Alice G. Terriquez

Participating in Sentimientos y Terrenos (Feelings and Terrains), a Summer Undergraduate Research Workshop Series, facilitated by Dr. Ana E. Rosas at the University of California, Irvine was not just a weekly zoom call, but a coming together as a habit to support each other in our emotional wellbeing. During the weeks that we spent together, there was no college credit offered but rather a space to reimagine what it means to be Latinx Scholars during a global pandemic. Analyzing the past, present and future by asking ourselves what could be possible after Covid-19?

Every session enriched our understanding of the necessary space we take up in higher education; my favorite zoom sessions were the Behind the Scholars Studio sessions. During these sessions artists, Ph.D. candidates and UCI Professors gifted us their time to ask them important questions of their work and perspectives of Covid-19. The most meaningful session for me was with Dr. Alejandro Morales, who cited Revelations 1:19 as his rule to live by, “Writing done right, means writing what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.” He detailed the urgency behind imagining a future through understanding the past. He invited us to “tell a damn good story” by paying attention to the intersection between literature, theory and history. This type of conversation instils self-reflection and community at a time where we feel so isolated. With the global pandemic continuously highlighting the systemic issues that create inequalities, it is not a time to be silent. We can be physically apart but still continue to work on critically tackling on the ties that bind us. The time spent together in team meetings and weekly presentations echoed the humane approach which Dr. Rosas desired. Together we focused on analyzing practices, structures and institutions that must be called out and pushed to dismantle long-standing inequalities. Higher education was not created for Latinx students so to find community and prosper is rebellion. Coming together and actually asking each other, “How are you this week?” was crucial in pushing through Covid-19. Participating in this summer workshop series has allowed me to value the strengths in myself, be incredible in a crisis and take baby steps in my weaknesses. It has been a time to reflect on the needs of my family, my community and myself. Along with reflection has come action, to not just participate in this extraordinary community but to continue doing the things I love, despite the pain and death around. Participating in this series allowed me to open a new kind of door, leading to awakening and wellbeing. Being in conversation with other Latinx scholars paved the way to more reading, creating art and not feeling alone. I am grateful to have been a part of such a unique and necessary group this summer.