June 01, 2020

Life's Reminders

June 01, 2020/ LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede

By Alicia Garcia, Fellow Class of 2018
University of Colorado at Boulder

With the current situation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, many families are reminded the importance of our health, the importance of family relationships, and that we cannot take either for granted. There will never be a “right time” to face the loss of a family member. We should always appreciate the people in our lives and engage in quality time with our family. The lockdown has reminded the entire world of that, and for me, this has been my second reminder in recent years.

In November of 2019, my grandma had a health scare that potentially required a high-risk brain surgery, with only a slight chance of improving her condition. My mother’s mother is the only grandparent I have ever had in my life. Although, no one is ever ready to say goodbye to a loved one, it had never crossed my mind that I could lose my grandma. She is only 52 years old, and always seemed very healthy and active. When I my mom informed me about my grandma’s condition, there are no words to describe how I felt thinking that our family could potentially lose her.

There were moments of denial; how could the strong, independent, and healthy woman I had known my whole life be taken away? I had kept a brave face on for my mom, as I could not imagine what she was thinking, nor what my grandma was thinking. It was a moment in our family’s history where we were reminded that at any time, any one of us could be gone. It was also a moment in time where I was reassured that my mentors will always be there for me whenever I needed their support.

Like most people, my grandma didn’t have a will, as she believed that she would have plenty of time to do it later. The impending brain surgery made her realize that she needed to prepare one before the surgery. Growing up, I would try to help my family navigate legal issues. Before I met my mentors through LSYWC, I would try to investigate and research on my own, which concerned me that the resources I found may not be reliable. During my grandmother’s illness, my mentors, Erica, Joy, and Nicole, showed me that I no longer had to carry this weight all by myself.

When my grandma asked me how to prepare a will, I knew I could ask my mentors for help. Within minutes of reaching out to them, not only did they asked about my grandma’s health, but they also checked in to see how I was holding up. My mentors’ emotional support and assistance with legal resources reassured me that they are there for me and will help me find answers themselves or from someone they trust.

Luckily, my grandma didn’t need to have the surgery and has recovered fully. Today, during the pandemic, I am reminded again of how important it is to cherish the moments we have with our loved ones. My heart goes to those who are directly affected and to those who are risking their health in order to help others. Throughout this time, I have had the emotional support above all from my mentors as they continue to reach out to me. I have no doubt that any obstacle I encounter in life, they will offer me guidance, and that relieves an unnecessary burden in my future.

“Sí, Se Puede” is a phrase born of farmworkers, who, under the leadership of the UFW, César Chávez, and Dolores Huerta, fought valiantly for equal protection under the law. As a result of the efforts of the UFW, “Sí, Se Puede” has become well known as a call that engenders hope and inspiration in those who face similar battles. We thank the UFW, whom we acknowledge to be the sole and exclusive owner of the Trademark SI SE PUEDE, for granting us a limited license to use“Sí, Se Puede” in connection with our efforts to recruit, in Colorado, students of Hispanic or Latino descent for our law school pipeline program. For more information about the programs offered by the UFW, please see UFW’s webpage (www.ufw.org); UFW Foundation’s webpage (www.ufwfoundation.org); and UFWF’s immigration services webpage (www.sisepuede.org)