Motivos magazine Vol 14 No 2: Vision edition

VISION EDITION

Coco Island:

Costa Rica's isla jurรกsica, jurasica, p. 6

College:

10

tips to ace the application process

La Vida: La generaciรณn Z se ocupa del ambiente Fitting in: no vale la pena

Cultura: Mi mundo en cuarentena A window into my quarantine world

Careers: Real world experience while still in school?

EX P R E S S CU LT U R A E X P L O RE U N I VERSI DAD EN GAGE T U FUTURO

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ESTÁ CONECTADO PARA TODA LA VIDA.

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::C ::p ::C ::p ::x ::v ::x ::v 2 From the Founder | 3 Letters to Motivos

CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS:

ULTURAL EXPRESSIONS

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5 A Window into my Quarantine World 6 Coco Island: Costa Rica’s Tropical Blue Paradise

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4 Community Voice: What are you doing to change the world for the better?

LA VIDA 10 In Defense of the VSCO Girl: Can a trend spark ecoLA VIDA awareness waves in Generation Z? 12 Keeping Your Financial Vision 20/20: Tips to keep on track even during COVID-19 14 Inspirations in Our Community: Meet Gabriela Sanchez 16 Joke with a Moral: Why working hard to fit in isn’t worth it 17 Relationships: How to decide if you should commit to your partner long-term 18 Fashion: How to look your best from the waist up!

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19 Insider Tips for College: 10 tips to ace the application process REP 21 Dinero for College: Must-have scholarships list!

22 College Student Perspectives: Growing Together at SUNY Geneseo

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CAREER EXPLORATION:

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24 Hands-on Medicine: Teen Finds Ways to Get Career Experience Now LA VIDA 26 Sobremesa: Sofia Deleon’s Philadelphia restaurant El Merkury combines passion and patria

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Motivos Team Moments: 1. 7.13-8.20.2020: Motivos founder presents six-week STEAM program for Salvation Army’s virtual summer camp, Philadelphia, PA

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6. 8.7.2020: Motivos founder offers keynote for Springboard Education’s summer program, Brooklyn, NY 7. 8.7.2020: Motivos Team Talk [virtually] hosts Dr. Sandra Quiñones Hemphill, AKA The Language Lady, York, PA 8. 8.19.2020: Motivos founder [virtually] presents “Talking Through Current Issues with Students” for Family Focus's Summer 2020 Institute, Chicago, IL

Share your personal story, poetry, photography, and/or illustrations with Motivos.

No more than 1200 words in English or Spanish. Edited text preferred.

Next edition deadline: November 30, 2020

3. 7.29.2020: Motivos collaborates with Health Partners Foundation to give away 1,000 magazines at their Free Food for Families Distribution Event, Yeadon, PA

5. 8.5-8.20.2020: Motivos founder presents threeweek STEAM program for Salvation Army’s summer camp, Philadelphia, PA

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MOTIVOS WELCOMES SUBMISSIONS!

2. 7.18.2020: Motivos’ first-ever virtual team retreat, Philadelphia, PA

4. 7.30.2020: Motivos founder and son engage in community outreach at the Historic Fairhill garden stand, Philadelphia, PA

LA VIDA

Send your articles to: editor@motivosmag.com, or mail to: Editor, Motivos magazine, P.O. Box 34391, Philadelphia, PA 19101.

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Comparte tu historia, poesía, fotografía ó ilustraciones con los lectores de Motivos.

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Envía tus artículos antes de 30 de noviembre de 2020 a: editor@motivosmag.com o por correo a: Editor, Motivos magazine, P.O. Box 34391, Philadelphia, PA 19101.

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VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2 Founder/Publisher Jenée Alicia Chizick Agüero Editors/Translators Ariel Pichersky, Vera Senderowicz Guerra, Olive Kuhn, Katie Smith, Agustina Tullio Graphic Design Johanna Shane Rogayan, Jenette A. Sityar Contributing Writers Jorge Arturo Agüero, Jenny André, Michel Ange, Jenée Alicia Chizick Agüero, Alexandra Esquivel Mena, Desiree Fernandez, Gaby Fernandez, Karyme Font, Geiner Golfin Duarte, Dr. Pilar Gonzales, Catherine Gonzalez, Vincent Haro-Moss, Shani Hayes, Madeleine Janz, Jessica Leon, LuzSelenia Loeb, Lizmary Ortiz, Maikeel Pérez Montero, Matias Pérez Castillo, Elena Phillips, Michael Starling, Izabel J. Tanan, Allen Williams Artwork/Photography Yohel Agüero, Shawnee Chaudhury for NJ HOSA, Jenée Alicia Chizick Agüero, Corem Coreano, Daniel Font, David Garcia, Geiner Golfin Duarte, Courtesy of Health Partners Foundation, Louis Kang, Courtesy of El Merkury, Ahmrii Johnson, Lizmary Ortiz, Maikeel Pérez Montero, Juami Pericas, Gene Smirnov, Aidan Un, Rocio Vallejo-Alegre Youth Media Team Desiree Fernandez (Media Fellow), Gaby Fernandez, Karyme Font, Kiara Lynn Garcia, Vincent HaroMoss, Madeleine Janz (Media Fellow), Olive Kuhn (Writing Instructor), Ella Magliente, Ramses Montes, Lizmary Ortiz (Media Fellow), Steven Ramsey Jr. Cover Photo Photography by Maikeel Pérez Montero.

Matias Pérez Castillo volunteers at Coco Island, Costa Rica, p. 6 Special Thanks To my father, James F. Chizick, who passed away on April 26, 2020, at the age of 77. I learned from him what it looked like to approach life with a sense of curiosity, compassion, patience, and humor. A strong man of faith and public school teacher, he taught me the power of storytelling to build bridges of understanding and empathy.

I am forever grateful to be his daughter. ~Founder Jenée Motivos is printed quarterly and distributed to over 1400 participating youth-serving organizations, schools, libraries, cultural organizations, and colleges in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Colombia. For a list of locations where Motivos is available, or to order online for your organization, go to: www.motivosmag.com.

For advertising or subscription options, call 267-283-1733 or send an e-mail to: info@motivosmag.com.

Welcome to the Vision edition!

Ponerse una visión es como Setting a vision is like projecting an image into the proyectar una imagen hacia el futuro. Para formar esa imagen, es future. To form that image, it From the Founder útil exponerse a diferentes ideas, helps to be exposed to different escenarios y personas en distintos ideas, scenarios, and people at puntos de su trayectoria de vida. different points along life’s trajectory.

What you’re doing right now by reading Lo que estás haciendo ahora mismo leyendo Motivos es precisamente eso. En el tiempo Motivos is just that. In the time it takes you que te lleve leer esta edición, te expondrás a to finish this edition, you will have been perspectivas que desafían el statu quo, ideas exposed to perspectives that challenge the que te ayudarán a dar lo mejor de ti y recursos status quo, insights that help you put your best foot forward, and resources to overcome para superar los obstáculos en el camino hacia hurdles on the path toward your dreams. What tus sueños. Lo que encontrarás aquí expandirá you will find inside will expand what you lo que creías posible para tu futuro. thought possible for your future.

Cuando corrí la maratón de la ciudad de When I ran the New York City marathon in Nueva York en 1997, lo hice contra aquello que 1997, it went against what doctors thought los médicos consideraban posible con dos rodillas was possible with two reconstructed knees— reconstruidas, y contra los condicionamientos and what my body, as a former gymnast and de mi cuerpo de ex gimnasta y velocista. Seguí sprinter, was conditioned for, too. To prepare, I adelante, buscando el consejo de corredores sought advice from seasoned runners and built experimentados y desarrollando resistencia. up my endurance. Yet it was the unexpected Sin embargo, fueron las inesperadas voces de voices of support I received along the path of aliento a lo largo de la propia maratón las que the actual marathon that got me to the finish me hicieron llegar a la meta. Mientras corría por line. As I ran through Harlem, kids gathered Harlem, a los lados de la calle se reunieron niños along the sides of the street, crouched over que, agachados con cubetas, tamborileaban las buckets, drumming with their hands and rhyth- manos e imploraban rítmicamente que llegara al mically imploring, “You can do it. You can do final: “Puedes lograrlo. Puedes lograrlo. Puedes it. You can do it ’til the end.” llegar a la meta".

I repeated their chant in my head the rest La canción se repitió en mi cabeza durante of the journey. Through the cold rain, through el resto del recorrido. A pesar de la lluvia fría, knee aches, through hip pain, I persevered de los dolores en las rodillas y las caderas, because of unexpected support just when I perseveré gracias a un inesperado apoyo justo needed it most. cuando más lo necesitaba.

My hope is that you find a story, quote, or Espero que en esta edición encuentres una resource in this edition that resonates with historia, una frase o un recurso que resuene your ideas for your future and that pushes you con tus ideas para el futuro y que te impulse a to set your vision in motion. poner en movimiento tu visión.

Con cariño,

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Singer Christian Daniel y su camino al éxito, p.10

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Motivos encourages self-expression, college and career exploration, and community and cultural engagement.

Motivos promueve la expresión personal, la exploración de universidades y de carreras, y el compromiso comunitario y cultural.

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Jenée, your energy, creative thinking, joy, and flexibility have been a force for good at our school. Our partnership with Motivos brought new friends and new opportunities, as does our continued relationship with you and Motivos. Thank you! ~Noelle Kellich, former head of teaching and learning, The Revolution School, Philadelphia, PA

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I wish more youth could be exposed to your organization and what it offers! ~Attendee at Motivos’ Meet the Author event, Philadelphia, PA I found interesting the approach to empower ourselves doing something we think is out of our scope. Now I can see it is always worthier to try . . . ¡Toca y se te abrirá! Thank you! ~Erika Díaz Pascacio, visiting scholar, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY I really appreciated the diversity of the [Motivos] staff and seeing other young people like me, who weren’t afraid to admit how nervous they were. It really encouraged me to truly step forward and actually do something to display my love of writing. ~Karyme Font, junior, The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, attendee at Motivos Meet the Author event, Philadelphia, PA I think it is amazing what the magazine is doing. I am interested in going to medical school, so the article Jerica wrote is of great interest to me. I love the wide range of topics that Motivos covers! ~Attendee at Motivos’ Meet the Author event, Philadelphia, PA

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C OM MUN IT Y VOICE How do you hope the world will change for your future children?

What steps are you taking now to help that vision become a reality?

These uncertain times highlight the startling levels of inequality that various groups experience. When I refer to inequality, I mean the unreasonably large gaps that exist between poverty-stricken communities and wealthy ones.

These gaps threaten the livelihoods of generaALLEN tions of people and can no longer go unchecked without devastating results. When I decide to have children, I hope that I am fortunate enough to welcome them into a world where their aspirations aren’t limited due to racial or socioeconomic barriers. Ideally, I would like those in power to be actively cognizant of community inequalities. To help with this, I am diligently learning about how inequities impact communities so I will be able to guide marginalized youth in the ways that they need. ~Allen Williams, 2020 graduate, The University of Virginia, Philadelphia, PA As someone who thinks about the future a lot, I believe that our planet will be taken care of, and there will be racial justice, better government, and healthcare. Our planet is dying everyday, and I believe we have the power and dedication to save it. I try my hardest to reduce my waste and to use reusable materials. I try to ALEXANDRA reuse cardboard and plastic to make different things and use my creativity and imagination to transform them. I enjoy shopping at thrift stores and buying things second hand. I use all my social media platforms to spread love and not hate and to inform all those about current issues that are happening in the world.

Gen Z has the power and knowledge to help our world succeed and make it a better place for the generations to come. ~Alexandra Esquivel Mena, 8th grader, Colegio Maria Inmaculada, Moravia, San Jose, Costa Rica We hope the world changes by better supporting children and families in our community. We work for Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha which provides loving and nurturing temporary foster homes for children who are in need. APM SHANI, JESSICA takes steps towards helping children’s vision to & MICHEL become a reality on a daily basis. ~Shani Hayes, Jessica Leon, and Michel Ange, APM staff members, Philadelphia, PA [We want] children to be able to play outside while feeling safe and parents to be able to not worry about their children when they’re at school.

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AHMIYAH & YEZENIA

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LEILANI & YARICELIS

~Ahmiyah and Yezenia, performers, Olney Youth Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA [We hope] to stop all the violence, for kids to know they are safe, and for parents to keep kids away from guns and other dangerous things. ~Leilani and Yaricelis, performers, Olney Youth Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA

IZABEL

I hope that the world changes for the kids who have suffered due to gun violence and for families who have lost children. I hope there will be more programs that help children and families who have lost loved ones due to these issues. ~Izabel J. Tanan, Olney Youth Arts Festival attendee, Philadelphia, PA

At Latinitas we strive to empower all girls to innovate through media and technology. We teach our students about cultural significance, self-confidence, and current themes like gentrification, colorism and racism. Our girls aren’t blind to what's going on in society. They take in their surroundings and form strong opinions.

