America at UTPA.

I’m not sure if it’s the Hispanic in me explaining why I’m so in love with America Ferrera, or maybe because she dared to portray a character that most women would not want to in the movie, “Real Women Have Curves.” Whatever it may be, the students at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas received the opportunity to exchange a few words with America Ferrera, but most importantly,  to listen to a few words of advice.

            On April, 13, 2015 America Ferrera, 30, American actress and producer, came to speak to the students and faculty on just how important it is to be yourself. Ferrera also spoke of the Dreamers and the DREAM Act.

            “I’m proud to be friends with many Dreamers…I’ve protested with them, I’ve spoken out on their behalf dozens of times because I believe what they’re trying to accomplish is both incredibly brave and sensible.” The Dreamers got their name from the DREAM Act, a bill that helps the youth that were brought to this country illegally or with no documentation.

            America also stressed the fact that many issues dealing with immigration laws and the Dream Act are the way they are because many Latinos don’t vote. Voting is the power we have as young adults to change the future, but votes from Latinos aren’t showing up at the poll.

            America Ferrera has starred in many types of film and TV shows such as, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”, “Ugly Betty”, “How To Train Your Dragon”, and “Cesar Chavez”. Her first movie was “Real Women Have Curves,” a story about a young Latina living in East Los Angeles and the hardships of coming of age for a woman.

            “To be honest…I hated myself at the time…I was poor and brown. I was overweight, unconnected, and uneducated. All these people saw these things as evidence that I would never fulfill my dreams of becoming an actress,” Ferrera said. The 30-year-old actress compared her real life to Ana Garcia, the protagonist character in the film.

            “Those labels that everyone labeled me as were the reason why I was casted as ‘Ana’ and have been able to live my life as an actress. Do not waste your energy trying to change yourself…spend your energy trying to get to know yourself,” proclaimed Ferrera. America Ferrera, being that she’s part of the Hispanic community, has become a role model for many upcoming Hispanic actresses.

           

            Although many issues stated by Ferrera still occur today, the speech she gave will be some of the few words spoken to the students on resolving these issues.

            “Know yourself a little better so you can figure out what your contribution to the world is going to be.”

                                          -America Ferrera 

At Peace.

A few days ago it was the anniversary of my mothers death. It's been years of sadness, anger, questioning and yet no answers. She passed away from cervical cancer and it was very tough, not just for her, but for the whole family.

            I remember it very well actually, even though I felt like I was completely detached from the situation. It was a very hot day, as most days are in late March. There was so much uncertainty going on in my head, but one thing for sure is that I knew what I had to wear to her funeral and I knew I was going to bed that night a different man, a sad man.

            I couldn’t believe the woman that gave birth to me and to my brothers was going away forever. I couldn’t touch her anymore, I couldn’t annoy her anymore (lol I always annoyed her), and I definitely wouldn’t see her in front of me anymore.

            Anyways, this is an article not to make you sad, even though it’s hard to see any good from what I’ve written so far. But just wait. There’s good.

            After my mom passed away, a few days later, my Tia Sandra, called my family up to inform us of something…crazy? Remarkable? Even up to this point I still don’t know how to describe it.

            So my aunt told us on the phone that there was a picture of my mom in the plastic compartment on the very top-shelf in her room where she was being cared in. So we thought, “Okay, let’s go pick up the picture.” But she kept telling us that it was engraved onto the plastic compartment. We were confused, but we hurried to the hospice care facility and we were shocked at what we found.

     There was a picture of my mother on the plastic cubby…engraved. Now, when we saw it we figured, maybe while we were looking at pictures for her funeral video one of the photos may have gotten wet and the link seeped through. But, we didn’t have a picture like this and…this is the part that I can’t believe…it’s was literally burned on to the plastic. We tried to smudge it off but it wouldn’t come off. It’s like someone used a tattoo pen, powered by solar energy, and inked my mom’s smiling face with a lamb face underneath her chin. It all sounds crazy and hard to picture, which is why I have two pictures of my mom side by side. Tell me that doesn’t look like my mom.

            Anyways, when I saw the photo I started to cry, not because she was gone, but because I knew this was sign that she’s in a better place. She was letting us know that everything was fine, how can anything be wrong when she’s smiling like that in the photo?

            It’s hard to see but if you look closely there’s a lamb’s face on the right side of her face. It has a dark nose and it’s facing downward diagonally.

            I read about the, “Lamb of God” and the lamb represents innocence and suffering, which is what my mom was, an innocent sufferer who is now in a better place.

            

Edited by: Jared Cobble