People of Galveston

CULTURE CLASH (FEATURE) people of GALVESTON

Who are the women who have influenced your life?

Interviews By Jose Mendiola

NELLY SALAZAR

Maya Angelou has always been a great influence in my life. I read I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings when I was 12 years old, and it has stayed with me ever since. I always heard hope was a powerful thing in literature and movies, but I think after reading her works I really began to understand why. Another influence of mine is Michelle Obama. I recently saw her documentary on Netflix and was amazed at everything she had accomplished personally and professionally. As someone who’s applying to law school, I like to read up on Michelle’s experiences at Princeton and Harvard to inspire me.

LIZBETH RAMIREZ

As cliché as it sounds, I really look up to Selena. I recently took a dive into reading multiple memoirs of her and aside from her beauty and great music she really opened the door to the integration of Mexican culture into mainstream media and arts. A lot of people forget the Chicano Movement had only been around about 30 years. Many Mexican Americans were still pushing for their community to be recognized as a class in order to gain equal rights. She also paved a way into breaking machismo cycle that has been ever so present in Mexican culture by not only proving that women were great and successful entertainers but they could also do more than fill a motherly role.

ALEXANDRIA YVONNE SMITH

Her name was Sandra Muñoz, she was the principal of the first elementary school I went to as a child. She later became a close family friend and helped lead me on the career path towards becoming a school psychologist. If it wasn’t for her I would not be in the amazing career I am in right now.

María Félix. She continues to be a cultural force across entire continents. Ahead of her time on leading the fight for Native American rights and recognition. Legendary ambassador for the golden age of Mexican cinema. All that, and a solid standard for timeless beauty and elegance that is said to have stopped traffic on the streets of Paris. GERRY MENA

JOANNA CHYU

The woman who’s influenced me the most in life is my mom. It sounds cliché, but I truly got lucky getting to call the kindest and most loving person in the world my mother. If we could choose our own parents in this lifetime like we choose our friends, I would pick her every time. I used to appreciate her the most as a mother- the things she’d do for me like braiding my hair before school, picking me up from art class, and cooking me hot meals at the end a long day. As I grew older though, I started appreciating her more as a person outside of her relation to me. Things like her beauty, inside and out; her grace toward herself and her imperfections; and the light she shines one everyone around her, making people better. She is a fearless shield for me against the winds of life. She has loved me when I stopped believing in myself and was at my lowest. Because of her I know that real love is unconditional and expects nothing in return. I can only hope to be the same person to my future children as she has been for me.

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