They may be overlooked because they are young but we provide an environment where they are heard and amplified. We help guide them deeper into what they already know and teach them how they can help combat these issues. Our students really are our future. We are empowering the next wave of journalists, coders, and leaders of tomorrow. ~ Vanessa Flores, on behalf of Latinitas, Austin TX

MICHAEL

People should be concerned with how we treat each other. Man’s standards change some people, but the Bible’s standards can change all people. Our worldwide organization, Jehovah’s Witnesses, goes door to door speaking the only means, which is God’s kingdom. ~Michael Starling, Olney community member, Philadelphia, PA We hope more kids can have a nice day with their parents and play with them. ~Brianye and Aidulyz, performers, Olney Youth Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA

BRIANYE & AIDULYZ

In the future I hope that many people, regardless of their race or gender, have opportunities for work and to live comfortably. For example, [I hope] people who are undocumented entering the US can find peace and a solution to have equal opportunities. Everyone should be DESIREE able to experience the American dream. I am a student, so I’m learning and growing as a human being with skills and work opportunities to not only be successful, but for my future children. ~Desiree Fernandez, second year student, Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

::C :: ::x :: ULTURAL EXPRESSIONS

COLLE

A Window into My Quarantine World

My room is quiet except for the pitter patter of the rain and the faint sounds of music coming from my sister’s room, bringing the smallest amount of life into the soundless presence we call our home. I decide that’s enough; I have to get out of here. Unfortunately the weather doesn’t agree with my sudden urge to leave myEXPLORATION house for a walk.

CAREER The sky is gray and ugly, and the roads have decided to become rivers, as if the sky is feeling the same way I am.

Any logical person would stay home to be protected from getting a fever; however I’m not that logical person. Grabbing my rain coat and my dog’s leash, I walk out the door.

Mi cuarto está en silencio, salvo por el repiqueteo de la lluvia y el murmullo de la música proveniente de la habitación de mi hermana, que trae una mínima vitalidad a la presencia silenciosa que llamamos nuestro hogar. Decido que ya es suficiente; tengo que salir de aquí. Desafortunadamente, el clima no acompaña mi repentino impulso de salir a caminar. El cielo está gris, feo, y los caminos han resuelto convertirse en ríos, como si el cielo sintiera lo mismo que yo. Cualquier persona razonable se quedaría en casa para evitar enfermarse; pero yo no soy esa persona razonable. Tomo mi impermeable y la correa de mi perro, y salgo.

By Gaby Fernandez, 9th grader, St. Basil Academy, Jenkintown, PA

Durante la cuarentena, la tierra parece moverse menos.

Hay cosas en pausa. La naturaleza sigue en movimiento, los pájaros cantan y sopla el sonido del viento. Escucho menos autos y conversaciones. Veo que algunos trotan y pasean a sus perros. El cielo tiene una visión de 2020. La tierra se recupera mientras mis ojos están puestos en una pantalla para hacer la tarea. La comida, sin embargo, no está en pausa; la comida debe continuar. Valorar la comida casera es lo mejor, me mantiene cuerdo.

By Desiree Fernandez, sophomore, Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

¿Cómo se siente el mundo con la cuarentena? ¿Quieren quedarse todos los días en casa viendo Netflix y comiendo todo lo que encuentran en la casa? Algunos siguen trabajando.

Hay estudiantes que siempre hacen su trabajo. Y otros que no.

La cuarentena me pone perezoso, me cansa y me estresa. Me encanta estar con mis amigos, salir y pasarla bien. Mi pregunta es: si la cuarentena durara tres años, ¿la gente sobreviviría? Sé que algunos morirían de estrés, problemas mentales o en bancarrota. Sé que a algunos les encanta salir y gastar dinero los fines de semana. Ahora llega la cuarentena y pone las cosas peor que nunca. Sé que cuando la cuarentena termine nadie se quedará en casa y todo el día será una fiesta. Pagarán a la cuarentena por lo que ha hecho. 2019, te extraño mucho.

By Jenny André, 10th grader, Olney ASPIRA Charter Academy, Philadelphia, PA

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During the quarantine, the earth feels less in motion.

Certain things are on pause. Nature remains in motion, birds chirping and the sound of the wind blowing. I hear fewer cars and sounds of people talking. I see some people jogging and walking their dogs. The sky has a 2020 vision. Earth is healing while my eyes are on a screen for homework. Food, however, is not on a pause; the food must go on. Appreciating home cooked food is the best, keeps me sane.

How does the world feel about quarantine? Do they want to stay home every day, watch Netflix, and eat every food that they found in their house? Some people are still working. There are students who always do their work. and some who don’t.

Quarantine makes me lazy, tired, and stressed. I love being around my friends, going out, and chilling. My question is: if there were a quarantine for three years, would people survive? I know some will die from stress, mental issues, or being broke. I know some love to go out and spend their money on the weekends. Now quarantine comes and makes things worse than ever before. I know when the quarantine is done, nobody will stay home, and it will be a party all day. They will pay quarantine back for what it’s done. 2019, I miss you so much.

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COSTA RICA’S TROPICAL BLUE PARADISE LA VIDA

Islet to the southeast of Coco Island

By Matias Pérez Castillo, Geiner Golfin Duarte, and Maikeel Pérez Montero

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acques Cousteau called it the most beautiful island in the world. Tourists from around the globe pay $6,800 and travel 36 hours by boat from Costa Rica’s nearest port to enjoy the natural beauty and abundant marine life of Cocos Island National Park. Motivos brings you there through the eyes of those who’ve spent countless hours protecting this natural treasure.

12-YEAR-OLD GETS RARE ACCESS TO JURASSIC-LIKE ISLAND

Cocos Island National Park is one of the best places in the world to scuba dive. ~ Matías Pérez Castillo

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I volunteered for 30 days at the Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica, encountering the blue ocean and marine life that’s nearly 300 nautical miles from the nearest coast.

My dad is a park ranger there, and he taught me what his work consists of. I learned how to tie nautical knots, how to work the boats used to patrol the area, and about trail maintenance and site cleanup in the surrounding area.

From this experience, I learned to value and conserve the environment, and I saw how it needs our help. Also, that Cocos Island National Park is one of the best places in the world to scuba dive.

I invite you to read more about the park, why we should preserve our natural areas, and how to volunteer to help conserve the world in which we live. ~Matías Pérez Castillo, age 12, student at the School of the Immaculate, Quepos, Costa Rica

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Administrative offices in Wafer bay, Coco Island

Sunset at Wafer beach, Coco Island

Coco Island is also known as the Island of Sharks, famous for the large shark congregations that inhabit or pass through its bays and islets. In its waters live 14 species of sharks, including the whale shark (Rincodon typus), the tiger shark (Galiocerdo cuvier), and the black tip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus).

Park ranger and diver Maikeel Pérez M. inspects marking of whitetip reef sharks

These defenders of Coco Island represents a sample of the most priminature risk their lives tive state of nature, or what and sacrifice their we could well call "Jurassic families daily to protect Park." The park has in its the biodiversity of this insular part, an evergreen natural treasure. forest, covered with ferns ~ Geiner Golfin Duarte, and bromeliads, where the marine biologist dense clouds and the almost permanent rains give rise to rivers and waterfalls. The underwater cliffs and caves are witnesses to the number of species and marine life that live in its waters, especially the shark populations.

Cocos Island National Park is a clear example of what is at stake when we talk about protecting marine resources. In 1997, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its scientific, ecological, economic, and political value. It became one of the 16 marine areas in the world to be designated as a “Blue Park” by the Marine Conservation Institute for meeting standards for the conservation of natural resources as a global ocean refuge. This tropical blue paradise is one of the top 10 sites in the world for recreational diving.

The protection and conservation of it is in the hands of the National System of Conservation Areas’ park rangers, who work more than 330 miles from what they call the continent, in 30-day tours of service. The nature of their work leads them to adopt a new way of life, with limited resources, where these defenders of nature risk their lives and sacrifice their families daily to protect the biodiversity of this natural treasure. There are many challenges but with work and dedication these noble human beings will continue to protect this blue paradise. ~ Geiner Golfin Duarte, marine biologist, Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica

Park ranger and diver Maikeel Pérez M. removes a hook from a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) killed as a result of illegal fishing

A PARK RANGER’S PERSPECTIVE Cocos Island National Park represents love of nature and, from my perspective, the sacrifice of leaving my family every month to go more than 300 nautical miles out to sea. I know that through my efforts to conserve these natural resources, my children will enjoy a healthy sea when they grow up!

I’m in charge of protecting a marine area where all kinds of sharks, pelagic (large fish that live most of their lives in surface waters offshore and carry out large migrations) and reef fish coexist, and are stalked by illegal fishermen.

A shark is worth more alive than dead. A shark or any other Everything we prevent marine species attracts one price from being captured when killed or captured. While represents a hope, not alive, they help maintain a only for Costa Rica, but healthy marine ecosystem which for all the countries of can be appreciated by tourists and contributes to a healthy sea, full the world. of life for responsible fishing. ~ Maikeel Pérez Montero, For that reason, one of my park ranger duties is to patrol a 12-mile area around Coco island, where everything we prevent from being captured represents a hope, not only for Costa Rica, but for all the countries of the world. Each species that survives in these seas will move freely throughout the oceans and will reproduce, thus ensuring a future full of life and hope.

I invite you to explore the protected natural areas near you, and investigate volunteering or otherwise contributing to the conservation of the environment. Everything you do for the good of nature today benefits the future of your children. ~ Maikeel Pérez Montero, park ranger, Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica

In 2019, the United Nations named Costa Rica “Champion of the Earth,” for the country’s efforts toward protecting natural environments, commitment to programs that reduce atmospheric emissions, and the fight against climate change!

• One of the 34 regions with the greatest diversity of animal species • One of the 20 most biodiverse countries globally • Home to 90,000 species, approximately 6,700 of which are marine life

Cocos Island National Park is located in the Pacific Ocean about halfway between Costa Rica and Ecuador's Galapagos Islands.

ECUADOR

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Photography by David Garcia, Geiner Golfin Duarte, Maikeel Pérez Montero, and Juami Pericas

THE BIOLOGY BEHIND THE RARE JEWEL THAT IS COCOS ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

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LA ISLA DEL COCO:

AZUL PARAÍSO TROPICAL

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acques Cousteau la llamó la isla más hermosa del mundo. Turistas de todo el mundo pagan $6.800 y viajan 36 horas por agua desde el puerto costarricense más cercano para disfrutar de la belleza natural y la abundante vida marina del Parque Nacional Isla del Coco. Motivos te lleva hasta allí a través de los ojos de personas que han pasado incontables horas protegiendo este tesoro natural.

JOVEN DE 12 AÑOS LOGRA INGRESAR A UNA ISLA JURÁSICA

Bahia Wafer, Isla del Coco

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La Isla del Coco es también conocida como la Isla de los Tiburones, famosa por las grandes comunidades de tiburones que habitan o transitan sus bahías e islotes.

En sus agua habitan 14 especies de tiburones, incluido el tiburón ballena (Rincodon typus), el tiburón tigre (Galiocerdo cuvier) y el tiburón punta negra (Carcharhinus limbatus).

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Guardaparque Maikeel Pérez M. y su hijo Matias Pérez Castillo en el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco mientras hacia voluntariado. Al fondo la Catarata Wafer, Bahia Wafer.

Coral Blanco, Islote Manuelita, Isla del Coco

Piquero (Sula leucogaster). La Isla del Coco se mira al fondo.

Photography by Maikeel Peréz Montero and Geiner Golfin Duarte

Fui voluntario durante 30 días en el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco en Costa Rica. Lo que más me El Parque Nacional Isla llamó la atención fue el azul del océano y la vida del Coco es uno de los marina llega hasta 300 millas náuticas de la costa. mejores lugares en el Mi papá es guardaparque en la isla y me mundo para bucear. enseñó en qué consiste su trabajo. También apre~Matías Pérez Castillo, ndí a hacer nudos marineros, cómo funcionan las lanchas con las que patrullan y contribuí a 12 años de edad muchos trabajos en tierra, como en el mantenimiento de senderos y la limpieza de sitios en los alrededores.

En mi experiencia, aprendí a valorar y a conservar el ambiente, y vi cómo necesita de nuestra ayuda. También, que el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco es uno de los mejores lugares en el mundo para bucear.

Tiburones punta blanca de Los invito a leer más sobre el parque, por qué debemos conservar arrecife (Triaenodon obesus) nuestras áreas naturales y cómo sumarte como voluntario para ayudar a conservar el mundo en que vivimos. ~Matías Pérez Castillo, 12 años, estudiante de la Escuela de la Inmaculada, Quepos, Costa Rica

LA PERSPECTIVA DE UN GUARDAPARQUE Como guardaparque, para mí la Isla del Coco representa el amor a la naturaleza y el Cada captura que evitamos sacrificio de dejar a mi familia cada mes para representa una esperanza internarme a más de 300 millas náuticas mar no solo para Costa Rica, adentro. Sé que el esfuerzo por conservar los sino para todos los países recursos naturales lo disfrutarán mis hijos del mundo. cuando sean grandes.

Estoy encargado de proteger un área ma~ Maikeel Pérez Montero, rina donde conviven todo tipo de tiburones, Guardaparque peces pelágicos (especies de gran tamaño que viven la mayor parte de su vida en las aguas superficiales de alta mar y realizan grandes migraciones) y de arrecife, acechados por pescadores ilegales.

Un tiburón vale más vivo que muerto. Un tiburón o cualquier animal marino tiene un solo precio cuando muere, mientras que con vida mantendrá un ecosistema marino sano y podrá ser apreciado por turistas. Si de peces pelágicos se trata, un mar sano y lleno de vida es un recurso valioso para los pescadores, que pueden practicar la pesca responsable.

