Por Siempre

Laura Ponce, MS3

No pido riquezas del rico, no pido compasión de aquellos que solo tienen odio en su corazón, no pido amor de aquellos que me ven con indiferencia. Solo pido una cosa de una sola persona. Me pido a mi misma, me pido siempre ser lo más auténtica y lo más pura que puedo sin hacer sufrir a otros. Me pido siempre luchar por todo lo que quiero y creo ser justo en esta vida. Me pido nunca dejar que el odio entre a mis venas. Me pido siempre amar y ayudar. Porque aunque nací llorando prometo morir sonriendo.

About the Author:

I am a first-generation Latina born in Mexico and raised in South Central Los Angeles. As a daughter of immigrants and an immigrant myself, I experienced first-hand the inequities and systemic racism that plagued my family and my community. I pursued higher education all while being a teen mother and working full time. I am currently a 3rd year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences and interested in Emergency Medicine. My passions include advocating for social and racial equity as well as supporting BIPOC students in acquiring higher education. My free time is spent listening to music of all genres, weightlifting, watching cooking shows, and writing poetry. My career goals include opening up my own community clinic that provides free/low-cost medical services with a non-profit branch to support my community with free resources to continue to thrive.

About the Work:

This is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago. At the time I was going through a difficult time and felt I needed to ground myself and reflect on what was important to me and my life goals.