Having had zero teaching experience, my time in the classroom proved to be equally educational for the both myself, and the students. Classes would end in the early Ecuador, and the afternoon was dedicated to volunteer work in the indigenous communities. The work in the indigenous communities emphasized health education and cultural exchange. As volunteers, we strived to provide the indigenous communities with the basic necessities, (i. e. toothpaste), and the skills necessary to live a healthier lifestyle. This was a humbling experience.
The work in the indigenous communities taught me how to educate people without offending their customs or sense of self worth. Splitting my time between the classroom and the indigenous community, I learned invaluable lessons about myself, and my place in the world. The experience shed light on how privileged my life had been and placed renewed importance on my desire to help others not as privileged as myself. After two years law school, and Ecuador in the past, I found a way to help the disenfranchised here at home.
In the summer of 2007, immigration came to the forefront in Oklahoma. The state had recently passed House Bill 1804 (HB 1804) and took effect in November 2007. The bill is an anti-immigration measure, which regardless of the text, was meant to target Hispanic immigrants. In reaction to the passing of HB 1804, mild hysteria broke out in Tulsa. Police began to “enforce” immigration laws and they targeted Hispanics for minor crimes to ensue the deportation process. The Hispanic community was awash with rumors and subdued by fear.
Ethnographic Research Paper: Latino-American Immigration Experience
The immigration experience as a Latino-American is as diverse as the manifold cultures that the pan-ethnic identity, Latino, aims to subsume. With regards to the immigration experience, Zavella (1991) lays an emphasis on the notion of social location. The difference among Latinos in American society is embedded in their “social location within the social structure”, in which identity, or one’s ...
Luckily, the local leaders reacted to address the problem head on, and I was fortunate enough to get involved. In the summer of 2007, I worked and spoke at numerous immigration seminars. With my Spanish skills, and my legal background, I became an instant asset to the community leaders. I worked closely with the local clergy, business leaders, city councilors, and the community at large. The purposes of the seminars were to educate the Hispanic community about their rights, and to quash the nasty rumors that were spreading fear.
With my blond hair and fluent Spanish, I literally became a beacon of light for a community that had lost its trust for its fair skinned brethren. The seminars proved effective and helped ease the growing tension with immigration reform in Oklahoma. This experience was extremely satisfying but also financially draining. I did not receive compensation or mileage for the many seminars I attended and numerous hours I logged. A scholarship to DU would reward the work I have performed and motivate me to continue my advocacy for the less privileged.
Last but not least are the personal hardships I have faced in my journey towards my L. L. M… I believe that all students are deserving of a scholarship regardless of their financial necessity or their academic merits. We have all put an enormous amount of time and work in order to get to this place. That being said, my volunteer work, my political activism, and personal hardships make me a perfect candidate for a scholarship to DU. I would thank those giving their time to evaluate our necessity for the scholarship and more importantly, those who make the scholarships available. Respectfully,
