The Odyssey Project 2024
Heroes: Edwin Ballesteros, Angel Danckert, Israel De La Cruz, Samuel Lino, Jorge Miramontes, Carlos Perez-Vargas, Emilio Perez.
The hero & his life story
My parents decided to go to the United States to build a life for themself but also a life for their newborn. They settled in Santa Barbara. A couple of months later, I was born. February 21st, 2005, on a Monday at 3:45 am. That is the day my mother’s life changed forever.
The monster’s eye & Scylla
When I was 13, I started to get involved with law enforcement. My mother was disappointed, sad, and tired of all my troubles.
She would try to tell me that if I kept doing the things I was doing, I would end up going to jail.
Me being a kid and having a poor mindset I thought she was talking nonsense, and I kept going at it. I was having fun and that is all that mattered.
At 14, I was arrested and went to Juvenile Hall. I was sent to Los Prietos Boys Camp. There I was getting into trouble and awoled. I I was sent to camp and awoled again. After being on the run for 5 months, I was arrested again, and thought it would be the last time out.
Edwin Ballesteros
The ally writes . . .
“I Believe in you, and I am very proud of what you have accomplished. I cannot wait until you come back home with your real family. I love you.”
This is what my mother tells me every time she comes to visit me. Her words are always in my heart, and I try to become the best version I can be for her. It was then that I started to think about my goals in life. I thought about creating a healthy life for myself and my family. I thought about helping people, traveling the world, experiencing life. Making the people I care for proud. I needed to change.
Edwin Ballesteros
Ithaca
I was 17 when I graduated High school. I never thought I would since I stopped going to school in 8th grade, but I did. This moment made me realize that I can still become someone successful. This made my mother so proud because she never graduated, and I was the first in the family. I enrolled in Allan Hancock College. I’m majoring in sociology and I want a master’s degree. I want to become a social worker, and help other families and youth in my community. Now at 19, 3 years into my sentence, I am smarter than I was. I thrive when I learn new things and spread knowledge. I have a better relationship with my family and peers. I am looking forward to being a free person. I will find a partner, and fall in love with someone I love, trust and can be happy with. I look forward to creating a family. I look forward to owning a house, a car, and be proud of what I have accomplished.
Edwin Ballesteros
The hero & his life story
I was a young kid and started working in my fields when I got locked up. The way I represent myself would be a nice person.
My hero’s name is Angel.
The fallen warrior writes . . .
A fallen warrior would be my cousin that passed away from cancer she was fighting it but it got to the point where she couldnt no more so i consider her a warrior. If she had advice for me, she would tell me not to stop achieving your goals, to push in what you want to be in life.
Angel Danckert
The monster’s eyes
If I had superpowers, I would use it to help people out from my situation.
I’ve been wounded and told them to leave me alone.
I’m trying to overcome my fears and not be scared of them.
Ithaca
For me what it means to go home would be, safety. The reason I said this because the only people that make me safe is my family and they are the people who I could rely on and talk about my problems no matter what the circumstance is.
Just depending: a lot of people sometimes don’t feel safe being at home just because what they got going on in society.
Angel Danckert
The hero & his life story
I represent myself as a hero, who is loving and caring, and smart. I want to become that hero that fights a tiger, but people will say to help the tiger. Because if you see me fighting a tiger, help the tiger, not me.
My hero’s name will be “father,” because that is what I wanna be remembered as a hero/father. It all started when I was born, I met my wife.
The ally’s writes . . .
I identify myself as being part of the Hispanic ethnic group. I am 22 years old born but not raised in Durango, Durango Mexico. I was raised in Guadalupe California; I am currently enrolled in college. My human heroic qualities are that I am trustworthy human being and brave. There is no problem when it comes to my human identity. I realize that I have human heroic qualities, by being generous, brave, honest, and loving.
Israel De La Cruz
The fallen warrior writes . . .
Hello Israel, I am doing great here in the underworld, I appreciate the prayers and love when I passed away. Do not worry about me, I am doing great with my ancestors and family. I appreciate the help you did at my funeral; I was there throughout the whole funeral and Rosarios. Thank you, for everything I miss you.
