Jairo

The hardest thing that I had and somewhat still experience is living without a father figure. I never knew what it was like to have a connection with a dad. And although I never had that relationship, my mom filled in the blank space. And I appreciate it because it made me realize that I didn't really need him as I was growing. He missed a lot from my childhood like important school events, birthday parties, my first steps, and my first words. However; now I have my step-father, which isn’t exactly the same, and we don’t have a strong bond, but he does tend to help me out here and there. Which to all I can say that my mom has raised me well, and give her the credit for it.

Rodrigo

What profession would you not like to do?

The profession I would like not to do is one where I am not happy. For example, working in an office, I find that really boring. If I go to any profession, I would like to be comfortable and do something different every day. A job that does not interfere much with my personal life would be great. I think having time for myself and my family would play a huge role because it is always better to keep your relationship with those who you love. I would like to be able to go to my soccer games and have some fun with friends. Salary is also important because you want to work somewhere you earn enough money to move forward and pay for any expenses.

Miguel

                            Question: "What's the lesson that's taken you the longest to learn?"

Response: “I’ve always had a problem waiting. People always tell me to wait for my time. A good example of my problem waiting is one of my most vivid childhood memories. When I was six, I wanted to help my father cut the grass, but I couldn’t operate such heavy machinery. So later, my father bought me a plastic lawnmower because I could not wait to get older and help him out. Another example is when I couldn’t wait to work. When I was 13 years old, I had the opportunity to help my dad at the bakery store. It wasn’t a 13-year-old job, but I got the work done. I cannot wait. There are so many things in life that I want to do before I die that sometimes I feel like I won’t have enough time to complete them. Life is getting crazier and it's not getting any better. You never know what will happen tomorrow. And personally, that is one of my biggest fears.” 

María Abarca

What is your definition of love?

Love is that feeling where you leave your pride and selfishness aside and give all support to that person that you love. Love is a decision we make every day by deciding to love that person every day. Between everything, it's important to know that God is love and that love is not just found in one person in particular, but it is found within us and within the people that surround us.

Why do you say this?

I say this because I had to go through a very difficult path in order to learn that love is found within me. Sometimes life experiences help us learn to value ourselves and those around us that always support us. 

Ishmael Zavala

The purpose of forgiveness is… 

“You can forgive in others or people can forgive you from the mistake you made. The purpose of forgiveness is to learn from the mistakes. You basically just Live and learn throughout life. I think forgiveness is important so that we as people can learn and grow as humans. To show who we can trust so that you don’t end up in the same spot. Forgiveness is not for the benefit for them,  but the benefit for yourself. To prove that you are capable of healing from the pain. Forgiveness doesn't mean forget what they did and move on from your life but hoping that the person that hurt you learn from their mistake. Forgiveness isn’t something you get right away. Forgiveness is a process, which means it can take hours to years to finally understand the power of forgiveness. Once you have forgiven the stress and the madness is gone.”

Veronica Zavala

What is the secret to a happy life? 

The secret to a happy life is to live in the moment. Reality is what you are encountering in this very moment; not the thoughts and feelings that we focus from the past or future. You’ll begin to have a profound admiration for your life if you just live in the moment.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

The advice I would give my younger self is to enjoy life. Growing up, I was always focused on the future and so focused on school and work, I never had time to just have fun. 

Jorge Benito

What is the purpose of the human experience?

I think that the purpose of the human experience is to do mistakes and to learn from them, and time here is not forever. Because everything is superficial, knowledge is what stays with you forever, until your death bed.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I'd tell, my younger self to live my life more because I can grow later, I don't have to grow up so quickly and to continue to learn from my mistakes, because they will follow me up to the rest of my life.

Richie R.

What is the lesson it's taken you the longest to learn?

"The lesson that has taken me the longest to learn is finding motivation. It took me years to understand that I had to try my best at school. That comes with motivation and in order to succeed, you have to put the work in. Motivation for me is finding what drives you as a person and to keep moving forward." -- Richie Roque

Esteban T,

Worst Experience - The worst experience I’ve ever had was going at it with my dad, to the point that things got physical. I was out and my brother accidentally set the microwave on fire. My dad was beyond mad, and when I got there I knew I had to defend my brother and mother at all costs. “Mi papa loco, imaginate yo.” This is why I’m here today.  

