I grew up with a large and close extended family. I was the second youngest of many cousins which I spent almost every weekend with up until the first one left for college. Those weekends were spent with my parents taking us to exhibit openings, jazz concerts, author panels and new restaurants.

I’ve been involved in the community for as long as I can remember. Although the culturally immersive experiences my parents planned for us seemed a bit boring as a child, I am now immensely grateful for the education and experience of the border they provided us as I am now grateful to be The Prospector’s summer arts and culture editor.

My relationship with writing has always been complex. Writing and storytelling used to feel like drinking water—it’s just something we do. Sometimes water gets boring, but we need it to live.

Aside from that, growing up with Spanish as my first language made learning how to write in English even more complex. Language became such an intricate concept for me because the two languages and the bicultural communities I knew were so different, but they eventually married together into something even more beautiful.

Being one of the youngest cousins, while all my cousins found their places in life through science, music and design, I felt lost. I wanted to be just as cool as them.

Because writing was so second-nature to me, it was easily overlooked as I searched far and wide for career paths in STEM, marketing, health, etc. Then, as I continued with my K-12 education and I began to win academic awards for my writing, the praise from my English teachers seemed overwhelming, and I got to participate in The School of The New York Times at 14-years-old, I knew writing was a fire I had to learn to nurture and something I could do for the rest of my life.

As I continued into higher education, I’ve had moments of struggle that had me convinced maybe college was not for me. However, while managing grief and all sorts of heartache, going back to storytelling kept me afloat. There were many times that I felt I didn’t nurture my writing, but it nurtured me instead.

I want to thank my parents once more for the days spent at museums, concerts and festivals, and for never letting me forget that every walk of life is what makes life beautiful. I love you both so much. Thank you to my little sister Emilia Garcia who has shown me what true unconditional love and support is throughout this journey. Another thanks to all my beautiful cousins who absolutely made my childhood.

I owe a big thank you to my love Ryan Salas who has read through every story, every diary, and has also helped me become the storyteller I am today. And finally, all my beautiful friends, the ones I’ve had since elementary school, to the ones I made just this summer. Your support never goes unnoticed.

I am excited to take on this role and expose the community to how important arts and culture truly is, the same way my parents did to me, and use the lessons I learn here far into my career and into my own life.

Jesie Garcia is the Arts and Culture editor and may be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @empanadaslens.