A reflection on loss and the importance of being an ally to Women of Color
I write this one with my heart on my sleeve.
Just a few weeks ago, one of my friends passed on from this life and is now on her journey to Miktlan (the place where we undergo our greatest transformation). As human beings, death is the most difficult of relationships. Although as a former scientifically trained individual and biology teacher, I fully understand what it means to be a living being — if you are born, then one day you will die. That is the blatant and harsh truth for us all.
As I continue to move through the stages of grieving over a loved one, I find myself continuously reflecting on the impact my friend had on my life. Not only was she my former advisor, but she was also my mentor and served as the chair for my dissertation. I spent years working under her guidance as I completed my PhD. Given that we were both Chicanas that grew up in greater Los Angeles and both women who shared similar family histories, it was a given that we’d become friends.
Over these days filled with pain, tears, and loneliness, I’ve realized that what hurts the most in all of this, is that aside from losing a friend and mentor, I lost a true ally. Over the years that I had the honor of being part of my friend’s life, she continuously served as my number one academic and…
