Writing and storytelling have been a huge part of my life for as long as I've been alive, even if it took a long time for me to figure that out. I remeber, now, being in Montessori and making a picture book with a friend, and doing the same thing again on my own in the second grade. I remember how I put as much effort as I possibly could into my little short stories for classes, too, and how I played pretend the most elaborate scenarios through all of elementary school (as most little girls did, to be fair). Still, when we voted for each other to get little awards in the second grade, and I got 'Wonderful Writer', I was distraught that it wasn't the Animal Lover title I was looking for. I knew I loved to read (a lot), but I didn't know the place writing had in my life yet. It feels simple looking back. I still have that award certificate now, and I look back at it sometimes.

In the fourth grade, I entered a writing competition, sponsored by my school district, my mom having showed me the flyer and said I should try. When I sat down to write, I told the story of a girl who made it to the US via DACA and her experience learning English. It wasn't very good, and I forgot about it soon after I submitted it. Half a year later, I won something. To be honest with you, I don't remember what-- first in the district or second regionally or something like that, I think-- but that's not what matters to me. It peaked my interest in writing, and changed my course in life.

My reasons for writing have changed, though I still love it simply like I did before. It's community and resistance to me, mainly, but it's also reclaiming the story telling and the stories themselves that I know are in my blood-- those that were stolen from my ancestors slowly and painfully and all at once. It's unraveling the story of my body, and my communities, and how we need each other, and how we can and must take back what is ours. Writing is how I shape my world.

To be honest, Disability makes it hard to write as often as I'd like, but it adds a lot to my work when I do get to write, too. My publications are quite slim, but I'm constantly submitting and working on new projects when I can.