“I think if it wasn’t my grandma I wouldn’t be who I am today”

When I had to decide who I wanted to interview for the StoryCorps assignment, originally it was hard deciding who I wanted to interview and it became that way because the prompt was someone who had a big impact in your life and there was a lot of teachers who had done that. And I’m very grateful for that because If it wasn’t for them I would  have lost hope and not be doing what I am today.

Also I didn’t want other teachers to be offended and not be chosen so I think that’s what made it pretty difficult but at the end I decided to interview Ms. Ramirez. When I first saw her I thought she was very kind and nice and just an awesome person and in the interview it states that she is just incredible.

In this interview she shares her story and some of her really big impacts that have been in her life and really just getting to know her more because I think if you heard her story, some people can find it relatable. It gives kind of like a relief and comfort.

We did the interview outside like in the patio area so I think probably towards the end of the interview the train passed and we decided to wait for it to be done so because you couldn’t hear what I was saying that’s why there’s a little bit of silence and in that one part and explains why she tried to reassure what I said.

Transcript:

 Adrianna Cruz: I’m Adrianna Cruz and I’ll be interviewing Miss [inaudible]. 

 Luz Ramirez: Ramirez. 

AC: Ramirez [Laughs] sorry, how were you um, raised while growing up?

LR: Uhhh, I was I was raised with my dad and my siblings and grandparents and – I would live at their house and we grew up um, in a good environment we had we had like a big family so we would like come together during the holidays and celebrate it was good.

AC: A big family?

LR: Mhm, yeah so it was me ummm, I had my sister, my brother, me, my dad, my grandma, my grandpa ,and like my uncles, my aunties, and I’m the oldest-

AC: Cool.

LR: I had two, uh, I have three half siblings but they don’t live with me.

AC: What were some things that helped you be who you are today and how? 

LR: How was one things that helped you be who you are today uh, I think my grandma cause she like worked really hard she’s very supportive and very nice. And she’s very strong like when my grandpa died she didn’t cry like in front of us everyone else was sad and we saw her all the time. And if everyone saw her cry we would feel bad so she hold it all in and she’s very strong person and uh, she’s very, always supported me so I think if it wasn’t my grandma I wouldn’t be who I am today.

AC: I kinda that’s what happened with my grandma as well though.

LR: Oh really?

AC: Yeah. [chuckles]

LR: [laughs]

AC: What were some things that helped you uhh, put an impact on you and how did it happen?

LR: Umm, I think probably me and my siblings we went to foster care for a little bit when we were like young and then I think that kind of made an impact in my life. And also mhm growing up with my grandparents, that worked a lot from them but it’s a good impact because they, I learned and then like I want to be better for like my future family and kids so yeah.

AC: Um, if You weren’t doing the things you are today what would you do?

LR: If I wasn’t doing?

AC: [Laughs].

LR: What, if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing today what would I be, what would I do?

AC: Yeah.

LR: Ummm what would I do let me think I think, I don’t know, that’ a good question.

AC: What would it be?

LR: I always wanted to live like in the countryside, like far away and uh, just travel.

AC: Travel? 

LR: Yeah if it wasn’t for work or anything I would just live far away and travel in a van just by myself.

AC: Travel what places? [chuckles] 

LR: Everywhere like all over the world I would just travel by myself and like work yeah.

AC: It would actually seem nice.

LR: Yeah, there’s a lot of like YouTube channels that I watch and they have like a van and make it to a home.

AC: And they have their vans all decorated and nice. What were some things that helped you uh, put an impact on you and how did it happen?

LR: Umm, I think probably me and my siblings we went to foster care for a little bit when we were like young and then I think that kind of made an impact in my life. And also mhm growing up with my grandparents, that worked a lot from them but it’s a good impact because they, I learned and then like I want to be better for like my future family and kids so yeah.

AC: Um, if you weren’t doing the things you are today what would you do?

LR: If I wasn’t doing?

AC: [Laughs].

LR: What, if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing today what would I be, what would I do?

AC: Yeah.

LR: Umm, what would I do let me think I think, I don’t know, that’ a good question.

AC: What would it be?

LR: I always wanted to live like in the countryside, like far away and uh just travel.

AC: Travel-

LR: Yeah if it wasn’t for work or anything I would just live far away and travel in a van just by myself.

AC: Travel what places [Chuckles] 

LR: Everywhere like all over the world I would just travel by myself and like work yeah.

AC: It would actually seem nice.

LR: Yeah, there’s a lot of like YouTube channels that I watch and they have like a van and make it to a home.

AC: And they have their vans all decorated and nice.

LR: Or I would also like to work at a farm.

AC: Like with animals?

LR: Yeah! I think it would be nice but yeah.

AC: What are some things that people may not know about you?

LR: That’s a good question. For me I feel when I get frustrated I cry. When I get frustrated I just cry. And when I get mad, I don’t  get mad easily but when I do I get mad and I cry. Very lazy, I procrastinate a lot. Not many people know that about me.

AC: (Chuckles) I can relate. Lastly, are there any or some words you wanna pass on for others?

LR: Ohm, yeah. I feel like when you are at school I know it can be overwhelming and hard for students. So make sure you have your own self-care. Like when I’m stressed from school I like to take a break and just watch some k-dramas, put on a face mask and relax.

AC: Yeses, what are some things that, um what are some things that could be like self care?

LR: Self-care, that’s a really good question for me I like to put on a face mask.

AC: Yes [laughs]! 

LR:I like to put on like a warm shower with candles. It’s cliche, but putting candles, like watching a Netflix show like I haven’t been able to watch like movies and shows I like watching k-dramas.

AC: Yesss! 

LR: You too, really!

AC: [ Laughs] Sometimes.

LR: I love that but right now I’m able to watch them now too and in Thanksgiving break I’m going to watch them all the time!

AC: Yes, Thanksgiving break!

LR: But yeah!