After getting back from my most recent family trip and attending last week’s class, my one-on-one conference with Dr. Zamora came at the perfect time. It was incredibly insightful and felt like a grounding moment I didn’t even realize I needed. The conversation allowed me to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with my writing in a more intentional way.

During our meeting, I realized just how deeply I’m going all in with my autoethnography full force, in ways I hadn’t fully imagined or explored yet. As I shared with Dr. Zamora, I still can’t believe it took me this long to write and truly recognize certain aspects of my story. But that’s the writing process for you. Some days feel productive and affirming, while others feel overwhelming and uncertain. The good and bad days are all part of learning how to sit with your work and trust where it’s taking you.

Writing this memoir hasn’t been easy, especially when I kept going back and forth about whether or not I wanted to write under a pseudonym. That uncertainty made the writing process feel heavier at times. But as I’ve spent more time with this thesis, I’ve realized what matters most is why I’m writing it in the first place, to create a time capsule for my family and myself, and to eventually share with others, preserving our stories and lived experiences. This thesis means a lot to me, so I’m choosing to move forward with patience, care, and a lot more compassion for myself along the way. 

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be focusing on writing the autoethnography, using the outline I’ve built as a foundation to stay organized and set myself up for success. I plan to approach this as generative writing, continuously building the story and exploring my truest self while staying focused and committed to the work itself.