Professional Millennial

Politics. 24. Latina Feminist. Wannabe Runner. Bookworm.

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Informed Electorate

So....this is awkward. I apologize for the absence, non existent tumblr followers.

I have a crazy and probably overwhelming idea. I, who allegedly loves to write and studied government in college, am going to attempt to combine the two. I do not promise perfection, but I do promise my best effort (of sorts). It will be a sort of organic approach to reporting with side (witty) annotations. I’m tired of feeling doubt about what’s going on with our government. I have never felt so frustrated and confused. I even doubt my news sources. How fucked up is that?

I want to start off by saying that I admit I have biases. I lean left. I’m a self proclaimed feminist. I want immigration reform. I think refugees need help. I’m a child of Mexican immigrants. So you can imagine where I’m coming from. However, I have always tried to be open minded. I’m willing to change, relabel, whatever during this journey of enlightenment. I want to be part of an informed electorate and I think you do too. More than anything I want to aggregate information and post sources so as to best inform our own opinions. I’m not trying to change minds, I’m just trying to make the facts known because as far as I know ‘alternative facts’ is bullshit. That’s not acceptable. 

This is very much an experiment for myself and if others can benefit, amazing. If I’m going to be completely honest, I also want to become informed so I can debate the shit out of people. Maybe you can too :) 

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Destination #2.5: Sacramento, CA

12/25/2016

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to count this as a monthly destination but I have always wanted to see the Capital Christmas Tree. Plus, I didn’t get a chance this month to get away. December is so hectic and it’s hard to catch your breath. But, as I always try to emphasize, I’m grateful for my family’s love. Feliz Navidad 🎄❤️

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Mexican AF

I have been meaning to write post election. I have never felt so much election fatigue. I have never been so confused or in doubt or frustrated or angry or upset. Writing has always been my way of expressing myself and I knew in order to sort out everything I was feeling that I needed to do this. 

I’m lucky. Let’s start there. I’m college educated. I have my whole family with me, safe and healthy. My parents are immigrants with legal status. I’m a citizen. I’m Mexican with light brown skin. I grew up in a town compromised mostly of Latinos, so small, everyone attended the same high school. I wasn’t bullied and nobody demonstrated any kind of racism towards me. I know how lucky and privileged I am. Technically, I have no skin in the game. I don’t have to be afraid of my parents being taken away from me. I don’t have to be afraid of the government revoking my status because I was born elsewhere, but I fully recognize that it could have been ME. I could easily be the girl on DACA or the girl whose parents have no status. EASILY. That’s why I can’t let this go and that’s why I can’t take the rhetoric without feeling as if they were attacking me, too. Because they are. 

I am an anchor baby. I am the baby that was born with the help of a government sponsored program. I was the little girl who grew up learning only Spanish so I had to go to summer school to strengthen my English. I can’t look away and pretend that none of that happened. As if the struggles of other Latinos, especially without status, don’t bother me. As if every time a crime is committed, I cringe when I hear it’s a Latino. Feel the blood rush to my face when I hear that they are undocumented. It is wrong to be angry with them. I shouldn’t have to feel anything. We are human and humans can be terrible. ALL humans. As if growing up Latino pushes you toward crime. Pushes you toward being a government sucking leech. Pushes you to drop out of school. Pushes you toward being a gangster. We are all these things and are none of these things. People don’t see past the present and want to assume your future, as if the past dissipated and nobody remembers. I remember. I know.

I’m angry enough to call people out on their shit. To admit to me that they are biased. Yes, you’re friends with me. Sure, I’m Mexican. Perhaps because I’m the right kind of Mexican for you. Light brown, college educated and polite. But I can be a real bitch. I can make you feel uncomfortable. It’s easy to be here and ignore the fact that people are without opportunities, want to feed their families, want a bright future for their kids. You don’t get that? No, because you’re brainwashed into thinking we’re criminals solely based on the fact that we crossed into this country. You don’t care why. Fuck you. Seriously, fuck you. Why can’t we all WIN? Why can’t we call fucking be here and work hard? 

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Check In #1

So, I’ve officially been 24 for a little over three months. I can’t lie, it’s been pretty good to me. Sure, I have my moments but this is why I’m checking in with myself. I need to list the reasons to be grateful and feliz. 

In the three months since turning 24:

1. I can run three miles! Pretty comfortably which shocks me. I was the girl who didn’t run the mile in high school too fast or too slow (at least from my perspective). I could never run the whole mile, I always had to walk a part of it.

2. I traveled to two new destinations (Natural Bridges Beach in Santa Cruz, CA and Portland, Oregon) in the last two months which met my goal of going somewhere new once a month. I still need to decide where I want to go for this month D: It’s so cold! Maybe somewhere warm? 

3. I no longer feel completely lost at my job. I think I’ve finally grasped all the jargon and the operations of it all. It was really frustrating, but I finally got it. Yippee!

4. I learned how to bake snickerdoodle cookies. Obviously, I’m following a recipe I found online and vetted by scouring multiple reviews. I have already baked THREE batches of cookies. I’m going to bake my fourth next week for a work holiday potluck.

