PHOTO PROJECT
“People of Rio Grande Valley”
Would you like to be a part of my Photo Project
about the people of Rio Grande Valley?
RGV. You know, the very tip of Texas. The place where so many people are moving to nowadays. The Space X host. Etc etc. But I care not about Space X. I care about people.
Just a small story about how it all started. I saw a post. In Instagram. About all kinds of people in NYC and their everyday lives. And I thought: how cool it would be to create something like this here in the Valley.
The only thing I’d like to change - is the way of taking these portraits. Add some conflict with the accompanying story. I want to turn everyone I photograph into Vanity Fair (you may put your favorite magazine here) models, so all participants will get a beautiful portrait and we’ll work together to capture something amazing.
What I need from you is a story behind the image. Something that bothers you, excites you, something that you love or hate. Think for example about people you love and care for, or those raising prices that everyone is talking about. Tell the world what makes you human and let them compare what they feel looking at the photograph and reading the story.
TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE FILL OUT THE CONTACT FORM (choose “People of Brownsville” type of session) and I’ll get back to you asap. Excited to hear your stories!
— Nadia, your photographer.
Your Stories
6 years ago I became a certified English teacher in the state of Texas. I had the best intentions and the most ambitious dreams when entering a classroom full of kids: I wanted to help them grow; I wanted to motivate and inspire them; I wanted to change lives. ❤️
Little did I know that what was really gonna change was my own life. I turned into a tired, irritated, and miserable person.
A couple of years ago my daughter Mira told her grandma: “My mom lives at work.” I didn’t know if to laugh or to cry hearing this… What I knew for sure was that I needed to change something…
It’s scary to change your life. It’s also scary to never get to fulfilling your dreams.🤦♀️
In July 2022, when I was emailing my resignation letter to HR, my hands were shaking.
I again and again asked myself if it was the right decision… Those who know me well, know how hard it is for me to leave my routine and comfort zone. 💔 Big changes hurt, but doing something I am not enjoying anymore hurts even more. Pushing through the week from Monday to Friday does hurt. Counting days to the next long weekend, Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, Spring break destroys me.
Someone told me: “You are resigning?! But you are gonna lose your benefits!” If I don’t resign, I will lose my sanity, my health, and my relationships. #priorities
I was asked if I am going to another district.
No, I am going home. To my family. To my daughter. She needs me more than 3 hours a day. Exhausted. Irritated. Unhappy.
I am going home to myself. To my interests. To my self care routine. To my free time. To my slow breakfasts and lunches. To actually enjoying my family time instead of faking it at the end of each crazy work day.
It’s a bittersweet feeling.
I’ve had a lot of great moments, met exceptional professionals who shaped me, helped hundreds of students to reach the results they thought were impossible.
I’ve given all I’ve had for now.
Teaching cannot be done just for a paycheck. It’s absolutely unbearable for a teacher and unfair for students.
Maybe I just need a break.
Maybe I’ll be back in a year or two. Or maybe not.
In November 2022, I launched my very own English Club for Spanish speakers who need conversational practice and want to open new professional and personal doors in their lives.
In the past 3 weeks, I met over 20 amazing, motivated, professional, friendly people who joined Elena’s English Club and are focused on learning. I love guiding them on this journey and feel grateful that they trust me.
I just finished my Tuesday morning in-person class with my students at a coffee shop. I am sipping on Golden Milk coffee and listening to Christmas music. The last time I did something like this on a Tuesday morning was… never. My scarce days off were usually sick days, doctor’s appointments days, or road trips days.
It is such a new and such an enjoyable feeling: to be where I need and want to be, to live great moments with my daughter, with my husband, family, friends, and students.
Being true to yourself is by far the most difficult and the most important achievement ever. Take a step, and let your dreams leed the way.
— Elena
Suelo pasar mis días dedicada al cuidado y necesidad de cada uno de mis hijos..
Mi primer hija es casi mayor de edad así que algunas veces le gusta salir a fiestas o clubes a veces espero afuera para regresar a casa o llevarla a otro lugar si no se siente cómoda
Mi segunda hija esta casi por cumplir 11 ella suele ser muy comprensiva, cariñosa y soñadora, le encanta tener su cabello largo y vestir muy tierna, ama a su pequeña hermana (es su favorita ) ella normalmente no pide nada, solo que le arregle sus uñas 💅😍
Mi hijo mayor es muy bondadoso, siempre esta pensando en los demás y aunque todas las mañanas discute con ellos, siempre los proteje!
