Asking Questions and Finding Answers
I make car rides unbearable, or at least I did when I was little. My constant questioning drove my father crazy.
Pokemon Boom
I subscribe to what the New York Times dubs “the most welcomed piece of daily e-mail in cyberspace.” Cat pictures? Kardashian updates? Nope: A Word A Day.
Makeup
In eighth grade, I was asked to write about my hobbies and career goals, but I hesitated. Should I just make something up?
Keratoconus Opened My Eyes
What is light? Sunshine, the weight of a feather, fire, electromagnetic radiation, righteous good triumphing over evil? To me, the word “light” holds a different meaning.
Puberty Workshops
“What’s an erection?” the fifth grade student asked. As I stood at the front of the class, I questioned, again, my decision to become a puberty workshop facilitator.
Coming Out
When I was twelve years old, I came out to my mother. I plopped down on the couch across from her and asked “is it okay for a girl to like other girls?”
East-Asian Influenced Bibliophile and Young Adult Writer
Deep down I was an East-Asian influenced bibliophile and a Young Adult fiction writer.
A Pirate’s Life
There is nothing worse than waking up and realizing you were meant to be a Pirate.
Five Family Identities
“Chris, what would you like to have for Christmas Dinner?” Suddenly, a miniature gathering of the European Commission glares straight at me. I feel the pressure of picking one option over the other.
Angry Brown Girl, Feminist, Singer, and Meme-Lover
My Twitter bio reads: angry brown girl, feminist, singer, meme-lover. You will notice live-tweets of my feminist Pride and Prejudice thoughts, analyses of Hamilton’s power for musical representation, and political memes. Just as my posts bring together seemingly disparate topics, I believe there is a vibrancy that exists at the multidimensional place where my interests intersect.
More than a Colombiano
Where are you from? I never have a simple answer. When I visit my family in Colombia, I get called “gringo” rather than “Colombiano.” Based on my peers’ standards, I’m not even Hispanic because of the white color of my skin.
This Is Me
The sound of frying empanadas and the smell of burning peppers. My mother calling me ‘mi vida’ and my relatives kissing my cheek. Running but never hiding from the dreaded chancla and always responding with, “Muy bien, y tu?” Childhood vacations to Puebla and Cancun, swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand.