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Special Guest Inspires Upper Campus Students
Last week, students from Mr. Garcia’s Honors English IV class welcomed Chicano writer, artist, and activist Luis Rodriguez.
Mr. Garcia and his students gathered in the Blackbox Theater to hear Señor Rodriguez share stories of growing up in the San Fernando Valley. He recounted his personal journey of lessons learned the hard way, and how he was finally able to tap into his creativity and find his genius. Señor Rodriguez believes that everyone has genius inside them, and although finding it may be a struggle, it is the key to unlocking one’s purpose and place in the world.
Señor Rodriguez now owns his own publishing house, where his mission is to help other artists increase the reach of their own unique voices. He is a co-founder of Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore in Sylmar, where their mission is to “ transform the community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement.”
Below, Mr. Garcia shares how he discovered Señor Rodriguez’s work and what the author means to him personally.
When I was an undergrad at UCLA, there was this new book that many of my friends and I discovered. For most of us, it was a book that spoke to our cultural identity, but for me, it was a revelation that depicted all of the social dogmas of being Chicano. Luis Rodriguez’s memoir, Always Running, conveyed a truth that seemed so authentic that it felt as if his words permitted a sense of voyeurism. I’ve always admired the courage with which he wrote the book; his words were an inspiration to persevere and not allow my life to be dictated by cultural stigmas.
Once I was approved to teach a course on Chicano Literature to our Honors English IV students, I knew that Always Running would be on the reading list. My students were so enamored by Rodriguez’s style and perspective that it made many of them read with the same enthusiasm that I remember feeling 28 years ago. I am so happy to share Always Running with my class, but having Luis Rodriguez meet with my students to discuss his role as a Chicano writer and activist was an incredible experience. At one point, he told the class that he always loved languages, and he is happy to have made a career out of words. They say one should never meet their heroes because they’re sure to disappoint you. Well, I have wanted to meet this heroic, literary figure for decades, and it was incredible! Viva, Luis!
Mario Garcia
Sierra Canyon’s Director of Theater and English Teacher
Lower School: 11052 Independence Avenue
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311 | 818.882.8121
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311 | 818.882.8121
Sierra Canyon School is a private, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 located in Chatsworth, California. The highly cosmopolitan campus community is reflective of the Greater Los Angeles area and the world at large. Students are empowered to realize their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual and physical promise through small class sizes, a diverse student-teacher culture and a family-like environment.