Mi hijo pequeño es un tanto difícil (travieso y gruñon ) pero es el más amoroso, a él le encanta vestir elegante y que nos tomemos fotografías (adoro cuando me dice te amo, y después me abraza fuerte y me da un beso)
Mi bebé es un torbellino de travesuras
Pero también es un amor todo el tiempo nos abraza y da besos y cuando estoy en casa quiere estar todo el tiempo a mi lado y no le gusta que nadie se acerque, ama cuando papa y mama la abrazan!!🤗🥰
Esto complica un poco los días con mi esposo, pero tratamos de darnos tiempo para tener citas de novios de vez en cuando! ❤️
Ser mama de 5, no es una tarea fácil a veces me agobia tanta responsabilidad y que el tiempo nunca sea suficiente, pero cuando estamos sentados en nuestra mesa compartiendo los alimentos o cuando me abrazan cuando me reciben después de la escuela o al llegar a casa, se que cada esfuerzo vale la pena!
— Lucy
I have always been that student labeled "At-Risk".
Hispanic child from a single parent home on government assistance and first language Spanish. And then add highschool pregnancy. If someone would have told me that I would be Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Treviño one day, I would have laughed and said "no way".
I am an example of the phrase "it takes a village". From the love and support of my Mother and brother, my husband and in-laws (for over 20 yrs), to my middle school teacher who convinced me not to drop out and go to college. Then the support of Lincoln Park Alternative School who connected me to the start of my college education.
After my bachelor's degree, I was still hungry for more. Completed a Master's and felt I was not done. As soon as I mentioned the idea of going back to school, my husband was so supportive and helped make it happen.
In 2016 I obtained a Ph.D despite that " At-Risk" label and despite the many times I doubted I could finish.
Thank you my Brownsville Community for making me be part of that 0.6%. From one human being to another, let's not give up and never doubt the impact you are making in your own and others’ lives.
— Sandra
It started as a simple goal, to fit comfortably in a nice outfit for my best friends wedding.
Weighing in at 345lbs I was at my heaviest & I felt the effects of that weight. Chest pains, difficulty breathing, body aches, & a general feeling of “stress”.
It started with a simple diet, high protein, a calorie deficit, more water & a light gym routine. I was able to shred the 45lbs easy. Later on I redirected my focus & started a very strict keto diet & harder weight lifting routine. My focus was to aim for under 225.
Unfortunately tragedy stuck.
My mother, from when I was young, struggled with several health conditions. Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure all of which eventually leaded to kidney failure, her liver failing & her death. Negligence was the issue. There were so many opportunities to improve but they were not taken. I blame myself cause had I pushed her more to take care of herself rather than be an enabler, she might be here today. Her death was a true turning point and reality check in my life. No longer was the goal to just lose weight but to improve myself.
I no longer wanted to be the former individual who would drink alcohol like a fish nor be the same individual who would eat whatever he wanted ignoring the consequences it would have on my body. No longer did I want to be the individual I was that suffered from severe social anxiety that would cause depression spells which would spiral me into suicidal thoughts. No longer did I want to be the same individual I was that would cope with his feelings through food, drink & substances.
2023, just after turning 31, here I am weighing in at 194 & wanting to drop a little more. I practice jiujitsu, I lift when I can, and I run almost everyday. I only drink on special occasions, have a better handle on my dietary choices (however I do eat bad every once and a while) & I have a better grasp on my mental health. There still work to be done, but nothing in life is ever easy.
What I would tell myself from the past is “Look at what you accomplished! Never would the concept of running a mile, let alone running a half marathon been something you could do. Mom would be proud and So am I”
— Jonathan
What do you believe about yourself?
I hadn’t realized it, but up until recently I believed the lie that I was too much.
Over the years, people I loved and trusted; friends, boyfriends, mentors, spiritual leaders, people whose opinions I deeply valued, all made me believe that I was: too emotional, too energetic, too outspoken, too affectionate, & too opinionated.
My clothes were too immodest.
My social media posts were too personal.
My friendships were too shallow &
my relationships were too superficial.
So I changed.
Everything changed.
From the things I watched & listened to,
to the things I did & said,
even the people I spent time with.
I toned myself down & became this dull, watered down version of myself.
And after over a decade of life & loss & grief & change, I finally realized that
life is too short to live it as anyone
but myself.
I am spunky & sassy.
I love loudly & live boldly.
And you know what?
I’m not sorry about it.
— Amanda