Beyond my advocacy and leadership, I am currently in the pursuit of obtaining a master’s and Juris Doctor degree after graduating from UCLA. Through tenacity, grit, and life-changing experiences, I aspire to elevate my critical abilities and intellect as a first-generation immigrant in higher learning - most importantly, following the ardent passion that is, education.