Israel De La Cruz
The monster’s eye
I’ve been wounded by being terrfied by my fears. I hear the monster whisper to my ear, that it will never leave my sight and always watch me.
“I will get you when you least suspect it” the
voice tells me.
Israel De La Cruz
Scylla, Charybdis, and Calipso’ tribute
My Charybdis: A witch - that is the bad luck of my life- I need to survive it: To Find a stronger power to ignore and conquer it, and to play my games not to fully defeat myself.
Calipso’s Tribute:
I am grateful for the most important person in my life, she is my mother I would like to thank. Thank you for being there for me. You have been with me at lowest and at my highest throughout my whole life. You have never stopped caring, protecting, and loving me no matter the situation. You have shown me how powerful a mother´s love for her child can be, during the current situation I am going through right now. You have stuck to my side thank you very much, I will repay you one day.
Ithaca
For me it means everything to go home, it is one of the highest desires in my life. My home is the safest place I can be, it is where I feel comfortable with myself.
Poem
Going home is only a desire in my mind It is the place where my memories are left behind Right now, I can only act as I am blind For my future is still a bit undefined I may be declined But I know one day, it will be my time
Israel De La Cruz
Samuel Lino
The hero & his life story
A significant time in my life was when i was turning into a teen because so many outside forces were working together to mold me into the person i would turn out to be.that time in my life has certainly changed the way i process and view the world making me want better for myself and wanting all the greatness that is to come. being through so much experenices has surely made me appreciate the little thing in my life there for practicing graditude leading to positive things.
The fallen warrior writes . . .
Where do I even begin? It’s been a long time and it will be quite some time before we will have the opportunity to grace each other with our presence. I hope you know i love you and am always with you every step of the way and you are constantly running through my mind.
remember to keep your mind and body as busy as possible and always remember never shoot for nothing but the best of your ability.- brother
The monster’s eye
I see people change and turn there backs on me becuase of my reputaion and rumors they would hear from others outside and that made me black hearted through time not caring about what others thought it never really affected me if people were to hear things about me becuase I would always brush them off as rumors but when people i truly cared about started stearing into a differnt direction it really hurt me because these were the people i had grown up with and loved to death at one point or another. I always have seen myself as a person who does the right thing in any situation even if its not right to everyone else i have always seen my self as a protecter and a little brother and a big brother being extremely loyal an teritorrial when it came to my loved ones. i believe those people that saw me as a monster didnt ever see the greatness achived by me only the negitive image.
Scylla, Charybdis, and Calipso’s tribute
My Charybdis:
Devil in a presentable appearance (in a suit)I need to survive it: To stay positive, and to surround myself with positive people
Calipso’s Tribute:
I am truly grateful for my brother standing by my side through it all. I know that right or wrong we are together and will be forever. I am grateful for my brother being a positive role model in my life, leading me to a more positive route everytime feeling like he had the obligation to change my direction in life to something more productive. I am thankful for all the great lessons I have learned at his side and the fact that even when we want to take each other’s heads off we are still inseparable.
Samuel Lino
Ithaca
Going home to me means being surrounded by people I love and people I can trust. Home to me means being surrounded by family and positive energy. I believe home where you feel most comfortable and that for me is my family and being surrounded by real love.
Samuel Lino
The hero & his life story
It all started when I was born, when I became part of this universe. I want to be known as someone who is protective and helpful, helping people throughout their darkest times.
The ally writes . . .
I’m Jorge’s protective spirit, my name is Largo. Jorge has been in challenging situations, I have helped him through thick and thin, and I know I know he is an honorable man, he should be free so he can help people.
The monster’s eye
Since I’ve been here people turn their backs at me. It makes me feel wounded.
Scylla & Carybdis
Relationships with people out in society that make me feel empty are the monsters in my life.
Jorge Miramontes
Ithaca
When I get out, I want to enjoy my life and passions, like traveling and working out. I’ll have my own place that’s home for me.
The hero & his life story
I’ve had many positive and negative points in my journey . Many of those were having to go through a struggle to see a better light or a struggle others did not have to go through at that age I went through that point.One of those points in my journey was having to move to Mexico , because the house owner gave me and my family a 2 month notice to leave.
My parents did not have good credit or were able to find housing so quickly. The only option was to move to Mexico.
