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Embrace Our Roots

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Our roots run deep, our voices rise together. Mexican American means community, resistance, and never backing down. This year, celebrating las Fiestas Patrias hit different.  For many of us in the Mexican community, these days are more than a celebration of independence—they are a reminder of who we are, where we come from, and why our existence is an act of resistance. With the recent ICE raids targeting our communities, we are reminded that the fight for dignity and respect is far from over. But we also know this: no matter what policies they pass, no matter how many doors they knock on, they cannot erase who we are. We are Mexican. We are American. We are the children and grandchildren of immigrants. We are the stories of sacrifice, of language carried across borders, of recipes passed down by abuelas, of music that plays at every family gathering. We are the laborers who built cities and picked fields. We are the students breaking generational cycles. We are the activists,...
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Independence Day in a Time of Struggle

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The 4th of July is traditionally a day of celebration—fireworks, barbecues, parades, and the proud display of our flag. It's a day that marks our independence and reminds us of the values this nation was founded on, freedom, justice and the promise of liberty.  With everything happening right now, being American feels different—and celebrating the 4th of July just doesn’t feel right. This year, patriotism means something else entirely.  Today, the nation will watch the sky light up with fireworks,  but all I can think about are the people who are separated from their loved ones, hurting in silence while others celebrate. I've never been overly patriotic, because this country has always struggled to live up to its own ideals of freedom. But this year, it’s even harder to ignore how far we are from that ideal. It feels like we’re moving backward instead of forward. Now, we live in a country where families are feared being torn apart by ICE raids, where immigrant communities...
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Quiet Friday Afternoon

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There is something especial whenever I sit down in a quiet place and the only sounds I hear are my fingers pushing down on the keys on the keyboard. I miss the feeling of letting my inner thoughts and experiences into out in the open without a filter. At this moment I am in the Compton Library enjoying the little time that I have left to write an update of  what has been happening to this girl.  It amazes me whenever I walk into this library, it's like I'm transported through time when I was a child. As a Compton native, I remember the numerous times that my mom brought my sister and I to this library, it has not change a bit. We used to live in an apartment a couple of blocks down from the library. And ever since then I have always enjoyed going to the library, its the one place that I could escape the cruel realities of the real world. Reading books have allow me to transport myself to someone else's story/ reality. I knew that I wouldn't have time to write as much as...
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A Holiday Thought

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Christmas is just a few days away, most people are likely at the crowded malls trying to find the perfect gifts for everyone in their list. Meanwhile, I am in my home enjoying a cup of hot chocolate while I write. This year I decided to be practical and spend less this holiday season. While I appreciate the exchange of gifts but the true meaning of Christmas is not about the gifts we received but it's about what gifts we are going to give to baby Jesus when he is born. I also, I believe that Christmas is about being with our loved ones, cherishing our moments we have with them. Most people's upbringing involves Santa Claus and gifts but I don't want my child to grow up expecting gifts every Christmas. There are families who cannot provide their child gifts, I rather teach my son to give to those who don't have anything. It's the season of giving. I sometimes can go on about values but at the end I'll cave. Just kidding, but I hope that I could bestow him with th...
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The Outcome of Voting

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Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg Prior to the covid pandemic, one of my favorite things that I looked forward to was election day whether it was a local or a presidential election. I would receive my sample ballot in the mail weeks prior to the election giving me time to research and make my choices carefully.  Then, on the day of the election, I would drive to my polling place and vote. However, due to Covid voting in person hasn’t been the same experience as it was before.  Election day can be an exciting day but also it can be nerve-wracking because you don’t know what the people are voting for. I always tell myself, to expect the unexpected because I don’t want to keep my hopes up if something goes wrong. On the one hand, I like watching people showing up to vote, it provides me the satisfaction that they are making their voice heard but on the other hand I wish people had a better understanding of what they are voting for....
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Rainy Day in LA

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It's always nice to have some rain in Los Angeles. One of the things that I love about the rain is the sound it makes when you're getting up in the morning. It's so relaxing and calming. This morning, my son and I were woken up by the heavy rain pour that was coming outside our window. I felt my son's fingers lingering on my face as he was trying to wake me up. I open my eyes and there he was, my son's beautiful eyes smiling at me. I didn't realize how early it was, and I was reaching for my phone I realize it was only 7am. I scratch my head and realize that my son was still on Daylight Savings time.  My mind and body are still adjusting to the time change. Adapting to the change will be a challenge because my son hasn’t adapted to it and probably won’t. The last two days I have been waking up earlier, making dinner earlier and going to sleep earlier. I don’t how long this will last but I’ll do it until my body adapts to it.  The vibes that this weather is givin...
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It’s Coming… Qatar 2022

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The countdown to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 officially begins. This international competition gathers 32 nations from around the world to compete for the prize. This year the host country is Qatar.  and unlike  previous World Cups, which usually take place during the summer months June-July, will take place in November- December due to the extreme heat that the country experiences in the summer.  We are less than 30 days away from the inauguration of this competition and as a futbol enthusiast, I couldn't be more thrilled and excited for the upcoming months. A World Cup is special because it only comes around every 4 years and it's a time when every fan of the sport comes together to share their love and passion for the game. I have mixed feelings about going into this World Cup. The reason I say that is because for some players this will be their last opportunity to take their country to the top. Players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but also players that...
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