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Mafalda, 1492 + Buckeye NationReflections on Leaving HomeBy Ernesto R. Escoto, Ph.D. Associate Director, Director of Clinical Services | Counseling + Consultation Service | Office of Student LifeCreative CornerTwin siblings, Gabriela and Rodrigo,rushed, sun-scorched drive from Laredoto Houston had been packed with dichos,plenty of consejos, and tears. Dad had driventhe family’s 1998 Jeep Cherokee, with over178,000 noticeable miles (a few exteriordents, a 20 inch-long crack on the windshield,and a driver’s side window that couldonly be lowered about four fingers), andmom had dispensed the advice and farewellwishes of relatives from as far as Morelia,Michoacán, where Gabriela’s and Rodrigo’sgrandparents had been born.At Houston Intercontinental, undermuch stress and with shortness of breath,they slowly moved through the securitycheckpoint. Rodrigo had gone twicethrough the metal screening after forgettingto remove his belt and coins. A fewminutes earlier, at the check-in counter, theyhad been told they might miss their flight.On the way to the airport, the Jeep had hada flat, delaying their planned arrival timeto the airport nearly 45 minutes. Mom anddad had quickly said goodbye and droppedthem at the curb.Rodrigo carried his belt on his hand ashe finished getting his left foot into his shoewhile speed walking to gate C-45. Havingworn sandals, Gabriela was already about100 feet ahead, reading the airport signage.They passed a futuristic out-of-place barand realized they were heading the wrongway. A few minutes later, they found thegate across Houston News Connection,where CNN News blared out of four TVspeakers. They were the last to board. Theflight attendant closed the plane’s dooras soon as they sat in Continental’s flight1492 — as if the plane had been departingfrom Palos de la Frontera, Spain, an-almostfittingflight number.They anxiously smiled at each otheras they buckled their belts. They were lessthan three hours away from their newhome, Buckeye Nation. This new journeyhad started less a year ago and much tothe humor of serendipity itself. Gabrielahad run across her now ex-bf, Julio, outsidethe office of Fernanda Botello, Julio’s highschool counselor, where she spoke withDr. Campos, a dean at Ohio State recruitingstudents at Laredo’s United South HighSchool. Gabriela had walked up to whereJulio and Dr. Campos talked and simplylistened to their conversation.At home, she asked Rodrigo what hethought mom and dad would say if theywere to choose to go somewhere else tocollege rather than UT Pan American, theclosest UT Branch to Laredo. Rodrigo hadsome reservations, but did not discouragehis sister, older by less than seven minutes.Rodrigo had excelled throughout hisacademic career, but had struggled mostof his high school junior year. He found thehigh school oppressive and did not feelunderstood at home. These experienceshad left him feeling powerless and lackingconfidence. Gabriela, as part of her highschool band, had traveled often, visitingMonterrey, Mexico, D.C., Austin, and L.A.,to name a few cities. She had longed togo away for college, but mom and dadwould not have it. If she were to be allowed,Rodrigo had to be part of the plan.She slept little for a few nights, thinkingabout how best to bring Rodrigo on board,then her parents. She bounced her ideaswith her childhood friends, Mila (short forMilagros or Miracle) and Elizabeth, whosemom had recently re-married Dan, a truckerfrom Dayton, Ohio. Dan was a passionateBuckeye fan, license plate and all.Then, it came to her — Botello.Ms. Botello was a transplant from Merida.Like most Yucatecos, her speech was softer,closer to that of Central Americans than herequals from Mexico. She loved Mafalda,who was a year younger than Calvin (fromCalvin and Hobbes) and more socially consciousand concerned about world peace.Botello advised: “Paint your parents thepicture of your life-dream, highlight howOSU would contribute to your dream, andthen suggest how they might contribute to it.”Gabriela got down to polishing her dream,told it to her mirror several times, and thenfaced Rodrigo, mom and dad.Rodrigo came around a lot easier thanshe had thought. Mom and dad took longerto process and finally agreed, with severalconditions. Expected, Gabriela told herself,and quickly agreed to them all. She was tooexcited to think she could now apply to OSUthan to think about the sacrifices her parentswere demanding of her. She had learned alesson, too. Listening and acknowledgingher parents’ perspective and opening upthe window for her to paint her life-dreamin detail. She had not asked for their permissionor approval, but rather asked that theycontribute to her dream. This was importantto her parents. The drug-related violenceacross Rio Grande had recently made themmore aware of the delicate balance betweenhonoring roots and embracing change. Likemost parents, they wanted to help theirchildren achieve their dreams.Nonetheless, anxiety had gotten the bestout of Gabriela during winter. “What if I gotin and Rodrigo didn’t?” “What if the oppositeturn out to be true?” The envelopes arrivedon a rare overcast gloomy day. Then, therewas plenty of time to prepare. In the spring,they traveled to Columbus and were partof a family welcome orientation. This visithelps themvisualize what life might be likeat OSU. And visualize they did. Ms. Botellohad encouraged both Gabriela and Rodrigoto visualize everything from preparingthemselves physically and emotionally fortheir transition and life at OSU to enjoyingand succeeding in their academic and otherschool-related activities. They visualizedbeing part of a community of their choosingand coping with Midwestern winters. After,they graduated from HS and couldn’t waitfor their move to come soon enough.The flight attendant had announcedthe pilot had started the plane’s finaldescent. With perfect enunciation and ahint of daily rehearsal, he added: “Ladiesand gentlemen, as we start our descent,please make sure your seat backs and traytables are in their full upright position…”Gabriela’s mind drifted away to a conversationwith her father: “Make sure to staythe same and change… try new thingswhile caring for the most important thingsin your life; know what they are; in orderto find freedom, you must first sacrificeparts of yourself.” Then, the flight attendantended: “Make sure your seat belt issecurely fastened and all carry-on luggageis stowed underneath the seat in front ofyou or in the overhead bins. Please turnoff all electronic devices until we are safelyparked at the gate. Thank you.”18