A unique trait about myself is I am very shy; however, I love to help people. Working with a huge Latino community with attorneys who fight for tenant rights, I’ve discovered that I’m a very selfless person whom every opportunity to help translate or give information that I’m aware. I like to share. Many undocumented migrants are often afraid, but I believe this comes from hearing my mother’s story over and over, her fear as a woman but also being undocumented living with an abusive partner who instilled the fear even more to avoid getting help. It made me realize how much help our undocumented/first generation Latinas need and I enjoy helping my Latina/o community because when I think back I know it makes my mother very proud to see her shy daughter make such a huge impact in my own community helping selflessly. Every time I help I see in my mind el rostro de mi madre que no tuvo la oportunidad de tener su voz y sé que ella estuviera feliz en verme cambiar de ser callada a ayudar la gente en voz alta.
Another story is probably my life-changing experience at the University of California, Riverside – Puente Connection, because I always have doubted my abilities to do more, simply because I’ve always been shy and never thought that I would have gotten into the program. The day I received an email speaking about: Congratulations! You’ve been chosen as one of the 50 students to attend Puente Connection…–all I could think was, why did I apply? I’m not a leader in my community or my community college. My sister said,
“You were chosen for a reason. Believe in yourself.”
The day came to leave, and I thought, “I’m going to miss my family.” Every excuse in the book not to go, because deep in my heart I felt I took someone’s place who does deserve my seat. My emotions were everywhere with this. Excited, yet confused, the entire Conference I learned that I’ve been a leader all my life and just because I’m shy, that doesn’t make me a leader and those were my thoughts. I came back as an empowered mujer because I am not alone. Those 50 became my huge support system. Now I’ve begun volunteering in a clinic that provides housing rights advocacy to low-income households and minorities. I am a translator and love it.
Storyteller Claudia Linares Ramirez is a student activist from Oakland.