Por eso, una de mis funciones es patrullar junto con mis compañeros un área de 12 millas alrededor de la isla. Cada captura que evitamos representa una esperanza no solo para Costa Rica, sino para todos los países del mundo. Al no haber fronteras, las especies que sobreviven en estos mares se desplazarán libremente por todo los océanos y se reproducirán. De esa forma nos aseguramos un esperanzador futuro lleno de vida.

Te invito a que explores más las áreas protegidas e investigues sobre voluntariados y aportes a la conservación del ambiente. Todo lo que hagas por el bien de la naturaleza hoy, el futuro te lo agradecerá. ~Maikeel Pérez Montero (papá de Matías), Guardaparque, Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Costa Rica

Cocoteros y Cataratas localizadas al Suroeste de la Isla del Coco

Catarata ubicada en el Sureste de la Isla del Coco

EL LADO BIOLÓGICO DE LA ISLA DEL COCO

Cangrejo ermitaño

Picos rocosos, Bahia Iglesias

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La Isla del Coco representa una muestra del estado más primitivo de la naturaleza, por lo que bien podríamos llamarla una “isla jurásica”. El parque posee, en su parte insular, un bosque siempre verde cubierto de helechos y bromelias. Las densas nubes y las casi permanentes lluvias dan origen a ríos y cascadas. Los acantilados y cuevas submarinas son testigos de la cantidad de especies y vida marina que albergan sus aguas, especialmente las poblaciones de tiburones.

El Parque Nacional Isla del Coco es un claro ejemplo de protección de los recursos marinos. En 1997 fue declarado Patrimonio Natural de La Humanidad por la UNESCO por su valor científico, ecológico, económico y político. Es una de las 16 áreas marinas del mundo que recibieron el premio Blue Park por cumplir estándares de conservación de recursos naturales como Refugio Oceánico Global. Además, este paraíso azul tropical es uno de los diez mejores lugares del mundo para la práctica del buceo recreativo.

En cuanto a su protección y conservación, brindan su apoyo organismos gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, y se ocupan especialmente los guardaparques del Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación. Estos hombres y mujeres trabajan a más de 532 kilómetros de lo que ellos llaman continente, en turnos de 30 días de servicio. Esto los lleva a adoptar una nueva forma de vida, con recursos limitados, arriesgando mucho y sacrificando el contacto diario con su familia para resguardad la biodiversidad de este tesoro natural.

Son muchos los retos, pero con trabajo y dedicación estos nobles seres humanos seguirán protegiendo nuestro paraíso azul. ~ Geiner Golfin Duarte, biólogo marino, Isla del Coco, Costa Rica

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::x ::v CAREER

EXPLORATION

LA VIDA

IN DEFENSE OF THE

VSCO Girl

By Lizmary Ortiz

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Clean Eating Improve your diet while reducing greenhouse gases produced in animal farming.

• Buy local produce from farmers markets to reduce the preservatives you consume and carbon emissions that result from food being transported long distances.

• Eat less packaged foods with processed ingredients.

This will lessen the demand for non-sustainable and unhealthy products.

• Try vegetarianism or veganism to reduce overfishing, animal butchering, and habitat destruction for farmland use. Plus, the options are delicious!

Lifestyle Changes By adopting certain habits, or even incorporating new things into your home, you can have a hand in protecting the environment.

• Reduce, reuse, recycle. You can keep an estimated 37.8 percent of waste out of landfills by recycling.

• Don’t buy fast fashion. Cheaper items are often made with non-sustainable materials in factories that create excess pollution. Go for higher quality, classic items that will last you longer and reduce the number of clothes you will need to buy over time. Thrifting is a good way to upcycle and is uber trendy.

• Stay away from animal-product clothing. Faux fur and vegan leather look just as good, while not contributing to the fifty million animals killed annually for the fashion industry.

• Buy more plants. Surrounding yourself with green will help cleanse the air, improve mental health, and reduce stress. Abd they’re great decorative accents!

Illustration by Lizmary Ortiz, sophomore, Holy Family University, Philadelphia, PA

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early all plastic items have sustainable alternatives.

N Consider swapping some of the cheaply made, single-use plastics in your life for their long-lasting alternatives to help save over 700,000 tons of trash produced every day in the US. Consider using: • Bamboo toothbrushes • Metal water bottles and straws • Fabric bags for shopping

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SCO is a photo-editing app that started trending in the spring of 2019, bringing with it a culture centered around positivity, highly cultivated aesthetics and sustainability. With it came the “VSCO girl,” the term for the young girls and women that used the app, as they often wore tell-tale hair scrunchies and oversized t-shirts, and only used hydro flask water bottles and metal straws. Not long after the term began spreading around social media, teens everywhere began to follow the trend and, along with it, practice eco-awareness. This heightened consciousness spread to kids and teens on another popular app, TikTok, building momentum for a mindful youth subculture that has left a permanent mark on Generation Z. Along with the trend VSCO girls are on to somecame a wave of ecothing. According to the Food awareness amongst kids and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and teens on TikTok, creating a mindful youth an estimated one-third of all food produced gets thrown subculture that has left out, rotting in landfills and a permanent mark on contributing to the estimated Generation Z. two billion tons of solid waste produced annually worldwide.

National Geographic’s Laura Parker found in 2018 that that nearly four hundred million tons of plastics are produced globally each year, of which only 9 percent are effectively recycled.

You may not think that your everyday habits have a hand in the global environmental crisis, but you would be wrong; all of the actions that we take as members of society impact our surroundings. Think about this: it takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, as compared to the mere 300 gallons required for making one pound of vegan sausage. How can a VSCO girl actually address the environmental issues they advocate for? And how can you take part in this movement for sustainability? Motivos has rounded up three of the most effective strategies to incorporate eco-friendliness into your lifestyle, while staying up to date on today’s trends.

Ditch the plastic

EN DEFENSA DE LA

VSCO girl

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Rechaza el plástico.

C asi todos los productos de plástico tienen alternativas sostenibles. Considera cambiar los plásticos baratos de un solo uso por alternativas duraderas para ayudar a reducir las más de 700.000 toneladas de basura que se producen todos los días en los Estados Unidos.

Considera usar: • Cepillo de dientes de bambú • Botellas de agua y popotes metálicos • Bolsas de tela para hacer compras

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Consume comida saludable ejora tu dieta mientras reduces los gases de efecto inverM nadero que produce la cría de animales.

• Compra productos frescos locales en los mercados de agricultores para no consumir conservantes y reducir

las emisiones de carbono que resultan del transporte de alimentos a largas distancias.

• Consume menos alimentos envasados con ingredientes procesados. Esto reducirá la demanda de productos no saludables ni sostenibles.

• Prueba el vegetarianismo o el veganismo para reducir la sobrepesca, la matanza de animales y la destrucción de hábitats para el uso de tierras de cultivo. Además, ¡las opciones son deliciosas!

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Cambia tu estilo de vida Adoptar ciertos hábitos o incluso incorporar cosas nuevas en tu hogar puede contribuir a la protección del ambiente.

• Reduce, reutiliza, recicla. Al reciclar, puedes hacer que el 37,8% de los residuos no vaya a los vertederos.

• No compres cosas de modas pasajeras. Los productos más baratos suelen fabricarse con materiales no sostenibles en fábricas muy contaminantes. Elige productos de mayor calidad, clásicos que duren más y reduzcan la cantidad de ropa que necesites en el largo plazo. Usar productos usados es una buena forma de reciclar y está súper de moda.

• Mantente lejos de las prendas producidas con animales.

La piel sintética y el cuero vegano se ven igual de bien, y no suman a los 50 millones de animales que son exterminados cada año para la industria de la moda.

• Compra más plantas. Rodearte de verde te ayudará a limpiar el aire, mejorará tu salud mental y te reducirá el estrés. ¡y son excelentes acentos decorativos!

Junto con la moda vino una oleada de conciencia ecológica entre los niños y adolescentes en TikTok, con lo que se creó una subcultura juvenil consciente que ha dejado una marca permanente en la generación Z.

About the Author Lizmary Ortiz attends Holy Family University, where she studies English and Education. Her hobbies include writing, photography, fashion, and activism. Find her on Instagram handle at @lizmary_ortiz.

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SCO es una aplicación de edición de fotos que comenzó a ser tendencia en la primavera de 2019, y trajo consigo una cultura fotográfica centrada en la positividad, el cultivo de la estética, y la sostenibilidad. Con ella vino la “VSCO girl”, el término usado para referirse a las jóvenes que usaban la aplicación, ya que a menudo llevaban llamativas bandas elásticas para el pelo y playeras grandes, y solo usaban botellas de agua Hydro Flask y popotes metálicos. Poco después de que el término comenzara a difundirse por las redes, adolescentes de todo el mundo comenzaron a seguir la tendencia y, con ella, a ecoconcientizarse. Esta conciencia se difundió entre niños y adolescentes en otra aplicación popular, TikTok, le dio impulso a una subcultura juvenil consciente que ha dejado una marca permanente en la generación Z. Las VSCO girls van encaminadas. Según la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, se estima que un tercio de todos los alimentos producidos se desperdicia, se pudre en los vertederos y contribuye a unas dos mil millones de toneladas de desechos sólidos que cada año se producen a nivel mundial. Laura Parker, de National Geographic, descubrió en 2018 que casi 400 millones de toneladas de plásticos se producen en todo el mundo cada año, de los cuales solo el 9% efectivamente se recicla.

Puede que no consideres que tus hábitos cotidianos influyan en la crisis ambiental mundial, pero te equivocarías; todas nuestras acciones como miembros de la sociedad impactan en nuestro entorno. Piensa en esto: se necesitan 2000 galones de agua para producir una libra de carne de res, mientras que hacen falta apenas 300 galones para hacer una libra de salchichas veganas. ¿Cómo puede una VSCO girl enfrentar realmente los problemas ambientales por los que lucha? ¿Y cómo puedes tú participar en este movimiento por la sostenibilidad? Motivos resume tres de las estrategias más efectivas para incorporar a tu estilo de vida el respeto por el ambiente, mientras te mantienes al día con las tendencias.

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KEEPING YOUR FINANCIAL VISION 20/20

By Bryan Rodriguez

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Photo credit: www.yorktradtionsbank.com; Illustrations designed by Katemangostar / Freepik

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t’s never too late to turn your life around, and it’s never too ATTAINABLE: Assess where you are in life and set realistic goals early to plan for your future. Many of life’s goals are related that you can work towards on a daily basis. If you are looking to to money, and if you can manage your personal finances, buy a car in three years that costs $21,000, you need to break you’ll have a better chance at achieving those goals. that down into saving $7,000 per year, $134 per week, and Do you hope to save for a new phone or car? Perhaps you’re $19.23 per day. The $21,000 figure may seem intimidating, but worried about paying for college or eliminating student debt, or if you break it down, that amount isn’t as daunting. maybe you’re already wondering how you can save for retireRELEVANT: Make sure your goals are relevant to you! Focus on ment. While these goals can seem difficult to achieve, remember what matters to you and use that drive to stay accountable to the path to financial success is a marathon, not a sprint. The achieve the goals you set out for yourself. key to winning this marathon is threefold: knowing what you want, setting specific goals, and staying accountable.

TIME-BOUND: Possibly the most important part of a S.M.A.R.T. The first step is to reflect on what you want in life and to goal is making sure that it is time-bound. Setting deadlines for identify the resources you’ll need to make those dreams a realyour various short-term and long-term goals assists you in esity. Want to own a home? Then, you'll need to have good credit tablishing a timeline with multiple milestones to help keep you to get a loan from a bank. Then you need to establish S.M.A.R.T. accountable along the way. goals to get you to the finish line.

S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym that stands for Now that your financial goals have been set, the final specific, measurable, attainable, relstep is to hold yourself accountable. Setting a budget is Remember the path evant, and time-bound. helpful in managing your personal finances and underto financial success standing how you can change your spending habits to is a marathon, not a SPECIFIC: It is critical to ensure that keep yourself on track. Track your measurable S.M.A.R.T. you have specific short-term and longfinancial goals by checking in regularly (maybe weekly sprint. term goals that will serve as a step-byor bi-weekly) and evaluating if you’re meeting your step guide in the grand scheme of your objectives. If not, determine what you should change decision-making. Vague goals are often difficult to carry out to produce better results. An accountability buddy—someone because there isn’t a good plan of action. who would check on your progress and keep you motivated—is another great way to stay focused on your goals.

MEASURABLE: Making your goals measurable allows you to track and evaluate your progress. This aspect will keep you motiMake 2020 your year by setting financial goals, holding yourvated to make sure you are meeting your short-term goals, such self to them, and keeping your 20/20 vision focused on financial as saving $50 every week over the course of two years in order success. to create an emergency fund.

GO SPECIFIC

MEASURABLE

ACHIEVABLE

RELEVANT

TIME BOUND

What do you want to do?

How will you know when you've reached it?

Is it in your power to accomplish it?

Does it matter to you?