5. I paid a pretty big chunk of my student loan. There’s still a couple of months to go, but I’m chipping away at it. 

6. A couple posts ago, I was feeling upset and depressed because I had a health situation going on. I am happy to say that I think everything is going to turn out okay. 

7. I have to do a seventh because it’s my favorite number and I couldn’t possibly leave it at an icky sixth. I’ve almost met my goal of reading 25 books in 2016. I’m about to finish my 24th book. ALMOST THERE. 

You know....I hate sounding like a spoiled brat. I have to be an idiot to think my life is anything but good....you would think. It’s hard to see my life in a macro sense when I tend to focus on the micro issues of my everyday life. I have bills to pay. I’m stressed about getting gifts for christmas. My dog needs grooming. Why is maintaining cars so expensive?! WHY DO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS MAKE IT THEIR LIFES MISSION TO RUIN OUR DAYS WITH TERRIBLE NEWS ALL THE TIME? I think everyone needs a check in once in awhile to realize that there is always something to be grateful for even in our darkest moments. 

[wnq-writers]

The day she forgave herself is the day she started living.

penqwen (via wnq-writers)

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Destination #2: Portland, Oregon 11/10-11/13/2016

The day we landed in Portland, we learned that the Portland protests against Trump being elected were classified as a riot. We were excited about there being no sales tax. It wasn’t thaaaat cold. It was beautiful and the air refreshing. The Kings pulled off a great game against the Trailblazers even though they still (barely) lost.

[sarahtuhro]

🌿🌵🌺

[wnq-writers]

I adore books so very much. You can fall in love with people and places but never really be a part of their world. The absence of yourself in the story, combined with the overwhelming immersion is so impossibly hard to parallel. Book are special, and whether it’s a book a month, or a book a day, do yourself a favor and read.

W.D.W (via wnq-writers)

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Balance

Trying to find it and keep hold of it as long as I can but I always seem to lose it. I need to live day by day. I need to FORGIVE. Be happy. Shit. I wish it was simple. It's not and that's where the forgiveness comes in. I need to relax. I want all of this. I want the good vibes! I want to start being active but on my fucking terms. I don't need to run hardcore or lift heavy ass weights. Why am I pressuring myself? JUST GET OUT THERE, GURL. Same with everything else. I'm always so damn demanding. I want to jump rope, jog, bake pastries, do yoga, read and watch amazing Netflix shows. I want to be patient and help my mom learn English. I want to walk my little doggie, Violet. I want to see the stars. I want to breathe in the crisp air. For the love of God, I want to live.

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Destination #1: Natural Bridges Beach Santa Cruz, CA 10/24/2016

SOO HAPPY I took the time to go and explore a new place. The ocean spray cleansed me, if just for that day. I went on this adventure with my best friend.

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Currently reading. 10/17/2016

[wnq-writers]

I am a living, breathing contradiction. I want everything and nothing all at once.

C.A. Neale (via wnq-writers)

This captures almost exactly how I am.

[professionalmillennial-blog]

10/15/2016 My hometown 🌌

[professionalmillennial-blog]

You're on fire, and you didn't even realize you were combustible.

Jodi Picoult, small great things.

[professionalmillennial-blog]

10/2016 My hometown 🌄

[professionalmillennial-blog]

24

I have been 24 for a little over a month. I like to think of my birthdays as a time to reevaluate and to frame my year with goals. So far, all I have been able to focus on is obtaining a job and getting some money. Now that I seem to have that under control (for the most part), I think it’s time to start thinking about enriching my life. Here I go again listing goals and hoping:

1. Try living that active lyfe. I need to gym! I took a step in the right direction by joining a gym like a week ago. Trying to convince my brothers to help me. I should add fun activities in this like hiking, playing basketball with family, etc. My ultimate goal is to seamlessly add activity into my life without dread.

2. Travel around and experience new things. I love trying new food, going to the beach and walking in nature. This is something I definitely want to prioritize. I need to plan and force myself to go out to new places at least once a month. November is going to be Portland :) 

3. Reading for pleasure and knowledge. I LOVE reading, but it conveniently only consists of fiction, so it’s like watching a movie constantly. Perhaps switching off between fiction and fact based books. 

4. Paying off my school loans. This requires budgeting and I suck at that shit. I love spending money freely. I have never paid a bill late, however I’m crap at saving money. 

5. Planning for the future. Ah, the future. My enemy. If anything, I just want to figure out what I’m passionate about and start plotting a plan to do that and be paid for it. As of this moment, I want to be an immigration attorney and help obtain legal status for immigrants. This might change and that’s okay. 

Ultimately, I want some kind of structure because if I don’t do this, I feel like I’m just floating. I want my life to have meaning. I want moments that leave me in awe. I want to be well traveled, well read, and happy. I want oh so much to be happy. So, here’s to a 24th year of life filled with new experiences and failures. 

[professionalmillennial-blog]

Mood

I tend to lean toward the dark. Maybe it’s genetic. I’m extreme. I try my best to be blissfully happy because I have so many things to be deliriously joyful about. I wish it was easier to be grateful. I’m selfish and irritating. I see myself behaving like a child and tell myself in the moment, asking, “Why are you doing this?”