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My name is Amparo Navarro-Martin. The story of how I got my name ignites how I was destined into becoming a social justice leader. I was born on September 16, 1977; this is Mexico’s Independence Day. In Mexico, after a child is born, the parents take their child after to register their official name at the city’s registrar's office. My father had decided to take me a few days after I was born without my mother since she was still recovering from giving birth. My mother wanted him to wait a few days more but he just wanted to get it done. A few days later, my mother looked over the birth certificate and noticed that the name that they both had chosen was not the one that read. I was supposed to be named “Jessica” and not “Amparo”. My mother tried to change it but it was irreversible so “Amparo '' stuck to me. For years, my name has been a difficult part of my life, mostly because of its pronunciation and meaning. My parents brought me to the U.S. after my first birthday. As an immigrant child with undocumented parents at the time, they ask my aunt for their son’s birth certificate to use at the port of entry in San Ysidro, C.A. It worked, I crossed the border illegally with legal documentation. I remember often feeling embarrassed to hear this story being told over and over within the family, mainly because of the way they used my male cousin’s birth certificate as proof of citizenship. Oftentimes, I thought my name was a boy’s name. I went through school always hating to hear my teachers trying to pronounce my name out loud and my peers looking at me after, that indescribable feeling made me feel invisible. For most people that have uncommon names, they inherit nicknames through school, family, or friends, but not me; I have always been “Amparo”. Years later, after much research and findings, I have accepted my name carries a true meaning “Mercy-last hope for all”. I am convinced that I was born to be a social justice leader and be part of the much needed advocacy in public education for all the identified subgroups, in particular the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Growing Up Our identity, who we believe we are, drives our perceptions of the world, our interactions with others, our construction of meaning, our choices, and our behaviors and the way we fulfill the responsibilities of our many roles. How we carry out each role is influenced by the identity we develop for ourselves.
Being the first of four siblings, I had to learn to be independent at such a young age; I can remember walking home alone at 5 years old from half-day kindergarten, my father worked in a textile factory for long hours and my mother stood home at the time to care for my younger siblings. We lived in an apartment building in downtown Los Angeles (Shatto Street). One day, I remember coming home with my lunch tray and seeing red paper on our apartment front door. It was an eviction notice. My neighbor, who was always very kind to us, told me that my mother had left with my siblings and that I wanted to wait for her in her home, so I did. I share this particular memory of my life that always tends to come and go from time to time as I now often reflect back on why we got an eviction notice. I realize that my parents who were immigrants at the time knew little or nothing about their rental rights, community resources, and any other services available to low-income families. It is this particular memory where I can identify as socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Resiliency
Life got harder living in 90011, my parents could not keep up with daily living expenses and raising three children in a tough neighborhood became a challenge. My father ended up quitting his minimum wage paying job and found other ways of bringing a living wage in our home. This brought major problems to our family including severe consequences. It was the toughest years of my life, seeing and witnessing various levels of trauma. From inside my home to the crossing streets of 40th place and Avalon Blvd. My father ended up paying a top consequence sooner than later. While he was serving time, I was on my way to my first year of college. It was that summer, when my life turned all around. I was bound to a four-year university, but my family’s hardship placed me in doing what was right and what I know my father would have been proud of. I decided to attend a community college, get a job, and be the pillar of our household. My mother who never learned to speak English and never had to work was vulnerable and unprepared to maintain a household with 2 teenage children, rent, and so on. During my first two years in community college, more experience with racism, inequalities, and white supremacy grew much more than what I thought I knew. I faced several tough obstacles in college, the workplace, and daily life. School had not prepared me to face the real world, school just taught me that I was an English learner and that I had to take prerequisite courses every time I was interested in advancing my studies. As I progressed in school I considered myself lost and frustrated many times. I did not know exactly what to do, who to be around with or what to expect from anyone. I was not taught how to act and react when encountering situations such as described. My relationship with my mother was never good and only got worse as I became an adult. I often wish I was taught how to deal with my emotions and feelings, I see this as such an essential set of skills for marginalized students growing up in unstable homes.
Perserverance-Our beliefs, values, capacities and behaviors are congruent with our sense of identity. As our sense of identity changes, so do our beliefs, values, capacities and behaviors. Most often this sense of identity is held unconsciously, without calculation or deliberation. An identity carries with it goals and presuppositions that influence the setting of personal standards and criteria for interactions with others (Ellison & Hayes, 2015)
When I completed my prerequisites to transfer to a university, life got more complicated at home. My mother suffered from depression and neglected my siblings. I had to spend more time at home to monitor and keep my siblings safe. I had no one to learn from coping with my socio-emotional needs. I now understand and know that it is essential to have these practices in our schools. Most marginalized students do not know to cope with their feeling and emotions and select other alternatives such as gangs, drugs, and even suicide. I feel that if I would have learned some skills in coping with my emotions and feelings, I would have been able to destress a lot easier. I cried often because I felt unworthy. I learned in my healing journey (which I feel I am still on by the way) that I am an overachiever due to my childhood traumas. I grew up not being heard or seen. Accepting this helped me understand myself. I accept my flaws, I embrace them and I love them. My flaws are part of me and will not be rejected. When we learn to love ourselves completely we are more open to learning and share our story to help others no matter what people say.
This life-shifting moment brought me a setback to my educational journey, there were tough financial hardships that needed to be addressed. I decided to get an extra source of income, I found a graveyard shift job as a package handler at U.P.S., I spent 10 years there . I wanted to do anything possible to not relive that moment in which a red eviction notice was placed in our front door again. Working towards becoming a school educator was still the goal and I was willing to continue working towards it. When I received my B.A w/ teaching credential from CSULA in 2002, I applied to become a multiple subject elementary school teacher. I recall going on a couple of interviews and feeling unsuccessful. One day, I decided to reach out to a nearby school in the community I grew up in. I walked in and inquired about open teaching positions. I was greeted by the principal, he asked me if I had a moment to interview and so I did. After the interview, I left feeling positive and uplifted. It was at this precise moment that I knew I was confident to carry myself to the next stage in my life, becoming a teacher in the community that taught me about perseverance, tenacity, and grit. Today, I am beyond thankful to GOD, he has truly guiding me throughout this journey to share it among those individuals who have felt or are going to tough times.
My Calling
After 19 years as a teacher, I have discovered that I hold leadership strengths, traits, and qualities. I have decided to obtain an administrative credential to move forward in my career path as a social justice leader. My life, my educational background, and professional experience have strengthened me into becoming that voice for many that are and have experienced similarities as mine. I can only hope that I can continue to inspire, assist, and nurture marginalized communities into believing that education holds the key to opportunities that can provide a better future for themselves and their children. Over time, I have developed my social justice vision into a prosperous and anticipating notion that will provide positive environment for all. I look forward in working alongside with educators, administrators, and communities I serve. I believe the key to improving academic achieving lies within us.
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