Set deadlines for short-term and long-term goals

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MANTENER TU META ECONÓMICA 20/20

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unca es demasiado tarde para dar un cambio a tu vida, LIMITADO EN EL TIEMPO: Es posible que lo más importante para y nunca es demasiado temprano para planificar el futuro. una meta SMART sea limitarla en el tiempo. Poner fechas límite a Muchas metas de la vida están vinculadas al dinero, y si tus diversos objetivos a corto y a largo plazo te ayuda a establecer puedes administrar tus finanzas personales, tendrás mejores oporun cronograma con múltiples puntos de llegada, y así saber cómo tunidades de conseguirlas. vas avanzando. ¿Piensas en ahorrar para un teléfono o un auto nuevo? Tal vez te preocupe pagar la universidad o saldar Una vez establecidos tus objetivos tu deuda estudiantil, o tal vez ya te estés preguntando económicos, el paso final es mantener una Recuerda que el cómo ahorrar para la jubilación. Si bien estos objeticontabilidad. Establecer un presupuesto es camino al éxito vos pueden parecer difíciles de alcanzar, recuerda que útil para administrar tu economía pereconómico es una el camino al éxito económico es una maratón, no un sonal y comprender cómo puedes cambiar maratón, no un sprint. sprint. La clave para ganarla es triple: saber lo que quitus hábitos de consumo para manteneres, establecer objetivos específicos y ser responsable. erte en camino. Para dar seguimiento a El primer paso es reflexionar sobre lo que quieres en la vida e tus objetivos económicos SMART revisa tus movimientos de identificar los recursos que necesitarás para hacer realidad esos forma periódica (semanal o quincenalmente) y evalúa si estás sueños. ¿Quieres tu propia casa? Entonces necesitarás tener un cumpliendo tus objetivos. Si no vas bien, identifica qué debes buen perfil de crédito para que un banco te dé un préstamo. Luego, cambiar para tener mejores resultados. Tener un compañero debes establecer objetivos SMART para llegar a la meta. SMART es de responsabilidades (alguien que verifique tu progreso y te una sigla que significa específico (specific), medible, alcanzable, mantenga motivado) es otra excelente manera de no perder relevante y limitado en el tiempo (time-bound). foco en tus objetivos.

MEDIBLE: Que tus objetivos sean medibles te permite darles seguimiento y evaluar tu progreso. Esto mantendrá tu motivación para asegurar el cumplimiento de tus objetivos a corto plazo, como ahorrar $50 cada semana durante dos años para crear un fondo de emergencia.

ALCANZABLE: Evalúa el punto de tu vida en el que estás y establece objetivos realistas que puedas trabajar a diario. Si quieres comprar un auto de $21.000 en tres años, debes dividir el monto en un ahorro de $7.000 por año, $134 por semana y $19,23 por día. La cifra de $21.000 puede parecer intimidante, pero si la divides, las cantidades no son tan desalentadoras.

RELEVANTE: ¡Asegúrate de que tus metas sean relevantes para ti! Enfócate en lo que te importa y usa ese impulso para mantenerte al día y lograr los objetivos que te has propuesto.

Haz de 2020 tu año estableciendo objetivos económicos, manteniéndote firme con ellos y asegurando que tus metas 20/20 se centren en el éxito económico.

About the Author Bryan Rodriguez grew up in North Philadelphia, graduated from the Haverford School and the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently an Investment Banking Division Legal Analyst at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street. For fun he likes to dance salsa, play basketball, coach football, box, and read. You can connect with him at on LinkedIn, Instagram @that_rican_guy or via email at bryancrodriguez@gmail.com.

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ESPECÍFICO: Es fundamental que te asegures de tener objetivos específicos a corto y a largo plazo que te sirvan de guía paso a paso en tu esquema macro para tomar decisiones. Los objetivos vagos a menudo son difíciles de cumplir, porque carecen de un buen plan de acción.

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::v LA VIDA

INSPIRATION IN OUR COMMUNITY

Through the Eyes of the Artist

By Lizmary Ortiz

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re your passion and your career mutually exclusive? Gabriela Sanchez doesn’t think so. As the founder and managing director of the Power Street Theatre Company, Sanchez has dedicated her life to her art.

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A Philadelphia native, Sanchez began her theater journey at a young age, attending the Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA) and studying at Walnut Street Theatre. Her dream was to be an actress on Broadway and toward that aspiration, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As she entered the theater industry, however, she noticed a lack of representation for members of the Hispanic community. Rather than wait for someone else to create the opportunity, she founded Power Street Theatre Company in 2012, in the middle of her senior year at Temple University. “Working in an industry dominated by people who gatekeep the needed resources and connections is difficult, but rewarding in the end,” Sanchez reflects.

Sanchez wanted Power Street to produce shows based in the community itself. The company launched its first show, Minority Land, at the region’s premiere Latino cultural arts center, Taller Puertorriqueño, in 2013, as a part of the Philly Fringe Festival. The production marked the first time that the festival reached El Bloque de Oro, Philadelphia’s “Golden Block” that serves as a Latin commercial and cultural district at Fifth Street and Lehigh Avenue. Written and

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Gabriela Sanchez

Age: 30 Lives In: Philadelphia, PA Heritage: Puerto Rican Education: Bachelor of Arts, School for Communication and Theater, Temple University, 2012.

Awards and Achievements: Arts and Change Grant, Leeway Foundation, 2016, 2019; David Acosta Revolutionary Award, GALAEI, 2017; keynote speaker, Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference, 2018; Surya Awards, Bonaly Recognition for Creation of Community Joy, 2018; finalist, F. Otto Haas Award For An Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, 2019; named one of the Philly Theater Stars You Can’t Miss This Season from Philadelphia Magazine, 2019; plenary speaker, Theatre Communications Group National Conference, 2019; citation, the Council of the City of Philadelphia, 2020; annual award for excellence, Phenomenal Women’s Committee, 2020.

Additional Community Work: Manager, the Conflict Resolution Theater, 2012; community liaison, In the Heights at Walnut Street Theatre, 2013; cultural enrichment and facility manager, Taller Puertorriqueño, 2013-2015; director of education, Norris Square Neighborhood Project, 2015-2018; teaching artist microgrant recipient, Bartol Foundation and Small But Mighty Arts, 2019.

Favorite Quote: “You are enough, even if the world tries to tell you otherwise.”

How to Connect: Via Instagram: @gabrielaserena_; email: gabrielaserena90@gmail.com; and Gabriela’s website: https://gabrielaserena90.wixsite.com/gabi

directed by Erlina Ortiz, a Dominican-American playwright and performer, Minority Land explored the gentrification of a historically black and Latino neighborhood.

“People came out to see the work because they believed in it, there was a desire to see theater in their community,” Sanchez says. In speaking with audience members after a showing, she discovered that many people had not seen a theatrical production with Spanish-speaking characters before.

“The participants made it clear this work was wanted and valued,” Ortiz adds.

After a six-evening run, and attracting a Gabriela Sanchez (center) facilitates the Hidden disAbilities Project, diverse audience that hosted at Kensington Ministries, Philadelphia, PA in 2018.

exceeded expectaSelf-advocacy tions, Power Street helps us was propelled to preserve our the powerhouse community, and theater company it is today. “Everyespecially our thing Power Street art. does is centered around building social justice awareness,” Sanchez says. “We usually partner with organizations in order to shed light on themes like domestic violence, gentrification, and health injustice.”

Power Street also engages with its audience through their comunidades conectadas program, which pays community members to attend a show as well as a post-show discussion centered around how they perceived the performance.

“When someone comes to one of the shows, we want them to feel seen, to laugh, to be entertained, and to leave the theater

filled with the truth that their celebrates and values The art will be stories matter,” Sanchez reflects. the input of people from “The art will be beautiful, but the all walks of life,” says beautiful, but process has to be as well.” That Pastor Adan Mairena, the process has encapsulates Sanchez’s goal. For whose church, West to be as well. her, theater is not about the specKensington Ministry, tacle; it's about the people, story, has hosted Power Street and Latino identity as a whole. Power productions. “Oftentimes, those who are Street’s community-formed programming ignored and dismissed don’t get a chance allows for a direct relation between the to be a part of something so uplifting.” audience and the plays themselves.

“Self-advocacy helps us preserve our Through her own collection of writcommunity, and especially our art,” ten works, as well as the Power Street Sanchez says. “Don’t wait for someone to Theatre Company, Sanchez continues to make space for you. The more we speak open doors for the Latino community. “We our truth, and the more we are able to need more companies like Power Street, understand our visions, then the more we because their presence in the community are able to bring them to fruition.”

Gabriela Sanchez (left) and Diana Rodriguez (right) perform in Las Mujeres, a Power Street Theatre Company production which premiered at West Kensington Ministries in Philadelphia, PA in March of 2018. The play was written

by Erlina Ortiz and directed by Tamanya Garza and brings to life the narratives of powerful Latinas and how their own struggles and triumphs mirror the challenges women today still face in patriarchal societies.

INSPIRACIÓN EN NUESTRA COMUNIDAD

mitad de su último año y que salga de la sala con La defensa de nuestros en Temple University. la idea de que su historia intereses nos ayuda Sánchez quería que importa”, reflexiona Sána preservar nuestra la Power Street produjera chez. "El arte podrá ser espectáculos basados en comunidad, y especialmente hermoso, pero el proceso su propia comunidad. La también debe serlo". Así nuestro arte. compañía lanzó su primera se resume el objetivo de obra, Minority Land, en el Sánchez. Para ella, el principal centro de cultura latina de la región, teatro no se centra en el espectáculo, sino el Taller Puertorriqueño, como parte del Philly en la gente, su historia y la identidad latina u pasión y tu carrera se excluyen Fringe Festival de 2013. Con esta producción, en su conjunto. La programación de la Power mutuamente? Gabriela Sánchez no el festival consiguió por primera vez El Bloque Street, formada por la comunidad, permite piensa eso. Fundadora y directora de Oro, el "Golden Block" de Filadelfia.

Escrita una relación directa entre la audiencia y las general de la Power Street Theatre Company, y dirigida por Erlina Ortiz, dramaturga e intéobras mismas.

Sánchez ha dedicado la vida a su arte. rprete dominicano-estadounidense, Minority A través de su arte personal y de la Power Nacida en Filadelfia, Sánchez comenzó su Land explora la gentrificación de un vecindario Street Theatre Company, Sánchez continúa travesía por el teatro a una edad temprana, históricamente negro y latino. abriendo puertas a la comunidad latina. cuando fue a la Creative and Performing “La comunidad vino a ver la obra porque “Necesitamos más compañías como la Power Arts High School (CAPA) y estudió en el creía en ella, había ganas de ver teatro en la Street, porque su presencia en la comunidad Walnut Street Theatre. Su sueño era actuar comunidad”, dice Gabriela.

Hablando con el celebra y valora lo que tienen para decir en Broadway, y en busca de ese objetivo se público después de una función descubrió que personas de todos los ámbitos de la vida”, dice graduó como Bachelor of Arts en Teatro, en muchas personas no habían visto antes una el pastor Adan Mairena, en cuya iglesia, West la Temple University de Filadelfia, Pensilvaproducción teatral con personajes de habla Kensington Ministry, se han presentado producnia. Sin embargo, al ingresar a la industria hispana. ciones de la Power Street. "A menudo, aquellos teatral, descubrió que faltaba representación “La comunidad dejó en claro que quería y ignorados y expulsados no tienen la oportunide personas que compartieran experiencias valoraba la obra”, agrega Ortiz. dad de ser parte de algo tan edificante". como las que ella había vivido, que lucieran La obra, que se presentó durante seis “La defensa de nuestros intereses nos y sonaran como ella. En vez de esperar a noches, atrajo a una audiencia diversa que ayuda a preservar nuestra comunidad, y que alguien le diera una oportunidad, creó superó las expectativas e impulsó a la Power especialmente nuestro arte”, dice Sánchez. la Power Street Theatre Company en 2012, a Street a convertirse en la usina teatral que “No esperes a que alguien te haga lugar. es hoy. “Todo lo que hace Power Cuanto más digamos nuestra verdad y cuanto Street se centra en crear conciencia más capaces seamos de comprender nuestra respecto de la justicia social”, dice visión, tendremos más oportunidades para Sánchez. “Solemos asociarnos con llevarla a cabo". organizaciones para echar luz sobre About the Author temas como la violencia doméstica, la gentrificación y las injusticias de Lizmary Ortiz salud”. attends Holy Family Power Street también se relaUniversity, where ciona con su audiencia a través de she studies English sus comunidades conectadas, que and education. Her pagan a miembros de la comunidad Amy Boehly, Emily Fernandez, Gabriela Sanchez, Freddy Amill, hobbies include Anjoli Santiago, and Thomas Choinacky (L to R) perform in para que asistan a funciones y a MinorityLand, a Power Street Theatre Company production written writing, photogla discusión posterior, centrada en

by Erlina Ortiz and Directed by Erlina Ortiz and Cat Ramirez that raphy, fashion, and activism. Connect cómo percibieron la actuación. explores gentrification and the impact of change. It was performed with her on Instagram at “Cuando alguien viene a una here at West Kensington Ministries in October of 2019, but was @lizmary_ortiz.

PowerStreet’s first-ever production back in 2013 when it premiered función, queremos que se sienta as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. visto, que se ría, que se entretenga

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Moral

LA VIDA

By Jorge Arturo Agüero

My auto mechanic professor at the National Institute of Apprenticeship (INA) in Costa Rica, Angel Serrano, often interrupted our classes to give us advice, tell a joke, or share a quote that would help us develop our values and principles. We were only a group of fifteen students, and he wanted us to learn to work as a team.

