Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Jaimes.
Alexis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins with parents, like many others’, who packed all their belongings, and left their families in Mexico for a new start in the United States. From there, I would become their second child and be raised in Santa Ana, CA where I would spend the most of my life.
Education was also something I was heavily pressured to pursue to the point of guilt as my parents would ensure to point out their injuries and exhaustion from the physically-demanding jobs they would work daily without days off. This would also serve as a point of inspiration for my work ethic throughout my life. I tried not taking anything for granted and made sure to keep my head down and put in the work. For school, this would eventually lead to me being the first in my family to graduate high school, then from a university, and ultimately a Master’s. I am now a bilingual elementary teacher hoping to carve out opportunities for my students that I did not have growing up like ensuring students are able to become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.
In terms of how I became connected to poetry, I would be exposed to it in my college courses. Throughout school, I was always complimented for my writing and gravitated toward texts that my friends would find boring or unconventional. I distinctly remember the moment I knew I wanted to write poetry seriously. It was while attending Santiago Canyon College and happened to see Rudy Francisco perform. After his spoken word performance, I was left spellbound, yearning for more. There was always a certain connection I had with text, but hearing the words said aloud with a certain cadence, rhythm, and inflection combined into a powerful performance inspired me to try and recreate that for others with my own words.
I would write more during that poetry class and as recently as last year began to take it seriously again. I participated in writing workshops run by Sandra De Anda and Chispa, a political organization in Santa Ana. I would write enough to complete my first chapbook “Corazón Coalesced.” It wasn’t until I started attending open mics more regularly and reading that I felt closer to poetry and the poets in my community. Without these people to inspire and encourage me, I would not improve as a writer or a person overall.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was raised in a strict Catholic household that boasted a devotion and loyalty to family. This would turn from piety to superstition and into theophobia. From daily prayers, to hourly, to obsessive and compulsive to the point where I would grow physically ill if I missed a prayer or a person. This would lead to my change in faith, or their lack of, as I grew to question organized religion and institutions in power as well as their role in immigrant and historically-oppressed communities. From there, I would not attend church and while I faced heavy resistance early on, I made it clear I was developing agency over my own self and would not follow anything based solely on the idea of “tradition.”
During all this existed the systemic and environmental factors that impacted my entire family. For instance, after I was born, I had a high fever leading to deafness in my left ear. I would grow familiar to visits and calls with the Medi-Cal office and struggle to master any language, let alone two. This complication was similar to my older brother who was born with a cleft lip that left behind a noticeable scar after his surgery. He would grow to become very self-conscious about it. From there, our neighborhood was also home to gangs that would eventually recruit him. This led to constant confrontations with the police and exposure to their persecution of people who need help not punishment. Soon, I would witness the effects of addiction, domestic violence, neglect, homophobia, racism, and various forms of abuse under my roof.
As I neared high school graduation, I was in the midst of severe depression and could not picture a future; at least not one in Santa Ana. I wanted to run away, so I chose to attend the farthest CSU that would accept me—CSU East Bay in Hayward, CA. With 400 miles of distance, I was able to grow and fail on my own. While I feel it was a period where I learned the most about the real world, I ended up having to drop out of my classes in the middle of my second year due to the stress of my living situation (roommates).
Initially, this is where I felt I truly failed as I literally cried my first day at CSUEB when I was told there was no dorms for me and the possibility I had to return to attend my local community college. It was a combination of pride and not wanting to be under that same roof that I felt was slowly killing me. It’s funny, because I am so proud that it went full circle. I attended and transferred from Santa Ana College to CSU Long Beach. The home part was also a two-sided experience. On one hand, I learned to appreciate the people who support me in my life like close friends and family. On the other, my relationship with my father and brother spiraled for the worst. After years of tension and hate between my parents, my mother decided to leave the house she poured so much money and love into. My mother, sister, and I left on our own. It was an experience I am still processing and coming to terms with, but a needed change. One that saved our lives.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a fourth grade elementary teacher for a Spanish dual immersion school. I am very proud of my work and role I have in serving a community similar to one I lived in growing up. I am known as the poet of the school as well the lead technology person since I am always looking for opportunities to implement digital aspects in my teaching. I am hoping to bring spoken word in some shape or form in the school, though, I am looking to improve my own skills before I start on that. My teaching centers from a social justice perspective ensuring students are learning the entire history of their country, the United States of America. From black history to women’s history, American history is their history and they have every right to learn from our deepest mistakes. Also, all this is done in Spanish and English. Students leave our campus reading, speaking, and writing at least two languages.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Oh, my gosh. Where do I even start? For books, I am reading books or works from local writers to guide my writing. This includes works by Peter Lechuga, Gustavo Hernandez, Samantha “Sammy” Herrera, Ceasar Avelar, Edward Vidaurre, David A. Romero, Jesus Cortez, Anatalia Vallez, Cory “Besskepp” Cofer, Jesse Tovar, Camille Hernandez, Lizeth De La Luz, Celeste Gomez, and just so many more to list.
I do also highly recommend the following podcasts: Throughline, Empire City, On Our Watch, Code Switch, Radio Ambulante, The Experiment, Reveal, and Ídolo: The Ballad of Chalino Sánchez. I love history so these podcasts are insightful and so well-produced they will keep you engaged for hours!
Pricing:
- $10.00 for my chapbook, “Corazón Coalesced”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letrasbyalex/
