The essay that got me into BYU...

Earlier this month, I was helping my youngest brother with his college applications when I had the distinct impression to hunt down the essay I wrote for my college applications. I powered on our old iMac G3 desktop, found my essay, and read it for the first time in 11+ years. What struck me the most were the similarities between this essay and the themes in my Law School graduation address. You'll notice I write about Compton, Immigrants, Education, my Mexican heritage, my parents, and even quote César Chavez. I'm nothing if consistent. Though so much time has passed, I remain true to my roots, and true to my inner soul.

I leave the essay here for your reading pleasure. I've left grammatical errors and such in place because I find them particularly endearing. Here are the words of 17-year-old Lauren, a girl eager to get into BYU and make her mark on the world. 

I was born and raised in one of the most notorious cities in all of the United States—Compton, California. Whenever I introduce myself as being a Latina from Compton, people are astonished and surprised for there is no hint of the wicked influence of the streets of Compton in my speech, appearance, or personality. I owe this to my two loving parents who taught me to be in the world, but not of the world; and my Mexican heritage, which taught me that anything is possible.

Everywhere in Compton there are reminders that the city is filled with gangs, homicide, and iniquity. Both my grandfather and father were shot in this city I call my hometown however, I have been taught to focus on the positive aspects of life instead of dwelling on the negative.

My mother truly took it upon herself to help me develop my talents in the hopes that I would aspire and rise to new heights. As a young child I was always banging the keys on the piano and singing at the top of my lungs, as a result of my early display of musical talents, my mother had me audition for the International Children's Choir of Long Beach.

Each member of the choir is asked to dress in the traditional apparel of a particular country, and sing songs for world peace. I have been a member of the choir for eleven years now, and have represented the countries of Ecuador and Tonga. Through my involvement in this choir I have been able to not only perform nationwide, but worldwide as well, in places such as Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Vienna.

Some may think that because I have visited these cities in Europe that I am wealthy or well off. However, I had to save money, and fundraise for months in order to pay for the expenses of such trips. These trips have allowed me a glimpse of the world outside the United States, and a better understanding of humanity.

Currently, there is only a small percentage of Latinos in college. Both my parents attended college, and their example has helped me realize just how valuable education is. Most Latinos tend to shy away from universities because they believe that they cannot make it. In Mexico there is a phrase that always inspires the minds of countless people, "si se puede", or, "it can be done". Whenever someone has placed a restriction on my success, or has told me that what I am trying to accomplish is impossible, I simply think to myself "si se puede", and remember all those leaders like Cesar Chavez, who have tried to help my culture gain rights and civil liberties. This determination has brought me to where I am today, and continues to motivate me for the future.

Although there is a negative connotation associated with those from Compton, I wish to break the stereotypical barriers and prove to others that the citizen does not necessarily reflect the city.

Lessons in Love: November 2018

At the end of last year, I felt strongly that 2018 would provide me a case study in love, not love of the whirlwind romance variety, but true love--pure, undefiled and Christlike in nature. Last month, my lesson in love came from the examples of the people I met in Concepcion, Chile.

I figured with Devin coming home on Friday, now would be good time to update you all on our brother-sister trip of a lifetime. Devin served his mission in Concepcion, Chile and because of my bucket list item to visit every country in Latinoamérica we decided to make the trip a reality. 

I knew going into the trip that this wouldn't be a "touristy" type trip: we wouldn't be seeing the natural wonders that Chile is known for worldwide. This trip was about the people, and specifically it was a trip I wanted to take with my brother, a trip to see a place that means so much to him and was so essential for his spiritual growth. 

I didn't expect that Chile and specifically the people I met there would teach me so much about love. The people we met adored my brother, and their love radiated from the moment we stepped into the door. Honestly, it was overwhelming! And I felt like Heavenly Father used this trip specifically to mold my heart and to teach me even more about ministering and caring for his children. And, with our trip concluding on Thanksgiving, honestly the timing couldn't have been more perfect!

I just want to share one teeny experience. 

Our last full day in Chile, we went to visit a single mother in one of Devin's areas. I was incredibly exhausted I hadn't been sleeping super well and my body was trying to conserve energy the best way it could. At the beginning of our visit to this woman, I was still fighting sleep, but I could just tell that this woman really wanted to speak to me. It was sort of as though I had taken on the role of an Hermana again where little by little this woman was telling me her whole life story. I fought off the sleep and forced myself to be engaged. 

This was better than being an Hermana, because I wasn't there to cry repentance or to leave her with a commitment to invite her to church, I was there as a friend. I could spend as long as I wanted to in her home, and I could spend genuine quality time with her and show her I cared. 

At one point, we told her and her teenage son that we had to leave, but then it turned out they had prepared completos (Chilean hotdogs) for us. She asked if we would go to the market to grab tomatoes and soda and we shared a wonderful meal together. I really loved being in this home. Before dinner, I went into the kitchen and spent  one-on-one time with t preparing the food with her and helping in any way I could. At one point in our conversation this good sister said, "No se, me caíste muy bien!" Like, she really just loved speaking to me. It was a simple compliment, but I felt those words go to my very core and I just knew that I had been on the Lord's errand that day. 

I didn't pressure her to go back to church. I see things so differently than from when I was on my mission. Life is eternal, and my mission for the eternities is to love. Love people and recognize that we all have our challenges. But, the Lord is so mindful of our connections, he's so good to us and places us in the paths of people who can help lift us in times of need. Our lives will be made so much richer if we fill them with love. Love for ourselves, love for our brothers and sisters, and love for our Savior. 

This is Nico, he's a young man from Devin's first area. He goes to school full time, and has a little barbershop in a backroom of his house where he regularly sees clients. He plans to use the wages he earns from his shop for his mission. 

Chile's pizza is so strange and very VERY meat heavy. I've recently diminished my meat intake greatly, so finding a pizza I could eat was a bit of a struggle. We ended up with this option from Catus Pizza: chicken + cheese + mushrooms.

I have such a love for public transportation! :) The buses in Chile were no different.

I felt such a connection to this dear woman, you could just tell she was a true Matriarch, a force to be reckoned with in the defense of her family.

Just me trying to eat a completo. This one in particular was so massive! I could only finish about half of it. 

Loved. Loved. Loved the architecture inside this cathedral in Chillán, Chile. Devin told me that the structure of the Cathedral was supposed to represent the ribs of christ. I also got vibes from the Storybook Land Canal Ride from Disneyland, you know, the part where you go through the mouth of the whale from Pinocchio? Tell me you see it!

These women were a hoot! They're sisters and teamed up to make Devin and I sopaipillas which I'll describe as a smaller version of Navajo fry bread, but slightly saltier and dare I say more delicious. (Sorry to my Diné friends!!) But seriously, these women were so hilarious I hadn't laughed that hard in so long, and we had impromptu karaoke all the way back to our airbnb.

Devin and I passed this dinosaur park on multiple days, and finally on our last full day of the trip, we got off the bus and played around. It was SO COOL! It was the kind of park I wish I had discovered when I was a child. Can someone build a dinosaur themed park here in California ASAP?

Another sweet family Devin worked with. We had our last Chilean meal in this home, and got a proper sendoff when they dropped us off at the airport. 

Aye Chile! Teneis mi corazon!!

Hasta la próxima. Because you know I have to visit Patagonia before I depart from this earth.