Lifetime Lanterns

In her memoir, Lanterns, Marian Wright Edelman speaks about the mentors in her life and how they have helped light the path in her life. I myself have had quite a few lanterns in my life and with out them I do not who I would be today. An enormous amount of individuals have impacted my life since I entered the world of education. I always looked up to teachers for the answers and their guidance in my learning, I never failed to get attached to them each year. Hence my favorite identity theory, attachment theory. The brightest lantern I have had for about 17 years now, has been my clarinet instructor, Mr. Ruben Estrada. He opened many windows of possibilities in music and inspired me to continue playing no matter the circumstances. Our mentor relationship is just as strong as when we first met. He ignited my fuel for music and continues to motivate me to play, just as he persists in his own personal life journey to continue playing no matter the odds.

When I entered Texas A&M University, I found myself sitting the office of Ms. Carla Madison. Carla had a distinct way in which she helped students get connected with university life. She challenged her students to think critically and analyze their experiences. I was under Carla's supervision for two of the three years that I knew her. She saw me go through degree major changes, from Music to English, she saw me become a greek woman in Kappa Delta Chi, she saw me as a performer in the Aggie Symphonic Band, and most importantly she saw me develop as a leader through MSC organizations and Aggie Access. She was the person I would turn to when I was caught in a bind of decisions. With her guidance I never failed to make a wrong decision. I had found my lantern at A&M. However, my life was impacted by a major change in our relationship. Carla had decided to take a job at the University of Las Vegas. I decided to finish my career with Aggie Access after her departure to focus on CAMAC and KDX, as well as graduation. In Spring 2008 I received an email notifying me of Carla's passing. Prior to her passing, Carla had been recommending me for graduate school programs all the while battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. I never got to tell her how much of an impact she had in my life. She is one of the reasons why I am studying and looking forward to working in Student Affairs. Although she has passed, her spirit continues to ignite my path.

In 2005, my involvement in MSC Committee for the Awareness of the Mexican-American Culture flourished. I saw myself working closely with Ms. Raye Leigh Stone. Her committment to our organization as an advisor motivated me to become a director and president of CAMAC. I grew an in-depth understanding ofthe MSC and university student unions, as well as student and leadership development. This also led to my choice to pursue student affairs and higher education. It was during Carla's departure that I found myself sitting in RL's office talking about life's choices and contemplating my next move in school, in work, in career choices, even life choices. What I admire most about RL is her balance in maintaining her work relationships as well as family. I continously struggle in staying connected with long time friends and family back home and sometimes let myself get consumed by my job and my studies. After my graduation from UVM RL is one I plan to emulate in balancing work and family. In the field of student affairs and higher education there is a constant conversation about work, life, and self balance. UVM does a great job in helping me understand my needs in order to stay sane in such a student driven job, just as RL's does. As my life began to unravel in Vermont, I began to pay close attention to the most important individuals in my life, my family. RL's light has aided in my self-growth and understanding, and for that I thank her.

Flash forwarding to my new chapter in life, VT. I have yet to find someone as special as Mr. Estrada, Carla, or RL, which saddens me a bit, but it has also helped me realize how much of an important role a mentor can play in one's life. However, through HESA's GC (graduate colleague, like a big/lil sis sorority program) program I have been able to find another lantern to brighten my trip in Vermont. Valerie Garcia is my GC! I met Valerie while I was researching programs. VT connected me with her, and we instantly bonded. She is from New Mexico, where she went on to graduate and work for A&M for a year (my senior year), and then went on to graduate school in Vermont. Valerie helped cultuvate an environment for me where I could be myself with out judgement, away from the UVM and the HESA community. She made me realize how much my sisters play a vital role in maintaining my sanity. Through girl talks and shopping dates we were able to vent to each other and become the closest of GC's I never thought we'd become. She has since left VT already to begin a new chapter in her own life. When she left, I felt just as I felt when I departed my sisters and family in TX. And it dawned on me how much she reminded me of my very own sisters. She played a vital role in my Vermont experiences, with out her, I do not know how sane I would be right now. I thank her for her honesty in keeping it real and in letting me be myself in a place where I had become lost.

"[Mentors] need a sense of shared purpose that comes from shared actions and struggles. And they need exposure to a wide variety of people doing worthwhile rather than frivolous or self-seeking things".