What is Love - Love is the trust between two people, the respect you give yourself as well as your partner, that is the greatest depiction of love you can give and have.

Jorge

If you could be any animal what animal could you be?

If I could be an animal I would be an eagle. I would be an eagle because they are big explorers and I like exploring.

What’s the best advice you’ve gotten?

To always do what you believe in, to do what you feel is right and not let other people change you or your opinion.

Alejandra Alferez

What is the secret to a happy life? …. WELCOME TO MY TED TALK

I believe the secret to a happy life is to remove all negativity and look forward. By this, I mean to do your best to take out all the negative people and things that block your happiness. This may not always be easy but once you do it, it’ll be relieving and you’ll somehow feel free. 

    Always look forward. By this, not only do I mean to keep your head up but to focus on the now and not on the past. If you’re stuck on what happened in the past how will someone be successful and allow good things to happen yah know? 

Jacqueline Lomeli

What do you think will happen when you die?

I have many conspiracies on what happens when I die. We will never know for sure what actually happens until we experience it. Sometimes I question myself, “where am I going to go” after I die. But I guess we will all have to wait. It's scary to think, that one day I will have to experience death but it's all part of living. My first theory is that you will die and wake up on a different planet in the universe. A different theory I have after death is that you will become a different living thing in the earth, for example, if I die I will wake up and be a jellyfish in the sea. Another thing I believe might happen is that it will be an endless dream and I just never get to wake up. This one scares me because sometimes we get nightmares and I don't want to be stuck inside a dream and never wake up. Something I would like to say to people is to never fall asleep regretting something or not saying “I love you” to your family because you never know when our time will come.

Oscar Teran

                                                                       Oscar Teran 

                                                What do you think will happen when you die?

When I die, there will be both real and fake tears, both of which people will not be able to distinguish. When I die, I will, at last, be free of all the pain and suffering I have experienced throughout the walk of life. My loved ones will cry, and for every tear they shed, a memory of me shall prevail. My enemies will disguise their happiness of my death as a mockery of a pain, a facade, and so on with tears, tears that come from the venomous of snakes, my death will bring joy and cheers to my enemies. To the friends who stood with me during the times where I laughed, they will remember the times where my tears ran down my red, burning cheeks, they will remember the sound of my laughter, the poise I picked myself up with, and the pieces I was able to create with my hands, always stained with the mark of my marker strokes. I only pray that when my time comes, my soul will be free, and everyone who I love will remember me as a strong person. 

Zelma Leon Guerrero

What is the purpose of the human experience? For me, the purpose of the human experience is to make mistakes. It’s okay to do mistakes because I once heard that “life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” The purpose of the human experience is to learn, take risks because life is too short and you don’t have a promised tomorrow. Our purpose is also to make a change, make the world better, you can simply do that by giving somebody a smile when they most need it. All of us are a big family and if we are going to be on this Earth until it’s our time to leave we must treat each other like one. Live life at its fullest, but just don’t forget to respect each other.

Kenneth

What is the secret to a happy life?

“The secret to a happy life is loving yourself because nobody can judge you from the way you are. No one should care how you feel, how to live, and what to wear. If you don't love yourself you cannot have a happy life, you are not going to have a good future, you need to believe in yourself. Quality time is spent with family and friends. Why do you need to change your looks if the only thing that matters is being “you” and be able to live a good life. For me, I have to deal with my sister with depression because it’s not easy for her deciding what to do in her future. It all starts by loving myself, and then that love spreads to others. If I give happiness in her life, I can help her get rid of her depression and be able to decide of what she really wants to do in her future. I may not be the best brother, but at least I’m supporting her in any possible way. Be the version of yourself, that’s what matters to a secret happy life.”

Leslie Dorantes

What was the hardest thing you’ve had to experience?