One day, he asked, “Have you heard of the disciplined and undisciplined crabs in separate buckets?”

“Well, no!” we responded.

The professor continued, “A man was walking with two buckets full of crabs, one with a lid and the other uncovered.

Strange, no?”

“What does that have to do with discipline, teacher?” we asked.

“The bucket that is covered is where the disciplined crabs go. They interlock their pincers to make a chain and get out of the bucket.”

“And why are the uncovered crabs the undisciplined ones?”

“Because when one makes the effort to get out of the bucket, the others pull him by the legs towards the bottom!” he concluded.

Mi profesor de Mecánica Automotriz en el Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), Ángel Serrano, algunas veces interrumpía sus clases para darnos algún consejo, contar un chiste o una frase que nos ayudara a desarrollar nuestros valores y principios.

Como éramos un grupo de solo quince estudiantes, él quería asegurarse de que aprendiéramos a trabajar en equipo. Un día, durante un recreo, nos dijo: —¿Han escuchado que a los cangrejos disciplinados y a los indisciplinados los llevan en baldes separados?

—¡Pues no! —Respondimos.

El profe se puso en medio de nosotros y empezó a relatar: —Iba caminando un hombre con dos baldes llenos de cangrejos, uno con tapa y el otro sin tapar. Extraño, ¿no?

—¿Qué tiene eso que ver con la disciplina, profesor?— Preguntamos.

—El balde que va tapado es donde van los cangrejos disciplinados, porque saben entrelazar sus tenazas para formar una cadena y salirse del balde.

—¿Y por qué los que no llevan tapa son indisciplinados?

—Porque cuando alguno hace el esfuerzo de querer salir fuera del balde, los otros lo halan de las patas hacia el fondo. ¡Ja, ja, ja!

There are several morals in this story. One is about teamwork, where the key is how much you can trust the people around you and whether they support and encourage you when you are pursuing your dreams, your career, and your decisions. Another is to know that at any moment of intensity, taking a minute to relax the mind, breathing deeply, or even telling a bad joke is healthy.

Being part of the bucket with a lid is being with the right crabs—helping, supporting, and bonding with good deeds and positive thoughts that will make you a strong, triumphant link.

Otherwise, you can spend your strength trying to fit into the wrong bucket, where in the end you will be dragged to the bottom watching your dreams disappear.

Until next time. . .

Hay varias moralejas en este relato. Una tiene que ver con el trabajo en equipo, cuya clave es cuánto puedes confiar en quienes te rodean, en quienes te apoyan y animan cuando avanzas en tu sueños, tu carrera, tus decisiones. También hay que saber que en todo momento de intensidad, tomarte un minuto para relajar la mente respirando profundo, o aunque sea con un mal chiste, es saludable.

Ser parte del balde con tapa es estar con los cangrejos correctos.

Ayudar, apoyar, enlazarte con buenas acciones y pensamientos positivos te hará un eslabón fuerte para el triunfo.

De lo contrario, gastarás tus fuerzas tratando de encajar en el balde equivocado, donde al final serás arrastrado al fondo viendo cómo se esfuman tus sueños. ¡Hasta la próxima!

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¡Chiste!

¡Moraleja!

Illustration by Yohel Agüero, age 24, tattoo artist, Cuidad Neily, Costa Rica; Instagram: yohelagueroart

Joke!

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LA VIDA

Response provided by Dr. Pilar Gonzales PREGUNTA: Estoy explorando la idea de pasar el resto de mi vida con mi pareja. Sin embargo, tenemos diferentes metas y visiones del mundo, que creo que pueden llevarnos por caminos distintos. No quiero cambiarlos, pero quiero que sepa cómo me siento. ¿Qué debo hacer?

RESPONSE: Each couple will need Deciding on who you RESPUESTA: to create a balance of will commit to for the rest Decidir con quién te comprometerás por el resto de la vida similarities and of your life is one big, if probablemente sea la decisión más importante que uno deba todifferences. not the biggest, decision mar. Evaluar si “somos una buena pareja” es fundamental, pero you will make in your life. eso debe equilibrarse con su capacidad de comprometerse incluso Spending time thinking about whether you fit together is crucuando no estén de humor. Los matrimonios o relaciones exitosas cial, but should be balanced against your ability to commit even se basan en muchos factores, pero aquí me concentraré en cómo when you don’t feel like it. Successful marriages or partnerships las similitudes y diferencias pueden afectar una relación amorosa. rest on many factors, but I’ll Con cierto tiempo casada, creo que las similitudes mantienen focus here on how similarila relación en un movimiento pacífico y las diferencias le añaden ties and differences can impicante. Debe haber suficientes coincidencias en lo que les gusta y pact a loving relationship. no les gusta para que la relación Having been married for funcione. No solo en las cuestioCada pareja necesita a while, I believe similarines más importantes, como la crear un equilibrio de ties keep the relationship fe, sino también en las más moving along peacepequeñas, como las rutinas similitudes y diferencias. fully, and differences matutinas. Cuanto más add spice. There must tiene en común una pareja, be enough shared likes mejores son los resultados a largo plazo. and dislikes between Las diferencias en una pareja deben ser consideradas y SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES tener espacio. No es apropiado creer que una pareja deba people to make the relationship work. dedicarse todo el tiempo a hacer las mismas cosas. Las reIt’s not only bigger laciones exitosas se permiten pequeñas diferencias, como issues like faith that los hobbies, pero no grandes diferencias, como las visiones matter, but also the del mundo. Este tipo de diferencias pueden llevar a la pareja smaller things, like mornen diferentes direcciones y dificultar mucho el encuentro de una base ing routines. The more a común. Desde luego, hay parejas exitosas que tienen incluso diferencouple has in common, the cias políticas, pero muchas deben navegar por este río con pericia. better outcomes in the long Cada pareja necesita crear un equilibrio de similitudes y diferun. rencias. Esto será diferente para todos y no hay una sola forma de Differences between two partners should be appreciated and balancear las cosas. Aprecio compartir la misma fe que mi esposo, given space. It is inappropriate to believe that a couple should compartir los mismos principios de ahorro para nuestro futuro y, spend all their time doing the same things. Successful relational mismo tiempo, también cuando él ve la vida de otra manera. ships should allow for small differences like hobbies, but not major differences like world views. These types of differences About the Author can pull people in different directions and make it very difficult to find common ground. Obviously, successful couples who hold Pilar Gonzales, PhD, received her differences such as political affiliations exist, but many must doctoral degree in counseling psychology navigate this path with a lot of grace. from Temple University in Philadelphia, Each couple will need to create a balance of similarities and PA. She currently works as a senior differences. This will look different for everyone and there is not psychologist supervisor at a maximumjust one way the scales should lean. With my husband, I have security forensic psychiatric hospital appreciated sharing the same faith and mindset about saving in California. She can be contacted via for our future; at the same time, I appreciate when he sees life email at: Dr.Gonzales@juno.com. differently.

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QUESTION: I am exploring spending the rest of my life with my partner.

However, we have some different world views and goals that I think may make us drift apart. I don't want to change them, but I do want them to know how I feel. What should I do?

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Fall Fashion! ¡La Moda del Otoño!

By Madeleine Janz

Tops: As we stay inside and work from home, we often only have to put on an outfit from the waist up for Zoom calls. Stay on trend by wearing 1970s-inspired collared shirts and cable knit sweaters à la Knives Out, last year’s wildly popular murdermystery film.

Arriba: Al estar en casa y teletrabajar, a menudo solo necesitamos vestirnos bien de la cintura para arriba para las llamadas por Zoom. Mantente a la moda con camisas inspiradas en los 70 y suéteres con trenzas tipo cable a lo Knives Out, la popularísima película de asesinatos y misterio del año pasado.

Bottoms: You cannot go wrong with a good pair of sweatpants this season if you’re staying indoors; if that leaves you feeling uninspired, try a tie-dye pair. When you do need to venture outside for work or groceries, stick to dark denim and flowing midi skirts.

Abajo: Si te quedas en casa, esta temporada no podrás fallar con un buen par de pantalones deportivos; si eso no te inspira, prueba unos tie-dye. Cuando necesites salir al exterior por trabajo o hacer compras, ve por unos jeans oscuros y faldas de media pierna sueltas.

Accessories: Masks not only keep you and your community safe, they are also an opportunity to be super fashionable. Masks with fun patterns and colors can be found at online stories like Etsy, and special customizations like a mask chain will make you feel more put together. Some brands are even designing matching shirt and mask sets for the daring fashionista!

Accessorios: Las mascarillas no solo te protegen a ti y a tu comunidad, también son una oportunidad para estar súper a la moda.

Puedes encontrar mascarillas con patrones y colores divertidos en negocios en línea como Etsy, y aplicar rasgos personalizados, como una cadena para mascarilla, te aportarán comodidad. ¡Hay marcas que hasta están diseñando conjuntos de camisa y mascarilla en juego para los fashionistas atrevidos!

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or la pandemia de COVID-19, el mundo se ve distinto a como vivíamos hace un año. Esta ruptura de lo "normal" nos da la oportunidad de experimentar y encontrar nuevas formas de vivir, ya sea en la vida social, en las esferas políticas o nuestra forma de vestir. Deja que tu rutina diaria te consuele un poco en tiempos de incertidumbre manteniendo el estilo y las precauciones.

Madeleine Janz, AKA Madeleine Campbell, is a junior at The New School in Manhattan, New York, where she studies journalism and design with a concentration in fashion communications. She has written for Motivos since her sophomore year at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her ultimate goal is to become a fashion journalist. You can follow her on Instagram at @madilonglegs24 or at madilonglegs.com

Illustration by Ahmrii Johnson, junior, The New School’s Parsons School of Design, New York

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ue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world looks different from how we lived a year ago. This disruption of the “normal” gives us a chance to experiment and find new ways to live, whether that’s in our social lives, the political spheres, or our wardrobe. Let your daily routine offer some solace in uncertain times by staying chic—while staying safe.

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writing where you remind the teacher of your achievements, progress, work in their class, why you enjoy their class, and the CAREER EXPLORATION program or school you are applying to, which will hopefully encourage them to write a personally detailed recommendation on your behalf. Even if you’re not in need of a teacher recommenLA VIDA dation at this time, remember that one day soon you will need one and approach each class and activity with that in mind.

Standardized exams such as the SAT, SSAT, PSAT, ACT, ISEE, have historically been important factors in determining whether they will accept a student, as schools and scholarship programs usually have a set range of scores that determine admissibility.

Preparing for these exams not only helps to score higher which increases your chances of admission, but it also helps with your overall understanding of subjects like math and English to improve

By LuzSelenia Loeb your grades overall. My daughter, for example, has been attending tutoring through Khan Academy since December 2019. Her SAT score improved by 400 points after six months, and her English and math scores have improved enough to get her into honors courses. You can enhance your skills from home with programs like 10 Tips to excel in the high school KhanAcademy.org and LetsGetReady.org. If you are unable to afford and college application process these exams or tutoring, reach out to your school counselor or local tutoring agencies, and ask if they offer assistance or know of any hile COVID-19 has been a curveball, the free or low-cost programs that can help. pandemic is temporary, and schools are not A list of activities is extremely helpful. Think of Teacher waiting as they forge ahead with the appliit like the resume professionals use when applying recommendations for jobs. How you spend your time outside of your cation process and due dates as normal. Students, parents, and administrators must also persevere are an influential academics shows as much about you, if not more, with the work we started long before COVID-19 factor in the than your grades. Schools want to know who you entered our lives, which is why planning your time are, what your passion is, and what you will bring application well in advance of deadlines with an ability to adto their community by seeing what type of commitprocess. just to an alternative course to reach your goals, is ments you make and stick to voluntarily in your own so important in achieving the success you envision. time, as well as what difference you make in your life High school admission applications are typically due in late and the lives of others around you. I recommend participating in September to mid-November. College applications are typically at least two extracurricular activities annually, if not more. Now due with early admissions beginning in mid-October through that everything is virtual, it is easier than ever to participate in mid-November, and regular decision due between early-December ~continued on p. 21 through mid-January. Make sure to check with the individual schools you are interested in to learn their deadlines and requirements, because they can vary from school to school. I recommend starting the process to look for and apply to a school two to three years prior to the deadline. This will provide enough time to re• September-October: Look for high school and college search and compare all your options, and complete the requested fairs requirements in order to have the highest chance of being admit•S eptember-November: High school applications due ted to the school of your choice. Whether you’re just starting out •O ctober-November: Early action and early decision in the application process or heading into the homestretch, don’t college applications due worry! I will demystify the nuts and bolts of applying—recom•N ovember-January: Regular decision college mendations, SAT scores, activities, and financial aid—for you here applications due and help you submit the highest quality application possible.

