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How do we take children seriously?

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I was born in April of 2000 #Aries :) in Dallas, Texas.  I grew up there for all 18 years of my life prior to coming to college. As you can tell, I really am "living the dream" here at UT Austin 🤘🏼😆 Hook Em!

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This is my momma! The queen herself❤️ She plays a really important role in my life and our relationship is very dear to me. After immigrating from Quito, Ecuador to the U.S., she started a business from her living room floor that is now one of the fastest growing woman-owned businesses in the country. She's always encouraged me to think of being a female in any industry or setting as an asset rather than a disadvantage. I didn't really appreciate growing up with such a powerful influence until much later in life - and now that I do, it encourages me even more to become someone other girls & women can look up to in hopes that I just may be able to offer the same inspiration.

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Similarly, my relationship with my Dad is something I treasure greatly. Having such a wonderful and supportive male figure has, more than anything, allowed me to understand over time and now confidently express my self-worth. Witnessing the way my Dad so passionately loves my Mom (for 21 years now and counting😌) as well as the way he leads our family in partnership with her, rather than one being a more dominant figure than the other, has granted me a fulfilling and happy life of stability that I can only pray I am able to give a family of my own some day.

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These are the sibs!! Katarina (19), Peter (15), and Jimmy (14) - aka my entire world. We're all pretty close in age and grew up in a very family oriented household where #familyfirst was the law. As the oldest of 4 children, I often feel that my sole purpose in this world is to be the "experimental guinea pig" for these three... haha! But seriously, the list of things I would risk or sacrifice for them is endless. I always tell my parents the best gift they ever gave me was siblings❤️

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This is my most recent photo of my extended family...and this isn't even everyone😅 We always joke about being "like a circus without the tent"

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I've always been perfectly comfortable with my sexuality. I did have a tomboy phase in 5th grade... but that was only because I thought the boy I had a crush on would like me back if I could be "like one of the guys"..🙄.. Besides that, total girly girl!! I embrace my femininity confidently💅🏽💃🏽

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I attended private Catholic schools starting from kinder-garden all the way through high school. Although I actively practice Christianity, the two have a lot in common so I always appreciated growing up in environments where bringing God or just religion in general into a conversation was not abnormal and more often than not even encouraged. I also actually liked the uniforms too😆

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I am a proud member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority here at UT. This is a recent photo of one of our weekly bible study meetings held at the Zeta house. Simply being a member of this organization gives me a great sense of community, especially at a university as large and overwhelming as UT... and being a part of this exclusive bible study group within that community has made quite the impact on my spiritual walk with God in college thus far.

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Self-confidence and image was also something I really struggled with during my freshman year of college. For the very first (but only) time in my life (I am embarrassed to admit it), I was ashamed of my ethnicity for the way it uniquely set me apart from just about everybody I was surrounded by. This photo, for example, taken at a semi-formal date event. The only thing I could think of when looking at it was how much I stood out among the group. My darker skin and hair... they were new insecurities of mine. I envied pretty much every thin girl with white skin and blonde hair. Looking back on it now, it's actually comical to me. But at the time, I so desperately wanted to be a part of the majority rather than the minority.

The major lesson I learned from this experience (in hopes I can inspire anyone who's reading) is that the way you view yourself can truly make you or break you. My initial response to being a little bit different was insecurity. I let it overcome me and before I knew it developed a natural habit of constantly tearing myself down - and that was quite exhausting! So one day I bossed up, realized no thing/person could make me feel a certain way unless I let it/them, and decided that who I am & what I had to offer - I was just going to own it. I promise there's nothing more fulfilling than a strong and unwavering self-confidence.

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Starting school at UT was not easy for me. I suffered emotionally from impostor syndrome throughout my entire first semester. I have never been a big "school" person. Not to mention, I am prescribed with severe ADD, so even when I enjoy a subject in class or have a strong desire to focus it's still pretty difficult. UT was my dream school growing up and my "reach" school when the time to apply finally came. The college acceptance process was extremely competitive at my high school, and there were a lot of UT hopefuls in my Class of 2018. Only a handful ended up getting accepted...and I was one of those few😇 Accepted through holistic review, or non-automatic. I came home from school in tears that day. Apparently I was the last person anybody expected to get into this school - and they were furious. Not one person congratulated me, classmates would whisper about me ~literally~ right behind my back, false rumors went around about "including a fat check with the application" and "sleeping with the admissions counsel"....(like seriously?), a teacher of mine even made a comment (to my face) that the only explanation for my acceptance was the "Hispanic box" I was qualified to check. I wanted so badly to be someone who could turn the anger I felt into fuel and prove everyone wrong - but truthfully, I let all those ugly statements live rent-free in my mind for a while.

