Lole

Author statement: Recently, I’ve been deeply inspired by my own roots and family history. This journey has been about more than just tracing my ancestry—it's been a pursuit of clarity, understanding, and self-discovery. In the process, shaped by my surroundings and the current challenges our society faces, I’ve found solace in grounding myself in where I come from. Storytelling holds a profound significance—it transcends generations, preserves legacies, and, at times, is all we have left when everything else fades. Stories connect us, allowing us to share experiences, struggles, and perspectives. Storytelling and writing can also take many different forms, as was my hope with this piece. As a Political Science student minoring in Communications, Spanish, and Women and Gender Studies, I sought to weave a political statement into a narrative inspired by someone incredibly special in my life. At its core, my message is one of empathy—an invitation to step into someone else’s world, to see through their eyes. After all, as the saying goes, you can’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes… or perhaps 200.