•O ctober-January: Common App due Teacher recommendations are an influential factor in the • November-January: Financial aid forms due for private application process because they convey the student’s ability high schools and early decision college applications and determination to learn over and above what numbers on a • January-March: Financial aid forms due for most transcript or standardized tests can explain. This is the case now colleges more than ever since many students have been unable to take • March 31: Last day for CSS standardized exams or have had last year’s grades negatively impacted due to the pandemic. My number one piece of advice • June 30: Last day for FAFSA is to provide a teacher with enough time—at least two or three NOTE: Please check with the individual school or weeks prior to the due date—to honor the request in order to program applying to for their specific deadlines. receive a good recommendation. Ask for a recommendation in

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trabajo en su materia, por qué disfrutaste su materia y el programa o la institución a la que te postulas; con suerte, todo esto CAREER EXPLORATION lo alentará a escribir una recomendación detallada y personal para ti. Incluso si por el momento no precisas la recomendación de un docente, recuerda que pronto la necesitarás. Encara cada LA VIDA clase y actividad con eso en mente.

Los exámenes estandarizados como el SAT, SSAT, PSAT, ACT, ISEE, son factores importantes para determinar si se aceptará a un estudiante, ya que las instituciones y los programas de becas suelen tener un rango establecido de puntajes que determinan la admisibilidad. Prepararse para estos exámenes no solo te ayudará a obtener una puntuación más alta, y aumentará así tus posibilidades de ser admitido, sino que también te ayudará en la comprensión global de materias como Matemáticas e Inglés, mejorando tus calificaciones en general. Mi hija, por ejemplo, toma clases particulares en Khan Academy desde diciembre de 2019. Su puntaje en el SAT mejoró en 400 puntos después de seis meses, y su puntaje en Inglés y Matemáticas ha mejorado tanto como para permitirle entrar a honors courses. Puedes mejorar tus conocimientos desde casa con programas como KhanAcademy.org y LetsGetReady.org. Si no puedes pagar estos exámenes o clases particulares, comunícate con el consejero de tu institución o con Por LuzSelenia Loeb agencias de tutorías locales y pregunta si ofrecen asistencia o si conocen algún programa gratuito o de bajo costo.

Tener una lista de actividades ayuda mucho. Piénsalo como el 10 consejos para brillar al currículum de un profesional al presentarse para un trabajo. El modo en que pasas el tiempo fuera de tus estudios académicos presentarte a la secundaria y la muestra tanto de ti, si no más, que tus calificaciones. Las instiuniversidad tuciones quieren saber quién eres, qué te apasiona y qué llevarás a su comunidad viendo con qué te comprometes voluntariamente i bien el COVID-19 ha sido una bola curva, la pandemia es en tu propio tiempo, y la diferencia que haces en tu vida y en temporal y las instituciones educativas siguen adelante con la de quienes te rodean. Recomiendo participar en al menos dos los procesos de admisión y sus fechas límite habituales. Los actividades extracurriculares al año, si no más. Ahora que todo es estudiantes, padres y administradores también debemos continuar virtual es más fácil que nunca involucrarte en programas, porque con el trabajo que empezamos mucho antes de que el COVID-19 puedes hacerlo desde la comodidad de tu hogar, a veces incluso en entrara en nuestra vida, de modo que planificar tus tus propios horarios. Sitios como Coursera.org ofretiempos con mucha anticipación a las fechas límite, cen una variedad de programas para que estudiLas recomendaciones con la capacidad de adaptarte a un curso alternaantes de todas las edades mejoren sus capacidades de docentes son un tivo para conseguir tus objetivos, es importantísimo y "currículums" desde casa. Si no puedes pagar factor influyente para lograr el éxito que imaginas. un programa, contacta al programa directamente en el proceso de Asegúrate de consultar a la secundaria o la y pregunta si ofrecen asistencia económica. Eso universidad que te interesa en particular para hicimos con un programa del que participó mi hija presentación. conocer sus fechas límite y requisitos, ya que de una a través de la Wharton School of Business de la escuela a otra pueden variar. Recomiendo comenzar Pennsylvania’s University, y le dieron un descuento del 30%. Si no el proceso de buscar y presentarte a una institución educativa dos o preguntas, la respuesta siempre será no. tres años antes de la fecha límite. Esto te dará tiempo suficiente para La ayuda económica quizás sea el aspecto más importante de investigar y comparar todas tus opciones, y para completar los requitoda solicitud, porque sin posibilidades de solventar los costos de sitos que te darán mayores probabilidades de ser admitido donde qui- la institución de interés, la admisión no tiene sentido. Esto no eres. Ya sea que recién empieces en el proceso de solicitud o estés en quiere decir que debas renunciar a presentarte a la institución la recta final, ¡no te preocupes! Desmitificaré las cuestiones básicas de tus sueños, sino todo lo contrario: haz todo lo posible para de la presentación —recomendaciones, puntajes del SAT, actividades encontrar los recursos que te permitan hacer realidad tu visión. y ayuda económica— aquí y te ayudaré a enviar una solicitud de la Los dos principales programas de ayuda económica para la unimás alta calidad posible. versidad son el College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile, creado y Las recomendaciones de docentes son un factor influyente en el mantenido por el College Board para que estudiantes universitaproceso de presentación, porque dan cuenta de tu capacidad y derios soliciten ayuda económica no federal (hasta el 31 de marzo), terminación para aprender más allá de lo que explican los números y el formulario de la Federal Application for Federal Student Aid de un expediente o de pruebas estandarizadas. Y ahora más que (FAFSA), necesario para recibir cualquier tipo de ayuda federal y nunca, ya que muchos estudiantes no han podido tomar exámenes la mayoría de las estatales (hasta el 30 de junio). Completa los estandarizados o han visto sus calificaciones del año pasado afectatrámites de ayuda económica lo antes posible, porque la mayoría das negativamente por la pandemia. Mi consejo número uno es que de las instituciones asignan sus recursos por orden de llegada. le des a tu docente suficiente tiempo —al menos dos o tres semanas En la próxima edición de Motivos, cubriré el proceso de ayuda antes de la fecha de vencimiento— para cumplir con tu pedido, de económica, incluidos los consejos y trucos que han ayudado modo de recibir una buena recomendación. Pide la recomendación a mis tres hijos a recibir becas completas para su educación por escrito y recuérdale a tu docente tus logros, progresos, el secundaria y universitaria privadas.

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About the Author LuzSelenia Loeb attended the University of Pennsylvania. She has helped her children secure full-paid scholarships to attend some of the tri-state area’s top private high schools and universities, as well as study abroad programs. Her passion for assisting others with educational resources started over a decade ago when she formed a Parent Teacher Organization for her children’s elementary school, and she has been working to connect students and families with educational resources and opportunities ever since. LuzSelenia’s latest initiative, Winning Scholarships, connects students with resources for college success and scholarship obtainment. She can be reached at: LoebLuz@gmail.com or www.facebook. com/WinningScholarships123

Dinero for College Compiled by LuzSelenia Loeb Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program 2020

Amount/Cantidad: Up to $40,000 annually Criteria/Criterios: Open to high-achieving high school seniors with a 3.5 GPA or higher, who are graduating from a US high school in the spring of 2021 and who intend to enroll in a full time accredited four-year college beginning in the fall of 2021, and demonstrate financial need with a maximum family income of $95,000. Not exclusive to US citizens; must reside in the US or a US territory, and attend high school in the US. Apply through the Common App and visit www.jkcf.org for details.

Deadline/Fecha Límite: October 30, 2020 Contact/Contacto: scholarships@jkcf.org; or thecommonapplication@liasioncas.com for Common App-related questions

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

Amount/Cantidad: $20,000 distributed over 150 awards Criteria/Criterios: Open to high school students who are US citizens, nationals, permanent residents, refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, or humanitarian parolees planning on pursuing a degree at an accredited US post-secondary institution and attending a school in one of the 50 US states, Puerto Rico, or select DoD schools and will graduate high school during the 2020-2021 academic year. Apply online at https:// www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/.

Deadline/Fecha Límite: October 31, 2020 Contact/Contacto: contact@getupgetactive.org

Voice of Democracy Scholarship

Amount/Cantidad: $1,000 - $30,000 Criteria/Criterios: Students in grades 9-12 must express themselves in a recorded essay that answers the question, “Is this the country the founders envisioned?”. Must be enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or homeschool high school program in the US or a US territory and be a US citizen, permanent resident or in the process of becoming a permanent resident. Visit www.vfw.org/PatriotsPen for entry form and complete details.

Deadline/Fecha Límite: October 31, 2020 Contact/Contacto: www.vfw.org/ContactUs; youthscholarships@vfw.org; and (816) 756-3390 ext 6155

Community College Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

Amount/Cantidad: Up to $40,000 annually Criteria/Criterios: Open to community college students with demonstrated financial need and a minimum household income of $95,000, seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities in any area of study. Must attend an accredited US community college or two-year institution and be of sophomore status as of January 1, 2021, or a recent graduate (since spring 2016), have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and begin transfer studies in the fall of 2021. Not exclusive to US citizens. Apply through the Common App and visit www.jkcf.org for details.

Deadline/Fecha Límite: January 6, 2021 Contact/Contacto: scholarships@jkcf.org; thecommonapplication@liasioncas.com for Common App-related questions

Additional websites: adelantefund.org bestcolleges.com educationplanner.org cappex.com collegescholarships.org fastweb.com

hispanicfund.org hsf.net mycollegeoptions.org myscholly.com raise.me scholarships-for-school.com

scholarships.com studentscholarships.org upromise.com zinch.com/scholarships

LuzSelenia Loeb is the founder of Winning Scholarships and mother of three– all scholarship recipients. She can be reached at LoebLuz@gmail.com.

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programs, because you are able to do it from the convenience of your home and often on your own schedule. Sites like Coursera.org offer a variety of programs for students of all ages to enhance their skills and “resumes” from home. If you are unable to afford a program, contact the program directly and ask if they have financial assistance. We did that for a program my daughter attended via the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and they gave her a 30% discount. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.

Financial aid is perhaps the most important aspect of any application, because without the ability to afford the school of interest, admission is meaningless. This is not to say to give up on applying to the school of your dreams, but rather the exact opposite: do everything possible to find the resources that will enable you to make your vision a reality. The two main programs for college financial aid are the College Scholarship Service (CSS) profile, which is an application created and maintained by the College Board that allows college students to apply for non-federal financial aid (due March by 31), and the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form which is required to get any federal and most state assistance (due by June 30). Fill your financial aid paperwork out as soon as possible because most schools award their financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the next edition of Motivos, I will cover the financial aid process, including the tips and tricks that have helped my three children earn full paid scholarships for private high school and college.

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LA VIDA

Growing Together at SUNY Geneseo

By Catherine Gonzalez and Elena Phillips

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alking up a steep hill can be portant learning English is for many tiring, but when you have a immigrants and wanted to volunteer friend along for the climb, as a tutor. Elena, on the other hand, time flies by. We are Catherine and is an early childhood/childhood Elena, freshman at the time of writeducation major with a concentraing, at SUNY Geneseo in New York tion in Spanish and had experience State. Both of us speak Spanish, love teaching and creating lessons. With teaching, and learning about difCatherine’s Spanish skills and Elena’s ferent cultures. Because of that, we teaching abilities, we were able to decided to join Together, a tutoring support each other in the program. program where we had the opportuOur main goal as tutors was to nity to teach English and other skills instill the love of learning in our to migrant families in the Livingston students. Catherine taught the and Wyoming counties. Families are adults while Elena taught the preable to learn English to be able to schoolers with Amanda, an alumna talk with a doctor, go to the grocery of the program. Amanda came to the store or to better understand bosses program in 2018 because she needed at work. For the younger students, help with math. Her family still goes it offers them the opportunity to to classes but Amanda has academiget help with schoolwork and make cally improved so much that she was friends their age. To get there each able to co-teach with Elena. Together Two young students play with legos with their tutor during the Sunday, we walked up the giant helped us to adjust to college life Sunday lesson. SUNY Geneseo, Welles Hall, February, 2020. steep hill to where lessons were by getting involved in something held. Although we were randomly outside of classes, while for Amanda, paired as suitemates in the same dormitory, participating in the it helped her adjust to life as a bilingual high school student in program gave us the opportunity to become closer friends. We the United States. did everything together: we went to facilitator meetings, worked Joining the Together program has shaped our academic and on professional development, and even lived together. By parsocial experience here at SUNY Geneseo. Through Catherine’s ticipating in this program, we and migrant families of this rural experiences in Together, she uncovered her interest in teaching community were able to adjust and help each other. and public policy as a way to help immigrant communities. Elena We are from different areas of New York state and have difwas able to confirm that she made the right decision in going ferent life experiences and career goals, but both of us wanted to school to become a teacher. The benefits for our students to make a difference in our community during our college are equally clear: Amanda, who experienced both sides of the experience. Catherine, who is an international relations and program, was able to choose a path for the future; she will be Spanish double major, comes from a family of immigrants from attending Monroe Community College in fall 2020 to study eduEl Salvador. She saw both in her family and community how imcation. She wants to break down the language barrier and give back to her community.

The program, fittingly enough, brought us together. Through it, we were able to adjust much more smoothly to college life than some of our peers were. Without getting involved, freshman year would have been very overwhelming. This was a pivotal time of transition in both our lives and the lives of the families we worked with. It meant the world to know we were not alone; we were in this together.

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The adult intermediate group has a lesson with their tutors. SUNY Geneseo, Welles Hall, February, 2020.

To learn more about the TOGETHER program, watch this video https://bit.ly/351MQMb. If a program like this interests you, be a leader and start a sister program of your own! Contact us at adamse@geneseo.edu with any questions and we will be happy to help.

