[Music] Being the daughter of immigrants being the first generation to go to college coming to Cal State San Bernardino was a big step for me. One class that really was instrumental was with the late great Dr. Julie Paegle, who passed away a couple years ago. She was a major reason or a push, motivator for me to take my work seriously, to become more disciplined in my work and to actually believe that I could write.That I could make this a career or part of my career and in that class she said oh you do a lot of workshops and I said no this is my first workshop and she said you need to be published. The California Book award is given to California writers writing about California and so getting that award for Gabi a Girl in Pieces meant a lot because as a proud Californian, like having that recognition. But the Morris Award, which is given to a young adult's debut novel, was particularly important because it open the door for everything else that came after, I feel. They got Librarians to notice the book, readers to notice the book and so people were reading it and you know that's how I was able to publish the rest of my work. I think the most rewarding moments in my career so far have been being able to connect with people. Being able to connect with people that perhaps in the past don't feel connection with writers or that feel some sort of special connection with my work because they see themselves reflected in it and when I set out to be a writer for young people, when I wrote Gabi a Girl in Pieces, my first book, and I wrote the dedication. In primero para a persona, who first read to me and taught me that words mattered and changed you, gracias Mama, y in segundo, for all of the gorditas, flaquitas and  and in between girls trying to make their space in the world, don't worry you got this. And this dedication, like, I really meant it I wanted young people to be able to see themselves in my work so that's been the most rewarding thing knowing that in some way I've done that.
[Coyote howl]
We Define the Future, CSUSB