By Lauryn Jelsema, Aquinas reporter
Headshot of Valentina Garcia – Photo by Aquinas College
The Moose hosted the third installment of the HerStory “Brown Bag” Speaker series on Nov. 6, with speaker Valentina Garcia. This series is run by the Aquinas Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (CDI&E) and the Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s and Gender Studies Center. The “Brown Bag” is an informal invitation for attendees to bring their lunch while listening to stories from women in leadership positions.
So far, speakers this year include Aquinas College President Sr. Maureen Geary and senior student Lizz Forsyth, with the most recent guest being Garcia.
Garcia is an AQ alum and currently serves as Aquinas’ Associate Director of Enrollment for Access, Inclusion & Diversity Initiatives, working in the admissions office.
Garica is also a first-generation college student, first-generation college graduate, and first-generation professional. She mentioned during the speech that her first-generation status, as a result of her Mexican heritage, is a big part of her identity: “My parents instilled a strong cultural identity in my sister and I.”
The presentation consisted of the 10 lessons Garcia claims she has learned since turning 28 this year. The first: “There are always fresh starts.” Garcia felt very excited as an incoming freshman to Aquinas and saw it as a fresh start for herself. “I went to a really tiny high school… I was really excited about college,” she said. Garcia claims she is still finding fresh starts as she gets older. She compared it to the difference between Señorita and Señora. Traditionally, Señorita means “Miss”, while Señora means “Mrs.” or “Madam.”
“A Señora has her things together,” Garcia said, “the closer I get to 30, the more Señora I feel like I should be.”
Garcia sharing her lessons with attendees – Photo by Lauryn Jelsema, Aquinas reporter
The second lesson: “Be proud of you.” Garcia called on women in the audience to feel confident in their personalities, especially the aspects that might be labeled as “basic.”
“Whenever I have to introduce myself, I really dread it… I like taking walks on nice days, I like eating out,” she said. Garcia also confessed that she was a huge Taylor Swift fan, which she deemed a bit basic, but the meaning behind being proud of oneself, she emphasized, is to reclaim that “basicness.”
Garcia wrapped up the lesson by saying, “If you’re proud of you, it makes it easier to use your skills.”
The next seven lessons included sentiments like, “You can build community,” “Don’t be afraid to reach out to people/build relationships,” “There’s no right way or wrong way to adult,” “Do what makes you excited,” “Driving can be fun,” “Be willing to talk with others about your hopes and your dreams,” and “Make plans but remember: ‘primeramente dios’ (‘God First’).”
Garcia stated that the most important lesson was the 10th and final one: “Your story is still in process.” She explained that her family was the driving force behind her journey, reminding her to take pride in her story. Her parents played a significant role, as did her younger sister, Esperanza, whom Garcia described during her speech as her personal role model.
“As I wrap up my 20s, these are the lessons I hope I remember and bring with me,” Garcia said. Garcia’s was the last HerStory of the semester. The series returns in February with Penny Avery as its guest speaker.
The Saint 