Creciendo Together en SUNY Geneseo

Para conocer más sobre el programa Together, ve este video https://bit.ly/351MQMb. Si te interesa un programa como este, ¡lidera y empieza tu propio programa hermano! Contáctanos en adamse@geneseo.edu con tus preguntas. Nos encantará ayudarte.

Elena Phillips is a sophomore at SUNY Geneseo. She hopes to be an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher after graduating from college, so that she can spread the message of inclusivity and empathy to her future students.

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Photography by Rocio Vallejo-Alegre

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ubir a pie una colina empinada puede inmigrantes. Elena pudo confirmar que ser agotador, pero cuando lo haces con tomó la decisión correcta al formarse como una amiga es más fácil y el tiempo docente. Amanda, que experimentó ambos pasa volando. Somos Catherine y Elena, lados del programa, pudo elegir un camino estudiantes de primer año en SUNY Geneseo, para su futuro; irá al Monroe Community Colen el estado de Nueva York. Las dos hablalege en el otoño de 2020 para estudiar Edumos español, nos encanta enseñar y aprecación. Quiere romper la barrera del idioma y nder sobre diferentes culturas. Decidimos retribuir a su comunidad lo que recibió. unirnos a Together, un programa de tutorías El programa Together, en honor a su nomen el que tuvimos la oportunidad de enseñar bre, nos unió. Gracias al programa pudimos inglés, entre otras cosas, a familias migranadaptarnos a la vida universitaria mucho A glimpse into the adult novice lesson on the tes de los condados de Livingston y Wyomás fácilmente que algunos de nuestros first day of classes for the semester. SUNY ming. Cada domingo subíamos la gigante compañeros. Sin involucrarnos con la comuGeneseo, Welles Hall, February 9, 2020. colina empinada hasta donde dábamos las nidad más allá del campus, el primer año clases. Hacíamos todo juntas: íbamos a reuniones de facilitadores, hubiera sido agotador. reuniones de desarrollo profesional y hasta vivíamos juntas. Al Ha sido un tiempo bisagra en nuestra vida y en la de las participar de este programa, nosotras y las familias migrantes de familias con las que trabajamos. Hicimos saber al mundo que no la comunidad logramos adaptarnos y ayudarnos mutuamente. estamos solos. Estamos juntos.

Somos de diferentes partes de Nueva York y tenemos diferentes experiencias de vida y objetivos profesionales, pero las dos queríamos marcar una diferencia en nuestra comunidad durante nuestra experiencia universitaria. Catherine, que tiene un major doble en Relaciones Internacionales y Español, quería ayudar en el programa porque venía de una familia inmigrante de El Salvador.

Tanto en su familia como en la comunidad, veía lo importante que es para muchos inmigrantes aprender inglés, y quería ser tutora voluntaria. Elena, por su parte, tiene un major en Educación Infantil/de Infancia Temprana, con una concentración en Español.

Tenía experiencia en crear y dar clases. Con los conocimientos de español de Catherine y los de enseñanza de Elena, pudimos apoyarnos mutuamente en el programa.

Nuestro objetivo principal como tutoras es inculcar a nuestros estudiantes el amor por aprender. Catherine daba clases a adultos, mientras que Elena enseñaba a niños en edad preescolar junto con Amanda, una exalumna del programa. Amanda llegó al programa The Posada celebration called for a children’s piñata contest at SUNY en 2018 buscando ayuda en matemáticas. Su familia todavía Geneseo’s Together program. Wyoming Hall, December 8, 2019. asiste a clases, pero Amanda mejoró tanto académicamente que pudo enseñar con Elena. Together nos ayudó a adaptarnos a la vida universitaria; a Amanda la ayudó a adaptarse a la vida como About the Authors estudiante secundaria bilingüe en los Estados Unidos.

Unirnos al programa Together ha conformado nuestra expeCatherine Gonzalez is a sophomore riencia académica y social en SUNY Geneseo. Por su experiencia at SUNY Geneseo. She is still unsure en Together, Catherine descubrió su interés en la enseñanza y las about her future career path, but políticas públicas como forma de ayudar a las comunidades de has an interest in non-government organizational (NGO) work or studying public policy.

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EXPLORATION

HANDS-ON MEDICINE:

Teen Finds Ways to Get Career Experience Now LA VIDA

By Vincent Haro-Moss

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NJ HOSA members stand for the flag salute as the honor guard marched during the NJ HOSA Southern Regional Conference opening session, Cumberland County Technical Education Center, Millville, NJ on February 1, 2020.

Officers of the 2019-2020 NJ HOSA State Executive Council (left to right: Chi Kin (Nathan) Lam, Raj Bhatt, LJ Pasion, Dorian Ho, Siya Kulkarni, and Angelina Yu) wait for members to be dismissed to their competitive event locations, NJ HOSA Southern Regional Conference, Cumberland County Technical Education Center, Millville, NJ on February 1, 2020.

own staff. Communication is, of course, of utmost importance in speaking with patients and their families. These skills cannot be learned with yesterday’s slideshows, only with tomorrow’s apprenticeships.

But there is more than The more interesting, one way for young people memorable, and hands-on to explore the future of the material is, the more medicine. An alternative students are likely to is getting involved with the junior firefighters remember it. program through your local fire department in order to get certified as an emergency medical technician (EMT). These programs are hands-on, where EMTs learn to take heart rates, blood pressure, pulse-ox, and temperatures. Teens who go through this program will also be trained on how to use a stair chair and stretcher.

Another alternative is United Hatzalah, which offers hands-on experience in the medical field in 46 different countries. In this program, volunteers assist patients in the countryside, arriving by motorcycle in order to compensate for the time it takes for an ambulance to get to the scene. Volunteers perform basic first aid following Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protocol. Students can practice first aid on real patients and save real lives.

The more interesting, memorable, and hands-on the material is, the more students are likely to remember it. Looking towards the future, trainings must incorporate more hands-on activities to encourage students to care about the material they’re learning. Practicing real skills on real people prepares us to be real professionals.

Travelling to other countries and gaining international exposure can not only earn us an international certification, but cultivate a wider understanding of the medical field and a “thinking outside the box” mentality. With these solutions, we can create a better tomorrow in the fields of both education and medicine.

Photography by Shawnee Chaudhury for NJ HOSA

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n the past, the science needed to save lives was taught through static, lifeless textbooks. Exposure to hands-on labs was limited to dissecting crayfish and worms. The human body was studied through boring, black-and-white slideshows.

However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, the field of medicine is still evolving; the way in which we teach future healthcare workers must evolve as well.

Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is an international organization that promotes the medical field to middle school, high school, and college students. HOSA offers the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in the healthcare field, where students can acquire and directly apply their experiences to becoming great doctors and nurses tomorrow and beyond.

In September 2019, my Allied Health Patient Care teacher introduced me to HOSA. I was a freshman in high school and, looking forward to the opportunity, I joined the organization immediately. In addition to learning more about medicine, HOSA gives students the opportunity to compete against each other to develop skills related to the field. My competitive event was prepared speaking: talking about a certain prompt in front of a group of judges. I was the ninth finalist at the regional competition, which means I narrowly missed out on competing at the state level. Through this experience, I improved my ability to incorporate details into my speeches, a skill which also helped me in Model UN and other public speaking opportunities.

Working in medicine requires more than just scientific skills; you must also be able to communicate well. Public speaking is important so that doctors can effectively pitch an As the COVID-19 pandemic idea or cure to a group of has demonstrated, the field investors or FDA officials. of medicine is still evolving; Conducting job interviews the way in which we teach is also important; if you future healthcare workers are a doctor running a must evolve as well. research program, you would need to hire your

Experiencia real, paciente real: Un adolescente se asoma al campo de la medicina

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ntes la ciencia de salvar vidas se enseñaba en libros de texto estáticos y sin vida. La exposición a los laboratorios se limitaba a la disección de cangrejos de río y gusanos. El cuerpo humano se estudiaba por medio de aburridas diapositivas en blanco y negro. Sin embargo, como ha demostrado la pandemia de COVID-19, el campo de la medicina aún está evolucionando; la forma en que formamos a los futuros trabajadores de la salud también debe evolucionar.

Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) es una organización internacional que promueve los estudios de medicina entre estudiantes de secundaria, preparatoria y universitarios.

HOSA ofrece la oportunidad de sumar experiencia práctica en el campo de la salud, donde los estudiantes pueden adquirir y aplicar directamente sus experiencias para convertirse en grandes médicos y enfermeros en el futuro.

En septiembre de 2019, mi profesor de Atención al Paciente de Especialidades Técnicas me presentó la HOSA. Yo estaba en primer año de la secundaria y, a la espera de una oportunidad, me uní de inmediato a la organización. Además de permitir aprender más de medicina, HOSA brinda a los estudiantes la oportunidad de competir para desarrollar conocimientos. Mi competencia fue oral: hablar de un determinado tema frente a un jurado. Fui el noveno finalista en la competencia regional, lo que significa que casi llego a competir a nivel estatal. Con esta experiencia, mejoré mi capacidad para incorporar datos en mis discursos, algo que también me ayudó en modelos de la ONU y otras oportunidades de hablar en público.

Trabajar en medicina requiere más que habilidades científicas; también debes poder comunicarte bien. Para los médicos es importante poder hablar en público para presentar una idea o cura eficazmente a inversores o funcionarios de la FDA. También es importante para realizar entrevistas de trabajo; si llevas adelante un programa de investigación, debes contratar a tu propio personal. La comunicación es, por supuesto, de suma importancia al hablar con los pacientes y sus familiares. Estas habilidades no se aprenden con las diapositivas del ayer, sino solo con la formación del mañana.

Pero no hay una única forma de que los jóvenes exploremos el futuro de la medicina. Una alternativa es sumarte al programa de bomberos junior de tu departamento de bomberos local y

NJ HOSA members celebrate as one of them won 4th place in her competitive event at the NJ HOSA Southern Regional Conference, Cumberland County Technical Education Center, Millville, NJ on February 1, 2020.

certificarte como técnico en emergencias médicas (EMT). Estos programas son prácticos; los EMT aprenden a tomar el pulso, la presión arterial, medir el oxígeno en sangre y la temperatura. Los adolescentes que pasan por este programa también se capacitan en el uso de sillas de evacuación y camillas.

Otra alternativa es United Hatzalah, que ofrece experiencia práctica en el campo de la medicina en 46 países. En este programa, los voluntarios ayudan a pacientes en zonas rurales; van en motocicleta para compensar el tiempo que tarda una ambulancia en llegar al lugar. Los voluntarios realizan primeros auxilios básicos siguiendo el protocolo de la Ley de Responsabilidad y Portabilidad de Seguros de Salud (HIPAA). Así, los estudiantes pueden practicar primeros auxilios en pacientes reales y salvar vidas reales.

Cuanto más interesante, memorable y práctico sea el material, es más probable que los estudiantes lo recuerden. Mirando hacia el futuro, la formación debe incorporar más actividades prácticas para incentivar a los estudiantes a preocuparse por lo que aprenden. Practicar conocimientos reales con personas reales nos prepara para ser profesionales reales. Viajar a otros países y ganar exposición internacional no solo nos puede conseguir una certificación internacional, sino también cultivar una comprensión más amplia del campo de la medicina y una mentalidad de “pensar fuera de la caja”. Con estas soluciones, podemos crear un mañana mejor en tanto en el campo de la educación como en el de la medicina.

HOSA Regional Vice President Akash Kotian (left) and Northern Regional Vice President Raj Bhatt (right) present a workshop at the NJ HOSA Southern Regional Conference, Cumberland County Technical Education Center, Millville, NJ on February 1, 2020.

Vincent Haro-Moss is a 10th grader at Camden County Technical School at the Gloucester Township campus in New Jersey. He is involved in the Allied Health career program and will graduate with as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA). His dream is to become a neurosurgeon and help children in need.

You can email him with any questions about the programs he references at: vincentharomoss@gmail.com.

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About the Author

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The dining area of El Merkury.

Sobremesa:

The restaurant’s golden emblem which also represents one of its four main food groups.

Motivos talks with a restaurateur

By Karyme Font

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hat must be it,” I say aloud, pointing to a small royal industry management at Michigan State University, and thought blue-colored building with a golden ear of corn as its she would open a restaurant in her retirement. At Michigan emblem. The building houses El Merkury, a restaurant State, DeLeon had the full US college experience: she slept in that specializes in Central American street cuisine. As I enter dorms, ate cafeteria food, and participated in many extracurthe most brightly colored building on Chestnut Street, the aroma riculars. Her college choice had everything she was looking for: of freshly made tortillas and meat grazes the tip of my nose. My “In Guatemala everybody knows each other; whenever you meet eyes scan the tall walls of the restaurant, decorated with Central somebody on the street, somebody always is linked to somebody American slang words written in large striking else,” she recounts. “I wanted something letters. A woman with hoop earrings and brown different. I wanted something big where I was always around people hair partially hidden by her company baseball I didn’t know anybody, where everybody who cooked and I always cap is standing behind the counter at the far was different. So Michigan State had end of the shop. She is Sofia Deleon, founder that—plus, there was snow,” she adds, liked cooking for others, and culinary mind behind El Merkury. We introlaughing. liked bringing people duce ourselves, sit down in the dining area of together with food. the restaurant, and Deleon tells me her story.