But after that problem my parents did not give up and kept searching while being in Mexico and after 2 years we found a house and moved back. But after thinking we overcame that point of our lives , more problems came.
The housing area was in high tense with violence and gang activity which rooted out in many directions. Many family members and family friends were involved for money, protection, or even housing. Many of us kids looked up to them for the same values since we did not have money and many other things in our houses .After a couple of years passed , us kids that seen and were raised in environment like that were committing crimes and violence in communities that lead me to where I am at right now.
The fallen warrior writes . . .
I believe that some type of advice one of my ancestors would give to me is to continue the hard work and labor for the family and to never give up, to fight back in the right ways and not use violence if not needed. Main thing would probably be to take care of the family and do the right thing.
Carlos Perez-Vargas
The ally’s writes . . .
I am speaking from Carlos Perez’s inner thoughts and self trust. He is 17 years old and he was raised in Santa Maria California . He was raised in old fashioned Mexican traditions and ways. Which one of those traditions was to believe in god . Due to his experience in life that he has lived, he decided not to believe in a religion or high spirit power but in his own inner thought and self trust. He always will trust and go based on his inner belief. He has and will identify himself as a caring, loveable person overall caring more about others then himself. He has been involved in negative actions that at the moment he thought were right and acceptable for his inner belief, for example one of those was to use violence on whoever used violence towards you. The way of thinking for himself lead him to times and places in life which one is currently here at the SMJJC. But after being here long term and had a long term committee, he finally had realized that no matter if you believe in a religion or belief or not , it was not the way to live and for the community to see.
Problem solving was not the easiest for him and his inner beliefs but he overcame them and solved a lot afterwards . He would want the court or other judgemento areas to see he has overcome those ways and even though he still believes in nothing but his inner thoughts and beliefs , they are not the same thoughts and beliefs from two years ago.
The monster’s eye
There are many types of people in our communities, many support us and many hate us. Our own race, our own people sometimes go against us . It is the way we dress, talk, stand, socialize, look and many other things. But we are not how we are described and made apparent in movies or even talked about in meetings and new reports.Our groups of people and rules are to protect our low income communities and people and survive in neighbors that the state pushes aside. From my experience of being part of these groups and rules, many don’t like us but it is a way we have found to live and those who don’t understand either aren’t okay with the rules or haven’t been through or even seen what many of us have seen. Those people are Police officers, Mid-class civilians,the state and many more.
Carlos Perez-Vargas
Scylla, Charybdis & Calipso’s tribute
My Charybdis: Corrupt PoliceI need to survive it: Knowing my Rights.
Calipso’s Tribute: Someone who was there for me was my Mother. My Mom has stuck by my side and never left me alone even when I was not trying anymore. I am very grateful for my Mom and how far we have come. One reason I am very grateful for my mother is because she is a strong lady that even herself has been through alot and has overcome a lot. She has gone from entering a country she did not know and managing to find a job and many more without even knowing the same language .Even after finding out that her two older sons were involved negative organization and actions, she kept on going and did not gave up on her two older sons and the rest of her children.
Ithaca
Going back home is like reaching a goal or accomplishing something at the end of the day. It is like getting paid after hard work, knowing your loved ones are waiting for you and it is a feeling of comfort and safety. In my case, being able to go home is like an angel returning to heaven. I believe that my home is a safe place, it is a place that will let me sleep at night and let me see another birthday.It is like my safe spot , knowing all my family is there to make it feel better.
Carlos Perez-Vargas
The hero & his life story
Hero Name: Emilio the Minotaur
Emilio Perez
The ally writes . . .
I am Haiaiel, the guardian angel, I am presenting to you Emilio. He has shown commitment, loyalty, and consistency in his life. I have gave divine protection and helped make the right decisions for him. However, he faces lack of understanding from society. What is the solution? The solution is to help guide him with positive peers.
Emilio Perez
Emilio Perez
The monster’s Eye & Scylla
I have been shunned from society, they pushed me into a place where I felt trapped.
I would love to show my face in society but do not want to get chased to the place I was trapped in. They don’t know whether I am good or evil.
They see me protecting my home as dangerous, but I see it as protecting what I love.
I was judged and sent to that place where many get lost.
Ithaca
Emilio Perez