Leslie Dorantes, her father's residency was being questioned. He was in danger of getting deported. It was difficult because it would have been her father that would have been gone, or  the whole family would have left so that they wouldn’t be seperated. It hit her on an emotional level because her relationship with her father isn’t the best. She quoted, “He is physically there, but not emotionally.” She then mentioned that regardless of her relationship with her father, she still respects and loves him unconditionally. To her it does not matter how others feel because at the end of the day it is just her and that's all that should be important. And even though they did not have the best relationship knowing that her father would have been gone hurt her. Blood is family no matter what. 

Ramon

My least favorite word is "fake". I detest this word because I love honesty, and I believe that the world would be a better place if we were more honest to each other. I admire people who are honest and are not afraid to be who they are no matter what. Who stand for what they believe and say things eye to eye. I cannot stand people who are fake and act in a different way in front of others in order to fit in society, be part of a group, or to be liked by others.

Samantha Mejia

What is the definition of love?

My definition of love is that there isn't one. Love gets redefined every day. Whether it be this undying force that cannot be changed or gotten rid of or something that is just a figment of our imagination. We made up the word for a feeling, a feeling that is different for every single person in the world. It's almost wrong to give such a word a solid definition. For me right now, I don't know what love is but I know that when I feel it, no words ever created could describe that feeling. Love has no labels or definition. It's just love. 

Juan Castillo

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my young self that even when times seem hard, keep going at it. By the time I was 13 years old, I would see myself as a failure and I would at times feel sad and wonder, why was I so different. I had bad grades and I never did anything to fix them, I liked going home and playing video games and never did homework. If I could tell my past self-something it would be to be happy, good things will come from it, try hard and you will succeed.

Joanna

"What the secret to a happy life?"

I think you should love yourself before you can be happy in life. You start to feel confident when you surround yourself with people and things that make you happy. To feel happy, you have to ignore the people who try to bring you down. Also, by saying positive thoughts about yourself eventually will trick your brain to believe anything you say to yourself. Another thing is to not overthink too much. “If it's not going to matter in five years then it doesn’t matter.” Lastly, don’t push yourself to the point where you feel overwhelmed, and find something else that makes you happy.

Attachments area

Araceli

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

 Some advice that I would give my younger self is to put yourself out there. People will always have something to say and you'll never please anyone. As long as I am happy with what I do and the choices I've made then I'll be okay.No one pays my bills, put food on my table or maintains clothes on my back, so why should I worry about what people have to say about my lifestyle. 

Desmen Gomez

Desmen Gomez

What is the lesson of taking you the longest to learn?

Time management. I always try do everything at once, and I try to find the time, but procrastination play a big role, and I just go with the flow, so instead I just procrastinate. It is the hardest because I really have to do a lot and it all piles up and I focus my attention on the wrong stuff and end up putting aside to the last minute everything I was supposed to do, so its hard. Hopefully by the time I get to college I will have resolved this issue and use it as a learning experience.

Ronaldo M.

Ronaldo M.

1. What is your favorite word? Food, because it's food.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self? I would tell my younger self to not do anything that I would do. To always respect your elders, respect your mom, respect the police, and anyone because respect is powerful. Get good grades to get places in the future because they are very important. And to think about a good career that would make your family proud, like an engineer or doctor.

Rosalyn

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to not get too attached to people because everyone takes their own path at some point and to not depend on people because they might let you down. I would also tell myself to not put yourself down in those bad situation because everything has a solution. To just leave everything in God’s hands because he will always be there when I need him. He will take care of the problem and will help me move forward. I would tell myself to cherish the ones you have now and be grateful of what you have or is given to you. To focus on school and stop playing because everything matters, every grades matter. Also make goals for the future that will be accomplished and accomplish them.

Ernesto

Ernesto

What is the lesson that has taken you the longest to learn?

The lesson that has taken me the longest to learn is to finish my homework when I have to. I believe education is important to me, but sometimes I forget to do my homework. Education is important to me because I would like a job that I can be proud of.