Deleon was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, which is known for its plentiful Mayan history. Her nana was a traditional Mayan woman from Quiché, in the mountains of northwestern Guatemala, who knew how to make every Guatemalan dish from scratch. Naturally, she began to teach Sofia how to cook. In Deleon’s childhood world, she was the scientist and the kitchen was her lab. With her mother’s encouragement, Deleon created a small catering business, offering her services for family dinners and baby showers. “I was always around people who cooked, and I always liked cooking for others and bringing people together with food,” she tells me.

As Deleon’s passion for cooking Bowls of traditional Guatemalan grew, she also developed an interest Suban’lk made for the frontline heroes at Penn Medicine. in business. She chose to study food

Deleon’s suspicions were confirmed when her ex-boss posted racist memes targeting Black and Latino people on his social media, claiming “they are taking our jobs.�

After experiencing the lack of representation and racism in the food industry, Deleon wanted to let people know that Latinos have much to offer the United States, including in the food industry. When a chocolate company offered her a job, she found herself at a crossroads: she could move to another state and “eat chocolate all day� as she recalls, or open her dream restaurant now and represent her people. Deleon decided she would rather fail than not try at all; she turned down the chocolate job and opened El Merkury, named for her father’s nickname for the Guatemalan central market.

The menu centers around four main food groups: corn, beans, chocolate Just like her hometown, Deleon’s menu is inspired by the Mayan and chilis. diet. El Merkury's offerings consist of four main ingredients: corn, Despite the exciting changes, Deleon had difficulty adaptbeans, chocolate, and chiles. The menu is customizable to appeal ing to her new environment. Thankfully, English was not a to a variety of dietary restrictions, but it still completes Deleon’s problem for her, but she longed for her home in very specific mission: to educate the public on the flavors that represent the ways. Besides missing her parents, there was one thing that was countries from which they came. Since El Merkury opened, she feels remarkably different from Guatemala: the culture. “In Guatemala that people have become more knowledgeable about the diverse there’s sobremesa which means when you’re eating together with cultures that exist among Latinos. She believes that comments like, your family. Like you stay and you hang out for hours just talk“Anything south of Florida is Mexico� is spoken, not out of hate, ing. That doesn’t exist here!� she says with but of ignorance. “It’s a generalization but lighthearted outrage.

[I’m] slowly educating the customer just by “In Guatemala there’s As she said this, I was transported back saying, ‘This is the difference, these are the sobremesa which means to the time I spent with my extended family flavor profiles, this is what makes us different when you’re eating together in the Caribbean: the warmth they radiate from the Mexicans, Venezuelans, and Argentinwith your family. Like you towards those they encounter, the phenomians’. . . Some people want to hear it; some stay and you hang out for ena that when you play music it immediately people are just like, ‘I want my burrito, and if hours just talking. That becomes a party on an otherwise typical I don’t have it I’m getting out of here’. . . I just Tuesday night. Sobremesa. I was grateful she’d have to have a lot of patience,� Deleon says, doesn’t exist here!� given a name to what I’ve missed most since laughing. my last trip to see my family. It occurred to The hard work and dedication to creme that we were having a sort of sobremesa of our own, just ate El Merkury paid off when Deleon was awarded Philadelphia talking about her life and connecting with each other’s cultures.

Magazine’s Best In Philly award in 2018, just three months after As Latinas who live in the United States, we have to find ways ~continued on p. 29 to remain tethered to our cultures. This was another way of us strengthening our relationships with our countries and ourselves.

Deleon’s passion for her Guatemalan culture inspired her to enter the food service industry, but not everyone in the workplace recognized her value. As a marketing representative for a Please order 24 hours in advance. Text 517-488-9445.

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The owner of El Merkury, Sofia Deleon, standing proudly in her restaurant at 2104 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, PA.

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Sobremesa:

Motivos habla con la dueña de El Merkury

“D

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ebe ser ahí”, digo señalando A pesar de estos emocionaun pequeño edificio color yuca ntes cambios, a Deleon le fue con una mazorca dorada como difícil adaptarse al nuevo entorno. Por fortuna, el inglés no era emblema. Dentro está El Merkury, un restaurante especializado en un problema para ella, pero anhelaba cosas muy puntuales de su cocina callejera centroamericana. Al entrar al edificio de colores hogar. Además de extrañar a sus padres, había una cosa que era más brillantes de Chestnut Street, el aroma de las tortillas y la notablemente diferente aquí: la cultura. “En Guatemala tenemos carne recién hechas me roza la punta de la nariz. Escaneo las altas la sobremesa cuando comes con tu familia. Como que te quedas paredes del restaurante, decorado con términos de los argots ceny pasas horas hablando. ¡Eso no existe aquí!", dice alegremente troamericanos, escritos en letras grandes y llamativas. Una mujer indignada. con pendientes de aro y cabello rubio parcialmente escondido bajo Al oír eso me transporté al tiempo que pasé con familiares una gorra de béisbol de su empresa está de pie tras el mostrador al míos en el Caribe: la calidez que irradian hacia los demás, el otro lado de la tienda. Es Sofía Deleon, fundafenómeno de que cuando tocas música de dora y cerebro culinario detrás de El Merkury. inmediato empieza la fiesta una noche de Siempre estuve rodeada de Nos presentamos, nos sentamos en el comedor martes cualquiera. Sobremesa. Agradecí gente que cocinaba y siempre del restaurante y Deleon me cuenta su historia. que le hubiera dado nombre a lo que yo me gustó cocinar para los Nació en la ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemamás extrañaba desde mi último viaje. Se demás. Me gustaba reunir a las la, conocida por su abundante historia maya. me ocurrió que estábamos en una especie Sus padres eran de la clase trabajadora, por de sobremesa propia, hablando de su vida personas con la comida.” lo que ella y sus hermanos pasaban la mayor y conectándonos cada una con la cultura parte del tiempo con sus abuelos. Su nana de la otra. Como latinas que viven en era una mujer tradicional de Quiché que sabía hacer cada platillo los Estados Unidos, tenemos que encontrar formas de conservar guatemalteco desde cero. Como es natural, le enseñaba a su nieta. el lazo con nuestra cultura. Aquí fortalecimos la relación con En el mundo infantil de Deleon, ella era la científica y la cocina, nuestros países y con nosotras mismas. su laboratorio. Con el apoyo de su madre, Deleon creó un pequeño La pasión de Deleon por la cultura guatemalteca la inspiró a negocio de catering, ofreciendo sus servicios para cenas familiares ingresar a la industria de los alimentos, pero donde trabajaba no y baby showers. “Siempre estuve rodeada de gente que cocinaba y todos supieron reconocer su valor. Como representante de marketsiempre me gustó cocinar para los demás. Me gustaba reunir a las ing de una empresa láctea, sospechaba que sus superiores tenían personas con la comida”, dice. una ideología intolerante. “Me salteaban para los ascensos, y yo A medida que su pasión por la cocina crecía, también desarsentía que lo mismo pasaba con rolló un interés comercial. Decidió estudiar Administración las mujeres, latinas... todas las En Guatemala tenemos para la Industria Alimenticia en la Michigan State University, minorías a mi alrededor. Siempre la sobremesa cuando y pensó en abrir un restaurante cuando se jubilara. En Michipercibí que los ascensos eran comes con tu familia. gan State, experimentó por completo la universidad estadounpara los hombres. No importaba Como que te quedas y idense: vivió en dormitorios, comió en la cafetería y participó cuánto te esforzases, siempre era en variadas actividades extracurriculares. La universidad que igual". Las sospechas de Deleon pasas horas hablando. eligió tenía todo lo que ella buscaba: “En Guatemala todos se se confirmaron cuando su exjefe ¡Eso no existe aquí!" conocen; cuando te encuentras con alguien por la calle, o lo publicó en sus redes sociales conoces o conoces a alguien que lo conoce”, cuenta. “Yo quería algo diferente. Quería algo grande donde no conociera a nadie, donde todos fueran diferentes. Así que Michigan State tenía eso, y además, había nieve”, agrega entre risas.

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Roasted corn on the cob + cilantro + cream + chili flakes + queso fresco = an Elote Loco!

The collection of slang words that decorate a wall of the main dining area

Photography courtesy of El Merkury and by Daniel Font, 8th grader, Maria Eugenio de Hostos Charter School

A few of the 700 meals made for frontline workers during the week of May 15.

A bowl of arroz con elote made with three cheese, baked rice, roasted jalapenos, corn and avocado.

Sofia Deleon standing outside of the Best of Philly soiree.

~continued from p. 27 opening. As a child learning how to cook with her nana in Guatemala, she would never have expected to become an award-winning restaurant owner so early in her career. She had to learn first-hand the problems Latinos face in the United States and risked her career to fight for what she believes in. When asked what she wants readers to take away from her story, Deleon says, “If you have a goal that is important to you and you feel that whatever else you are doing is not going to make you happy, then just go for it. A lot of people are trying to find their passion, and if you’ve found it, follow it and be proud of who you are.”

Now it’s mid-March and we are sitting in the unusually empty restaurant, attempting to ignore the striking silence on this normally bustling downtown Philly street, caused by the fresh fear that COVID-19 has reached the US and forced many businesses to close. I ask Deleon about her motivation to keep the business going when hard times hit. With the optimism and excitement she has maintained throughout the interview, she exclaims, “What keeps me going “If you have a goal is that this is my passion, this that is important to is my baby, this you and you feel that is everything. whatever else you are I have put so doing is not going to much work into make you happy, then it, we built [the just go for it.” business] from scratch. Failure is not an option.”

Update: since this interview, COVID-19 forced many Philadelphia restaurants, including El Merkury, to become takeout-only. We are happy to say that, thanks to the Philadelphia community, El Merkury survived COVID-19 without any furloughs, and it welcomes all to enjoy its signa-ture pupusas with cheesy rice and artisanal churros.

About the Author Karyme Font is a junior at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she majors in visual arts. She is interested in fashion and graphic design, and enjoys reading and writing. She plans to go to college and develop her passions for the arts, language, and criminology.

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memes antisemitas y racistas contra personas negras y latinos, alegando que "nos quitan el trabajo".

Tras experimentar la falta de representación y el racismo en la industria alimenticia, Deleon quería que la gente supiera que los latinos tienen mucho que ofrecer a los Estados Unidos, también en ese rubro. Cuando una empresa chocolatera le ofreció un puesto, se encontró en una disyuntiva: podría mudarse a otro estado y "comer chocolate todo el día", como recuerda, o abrir su restaurante y representar a su gente. Prefirió fallar antes que no intentarlo; rechazó el trabajo en la chocolatera y abrió El Merkury, como su padre llamaba al mercado central guatemalteco.

Al igual que su ciudad natal, el menú de Deleon está inspirado en la dieta maya. Los platillos de El Merkury tienen cuatro ingredientes principales: maíz, frijoles, chocolate y chiles.

El menú se puede personalizar para satisfacer una variedad de dietas restrictivas, pero aun así cumple la misión de Deleon: dar a conocer al público los sabores que representan a sus países de origen. Desde que El Merkury abrió, siente que la gente conoce más sobre la diversidad de culturas que existen entre los latinos. Piensa que los comentarios del estilo de “Cualquier cosa al One of El Merkury’s famous sur de Florida es México” no se dicen por odio, Galletas Abue Churros. This sino por ignorancia. “Es una generalización, pero cinnamon, dulce de leche and vanilla cookie-covered dessert served over vapoco a poco les enseño a los clientes: 'Esta es la nilla soft serve ice cream is a must try! diferencia, estos son los perfiles de sabor, esto es lo que nos diferencia de los mexicanos, venezolanos y argentinos'. Hay personas que quieren Muchos están buscando escuchar; otras son más de 'Quiero mi burrito, su pasión. Si la has y si no me lo dan, me voy'. Solo hay que tener encontrado, síguela y mucha paciencia”, dice Deleon riendo. siéntete orgulloso de El arduo trabajo y la dedicación invertida en crear El Merkury dieron sus frutos cuando Deleon quien eres. recibió el premio Best In Philly de la revista Philadelphia Magazine en 2018, apenas tres meses después de abrir. De niña, mientras aprendía a cocinar con su abuela en Guatemala, jamás imaginó ser, tan temprano en su vida, la dueña de un restaurante premiado. Tuvo que aprender de primera mano los problemas que enfrentan los latinos en los Estados Unidos y arriesgó su carrera para luchar por lo que cree. Al preguntarle qué le gustaría los lectores se lleven de su historia, Deleon dice: “Si tienes un objetivo importante para ti y sientes que cualquier otra cosa que hagas no te hará feliz, entonces ve por tu objetivo. Muchos están buscando su pasión. Si la has encontrado, síguela y siéntete orgulloso de quien eres".

Estamos a mediados de marzo cuando nos sentamos en el restaurante inusualmente vacío, tratando de ignorar el impactante silencio de esta calle central de Philly. Su origen es un todavía fresco temor por la llegada a los Estados Unidos del COVID-19, que ha obligado a cerrar a muchos negocios. Le pregunto a Deleon qué la motiva para mantener andando el negocio en tiempos difíciles. Con el optimismo y la energía que ha mantenido a lo largo de la entrevista, dice: “Lo que me mantiene en marcha es que esta es mi pasión, es mi bebé, es todo. Le he puesto mucho trabajo.

Lo construimos desde cero. No me permitiría fracasar."

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