Feel-good quotes from the youth staff

May 31st, 2006

I pulled quotes from the youth staff’s self-evaluations and drafts of their bios.  I wanted to share them here because hearing these things is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.  Love, Kristen

Donnamarie Miranda: “What I like most about 110º and VOICES is the open and friendly, supportive, and goal-oriented environment that is created.  I feel as though we were celebrated for who we were and weren’t allowed to give up on ourselves . . . I learned how different people could be from one another but still be so similar . . . I learned not to give up so easily on myself. I had a tendency to run away or quit when things got tough, but working at voices forced me to take give myself the time and attention I needed to finish projects and finish them well done.”

Isabella Soto:  “One thing I will cherish is finding out that there are other youth who, like me, want to make a difference in the world.  That human compassion is there after all among youth and other people.  I’ve learned to let my guard down and not pass judgement . . . This place is truly a light in the darkness.  It shines hope for those of us who are frustrated and angry with the way things are today.”

Esther Blue: “I feel so fortunate to have been able to tell my personal story, because I believe that the people who read it will be able to learn and grow from my insight and experiences . . . Writing a personal essay was a process that required a lot of soul searching and self evaluation, but one thing that definetly came from it was actually being able to tell a story that came straight from my heart . . . I also enjoyed working with this year’s staff because so many people were telling in depth personal stories, that really influenced to me to tell more and more of my story.”

Jennifer Thall: “ My life is predictable. It’s not necessarily dull or mundane, but I am not often given the opportunity to step out of my daily routines and experience new people, places, or ideologies. Voices, and specifically the story I chose to write on Al Garza and the Minutemen, challenged me to journey beyond my normal range of experiences and to question my existing beliefs and perspectives. I went from a safe and comfortable existence to witnessing and documenting the capture and arrest of twelve people crossing the United States-Mexico border illegally.”

Jonathan Schoffel: “I worked with a brilliant group of people in doing so, and I learned about the many social and political causes within our community. In a sense, working with such a diverse staff made me more sensitive to issues different from the ones I normally deal with.”

Hector Moreno:  In response to the question “What has been the most valuable thing you’ve learned through your work at VOICES so far?”  Hector responded: “That words are very powerful.  And if you voice yourself you will be heard.”

Caitlyn Myers:  In response to the question “What has been the most valuable thing you’ve learned through your work at VOICES so far?”  Caitlyn responded: “About being honest, even when it’s hard . . . I have been encouraged to constantly be explore my creativity, my expectations, and the human condition.”

Alexandrea Duran: “My favorite part of working here was being able to meet all kinds of people . . . Through Voices I’ve learned that the best pictures will tell you stories and the best stories will paint you pictures.”

Entry Filed under: 110 ° Magazine