On April 9th, the UC Merced Library hosted a Living Library, a library of people available to be “checked out” for a conversation. Over the course of the afternoon, 63 attendees met with an event volunteer for a 20-minute conversation. The Living Library aims to establish a conversational space that encourages a better understanding of those with whom we share our community, with the goal of breaking down prejudice, stereotypes, and assumptions by engaging in meaningful dialogues.
Thank you to our volunteers for making this event possible! The 2019 Living Library featured the following experiences:
What's Your Story? Purpose, Passion, and Drive
I grew up in San Antonio, TX as mixed-race (look white, raised Hispanic) into a poor family. My dad left when I was young so I was raised by my mom who never finished high school. My first semester in college I had a near death experience. I left Texas to get my degree at LMU in LA, having never set foot on that campus until a week before classes. As a first gen college student, I was able to graduate with a 3.4 and nominated Outstanding Male Graduate. I struggled to find a career and became depressed and suicidal due to a painful back injury lasting 8 years. I found a job serving diverse low-income first-gen students. I got my Masters at 45 yrs old and now I serve first-gen students at UC Merced.
The Balancing Act
Focus on working towards finishing school and establishing a career while being a young mom and balancing work and family life thereafter. Who says as women we can’t have it all and do it well?
Dr. UC Merced
Before coming to Merced I was an administrative assistant for 10 years. When I told my boss I wanted to go back to school he told me he didn't know why since I already had a job that I was so good at. On one hand, it seemed like a compliment. On the other, it felt like I wasn't worthy of getting an education. Eventually, I went to community college & eventually ended up at UC Merced as a staff member, then an undergraduate. I finished my degree & then completed my Ph.D. & lectured here for a while. Now, I encourage others, especially transfer students to pursue their educational dreams.
With HIV, Without Fear
Being infected with HIV as a teenager or young adult is filled up with wonders and worries that impact ways one negotiates the temporal and spatial aspects of human social life. Nearly 25 years later, I can attest that the biases and stereotypes have not changed much and they continue to reproduce social-emotional precariousness as it relates to disclosure. Nevertheless, I cannot live in fear. Come check me out to ask your most difficult questions without fear.
Diaspora Diaries: Puchica vos!
Inspired by Leenah Bassouni, she notes
"we grow roots in salted earths, floating far from a motherland."
Diaspora diaries is the translation of the past, present, and future tracing the geography of rootlessness; constructing languages and identities that suffice both the here and there. In this session, I will focus on being a member of "Departamento 15" of El Salvador. What does it mean to be 'diaspora?' Centroamericana in the U.S.?
My Life in the Woods
In my early adulthood, I spent ten summers as an employee of the U.S. Forest Service, working mostly as a wildland firefighter. The work could be hard and the conditions rough. Shifts on the fire line often lasted fourteen hours; sometimes, well over twenty-four hours. You could go days without a decent meal or the opportunity to take a shower (the work was unbelievably dirty). Working on a wildfire is tiring and often boring. On rare very occasions, it can be exciting—even dangerous. Memories of my career as a firefighter stick with me to this day. I got close to people who are still friends, got to know some colorful characters whom I will never forget, and crossed paths with a few people I hope to never lay eyes on again. I learned revealing lessons about my physical and mental limits, and I saw some amazing sights that most people will never see.
Never a Dull Moment
This is a story of a first-generation college student with mixed heritage (Mexican, Filipino, and White). Before getting into academia, she attended a vocational school (cosmetology) in order to secure a trade to help pay for college. Interestingly enough, this trade is something she applies to teaching writing today. She was an active theater performer in the Bay Area for 10 years, and that eventually led her to CSU Stanislaus where she became the first person to graduate with a triple-concentration in English. She also paid off all her student loans in less than 7 years. She has had her share of challenges; she lost her father to cancer when she was 16 and survived a violent attack by a student in the classroom. For fun, she writes, makes costumes, and practices a form of fire dancing. She is currently a published writer, award-winning researcher, and lecturer with the Merritt Writing program.
The Road to Success: Can I Get There on Foot
As a child, I was inordinately shy. I never raised my hand in school and did not feel comfortable talking to adults. My overprotective mother made me fear many "normal" things, such as driving a car. Although I had spent my life reading thousands of books, homeschooled my own children until college, and wrote articles for magazines, I didn't have a lot of self-confidence. However, when life demanded I get a job outside the home, I had to learn to drive a car, as our town was ten miles away. My story is about how overcoming what seems like insurmountable obstacles can give you the confidence to start a new life.
Recovering from an Eating Disorder
Growing up in a working-class white/Latino household, we did not talk about mental health, exercise, or healthy eating. When I was 20, I decided to lose weight. While I started out doing this the healthy way, I developed an eating disorder and was addicted to exercise. I was obsessed with staying thin and was at an unhealthy weight. Getting help through services on my college campus was the first step in my recovery. Finding community in online spaces focused on body positivity has been an important part of maintaining a healthier mindset.
Part-time staff with start-up Ag. business (hops - specialty crop)
I would like to talk about the general path that led me to start a new ag. business & a completely new crop for the area in 2010. I could talk about the general obstacles I had to overcome along the way & the ways in which information I had access to from the library helped me along the way. I used my Dad's motto of: "Knowledge is priceless. You have no idea when you will need it" and it paid off. I could talk about the ways that family can be a help and a hindrance (support & oppose) when one takes a gamble on a new business and agriculture industry for the area.