*Fast forward to right now*
I'm still here, I'm killing it, and I'm living my best life. I welcome anybody to underestimate me...but promise you will regret it. #HookEm.

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My favorite thing about myself is my spontaneity. I believe last minute, random, spur-of-the-moment decisions are the best decisions. And more often than not turn out to be some of the greatest experiences & memories to make in a lifetime. This photo was taken this past May when my best friend, Allison, and I woke up one morning and decided to jump 14,000 ft. out of an airplane..🤠 So just tell me where, tell me when, and I'll be there (probably 5 mins. late 🤣🤣🤣)

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These are my pitties😊 Peppa and Papi... and I would die for them.

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My parents have told me one thing I've always been able to do for as long as they can remember is play by myself. Being the oldest of four children, I always had great company to play with, and my younger sister came very soon after me - so I was not an only child for long. I guess I don't really know what to blame my independence on... Mom says I was born with it. In fact, there's a running joke in my family that derived from when I was just a little girl. Apparently any time my mother tried to help me with anything I would reject it, and say "I can do it myself, Mommy!"

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Young Children's Agency Pt. 1

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After watching the film, Babies, it's evident that culture plays a great role when it comes to agency. That being said, I'd say the agency I experienced as a child was mostly influenced by a cultural environment similar to that of the babies in the United States. My experiences growing up involved more artificial objects, like the toys I played with with, as well as a lot of human interaction and easy access to  places that supported my growth and development - like safe places to learn to crawl/walk/ dance/play/etc...

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Impact of Racism and White Supremacy on Play

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This topic really pulls on my heartstrings. I have witnessed first hand how racism in the classroom can affect those who fall victim to it. My black cousin, Vivian, is 5 years old and unfortunately starting to experience this. I have to say the worst part about it is the way she now tries to literally rub her own skin off. Most often in the shower as if enough soap and water would change the color of her skin. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before and quite literally breaks my heart to pieces.

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Impact of Gender and Sexism on Young Children's Play

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Impact of Monolingualism on Play

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Gender identity has never been something I ever questioned or struggled with. Even when reflecting back on my childhood I cannot recall a time I did not feel comfortable expressing my femininity, since I identify as a female, just as well as some qualities about myself that some would consider "masculine" traits and behaviors. For example, examples of stereotypical masculine attributes include independence, aggression, strength, and competitiveness. Stereotypical feminine attributes include nurturing, caring, passivity, and subordination. I believe I have all these attributes.

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The only language I speak now is English, but Spanish was actually the first language I learned. My mother started teaching my sister and I at a very young age. We watched TV like Barney and movies like The Lion King in Spanish and could understand all of it. But once we started going to school and everyone spoke mainly English. Spanish at the house slowly died and here I am now unable to speak anything more than a level 1 conversation. Being Latina but not bilingual is something I get pretty insecure about. I think it's because I feel like people expect that of me. I envy those who can speak more than 1 language because I feel like it's such an asset to have for everyday life.

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Impact of Needing Accommodation and Ableism on Play 

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Culture has always been very present in my life. Because half of my family is Ecuadorian, we carry on many traditions like certain dishes of food, values, and ways of celebrating. I'd have to say my that my values have had the greatest impact from the culture that surrounded the way I grew up - more specifically, the value of family. For me, family always comes first... no exceptions. Since starting college, I know a lot of people who don't feel the same way. It was a shock to me at first, but I have to respect the fact that everybody is raised differently.

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Cultural and Community Expertise (Equity)

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Relationships with earth, land, outdoors

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It's hard for me to remember a time where there was any significant acts of racism or segregation in my home town/school because it was predominantly white. Even though I am Latina I never felt left out.

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Utilizing Technology

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Relationships with Earth, Land, and Outdoors.

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Relationships with Earth, Land, and Outdoors.

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Growing up, I played outside a lot. My parents always encouraged my sibling and I to play in the backyard when we really needed to blow off some steam mostly after school. I really think it allowed me to use and expand my imagination.

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Commitment to Equity in Midst of Trauma

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Week 13 Autobiography Revisit - Commitment to Equity in Midst of Trauma

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Week 13 Autobiography Revisit - Commitment to Equity in Midst of Trauma

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I have been blessed throughout my life with a stable home environment. I believe that plays a big role as to why I am unable to say I've had some traumatic experiences in life, if not any. Well, not including spontaneous circumstances. For instance, a family member passing away suddenly. But just because I don't struggle with these issues myself, does not mean they don't exist. I have many friends and extended family who still suffer from past traumatic experiences, so I'm not completely in the dark about what that may be like. Hopefully when I do face a traumatic experience I will be well equipped with the right tools to cope.

Concluding this semester, I wish to be a role model for those younger than me. I've been able to appreciate a lot of inspiring leaders throughout my lifetime that encourage me to chase my dreams. You can't be what you can't see!!