Hi everyone! My name is Lanie, and I am the new Page Turners Intern. I am so excited to have this opportunity and be of any service to our Page Turners community! Literature and reading are my longest, consistent relationship. It was the first place that made me feel understood and that I wasn’t alone. I leaned into it more when both of my parents were deported by the time I was 12 years old. I sought out my confusion and frustration through books and discovered a plethora of people who felt the same as I did and shared similar experiences. I fell in love with the power of words and learning.
I recently received my B.A. in English and a minor in Creative Writing where I focused on decolonizing the cannon and curriculum. My main aspirations lay on creating art—mostly performing and writing—but I mainly strive to have people feel that they have a place in this world. That they belong to take up space and are not alone. By sharing our stories, and listening and uplifting other folk’s experiences, we can become more compassionate with ourselves and one another. I believe we can accomplish this through learning because learning is liberation. I plan on either getting my masters in Hispanic Literature or becoming an immigration lawyer. I want to be an asset and resource for my community.
What intrigued you about Words Alive? What is your relationship with literacy and learning?
I came across Words Alive by fate. After college, I wanted to challenge myself with new experiences that aligned with my mission in life. Reading and learning is incredibly important to me because both my grandmother and mother sacrificed their girlhood so that my siblings and I could have an education. Reading and learning was my only solace growing up. Even though I didn’t have a support system in real life, I received visibility and support through art and literature. Literacy is such an important (and fun!) aspect in life, and I plan to help people learn to love it and challenge themselves to be critical thinkers. Words Alive’s mission is exactly what I was looking to getting into after college, and I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of volunteering?
In my free time, I like to read, write, and draw. I love to learn new facts and perspectives of historical events, so you will usually find me watching a YouTube video or show while writing or drawing. I have an Instagram under my performer pseudonym where I post my published work. I love being creative and challenging myself so I’m constantly changing hobbies, but reading and writing are my most consistent.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood and The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende.