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5 Questions:
1. My Parent’s journey to the US was made and driven by the desire to break generational trauma and create a united family that can thrive and accomplish what they couldn’t. My mother came to the US by herself at the age of 12 to escape extensive abuse, she has always been and continues to be a hard-working woman despite setbacks with her health. My father arrived in the US as a teenager after losing his grandmother who was his caregiver as a child. Both were alone and broken people but came to be one and had me and my 3 siblings. Growing up I always saw the sacrifices my parents would make so that my siblings and I had what we needed, I constantly watched my dad work 2 jobs and his body start giving out on him so early in age. I watched my mother also struggle with health issues and constantly pushing herself to stay active and make ends meet through small jobs such as babysitting, cleaning, being a caregiver, working at the swap-o-rama. I was always reminded by both to do better by pursuing higher education and was encouraged to have dreams I can fulfill for a better future.
2. My immigration story has impacted my relationship with family and the community. My parents, siblings, and I are a tight knit family constantly looking out for each other. Individually life with my parents has looked and felt like constantly finding ways for my parents to be safe, staying up to date with changes in policies and laws, looking into immigration information, constantly checking in to make sure my parents are safe, saving up money to help my mom pay for medical bills because she does not qualify for assistance due to her status. But it has also felt like “Orgullo Mexicano”, being thankful for my identity and roots. I can say that if I were to have to live other lifetimes, I would never change my immigration story because it makes up who I am today and where I have been able to get. My story has also allowed me to form a family through community connections. There is about 7% of Mexican women with their master’s in counseling for mental health, not including specializing in Art Therapy. Through my work I have been able to connect with my Hispanic clients, coworkers and other community members to bring healing and safe spaces at times filled with uncertainty. We share the same feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, fear, but we are also able to share similar stories that bring laughter, joy, and celebration. My story is a reminder that I am not alone. Summers looked like my siblings and I helping my parents at the swap-o-rama where the environment was filled with the scent of Chile guajillo, tacos, fresh fruit. We were also united through the sound of cumbias, banda, other venders speaking Spanish. Recent life events have looked like being afraid of running into ICE agents, protecting my teenage clients and sharing fears of deportation of our parents. Recent feelings have been overwhelming sadness and anger when visiting the memorial site of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez with my friend and coworker who was also an immigrant. The event hit close to home especially as the event happened a block away from our community clinic. Life as a child of immigrant parents is full of life, surprises, and big emotions.
3. I hold a very strong connection to my home. My parents came from a different country and my siblings, and I were raised in the US. We have had differentiation in thoughts, beliefs and viewpoints due to different life experiences but one thing that has remained constant is our Familismo. I didn’t grow up with traditional family dynamics or around extended family of grandparents, aunts or uncles. And it has made a difference in how I was raised as I feel like the nuclear family is very connected as we are all we have. But we have also learned to find family in friends and church, and this has allowed my family to heal from wounds caused by generational trauma.
4. I believe the times I feel the pull between my present life and my roots the strongest have been through my journey with my career and education. I constantly had imposture syndrome and still do. There are times where I feel like I shouldn’t be where I am today whether it is physically, mentally, or emotionally. Going to grad school was a big shock for me, I was very excited but also scared because I looked different than others. I didn’t see anyone I could relate to, and I felt that it was going to be a setback. I can and continue to reconcile those competing thoughts and feelings through reminding myself of my parents’ immigration story. So much sacrifice has been made throughout my entire life by them, and I did not want it to be for granted. I reminded myself that my personal experiences are the reason for my present life and being able to be culturally and emotionally competent to adequately help others. I remind myself of my accomplishments of receiving my master’s degree, sharing workshops with the community to provide resources, being a counselor for mental health to break down stigma in Hispanic communities, and create art in the community.
5. My hope is centered around healing and growing for myself and others. I am building dreams around providing more art and mental health spaces for my community, sharing my art, and God willing one day for my mom to receive residency. Our family has been blessed that my dad has finally been naturalized, now we have one more person. I dream of continuing to break the chains of generational trauma and peace to come upon us.
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Bio | Art Statement
I am a Mexican artist that has been using my art as a way of touching upon the beauty of Mexican culture, finding my identity as a Mexican woman, first generation Mexican college student, being an advocate for women and immigrants, and using creativity to help with my healing Journey and also help others. I am also a community mental health Art Therapist that guides client’s through healing in art. My personal artwork is a majority of mix media, including but not limited to textiles, acrylic paint, 3 – dimensional objects, bright colors, artificial flowers and lots of glitter. My artwork is aimed to invoke feelings that we as a Hispanic community feel throughout our lived experience, whether it be feelings of nostalgia, fear or anxiety, warmth and happiness, or eagerness to want to make change. I continue to make art the way I do because it says more than words can, I have found myself countless times speaking more to others through what I create.
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Above: Mojado – Visual interpretation of Mojado by Ricardo Arjona
Acrylic on acoustic guitar; 3D Visual Art
Psalms 34:18
Acrylic paint on canvas, felt, embroidery, beading, artificial flowers, and butterflies.
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