Student-Athletes Reimagined: Jazzy Contreras
11/16/20 | BEOREGON
“The Language in My Heart”
"Nunca pierdes tu idioma porque te conecta a tu cultura"
I can vividly remember my grandfather getting down on one knee, whispering that wisdom to me. The phrase translates to, "Never lose the language, as it is the link to your culture."
My grandpa's gaze was sincere, and his hazel eyes filled with love. As an average elementary school kid, I quickly returned to roughing up my siblings. But his words stuck in the back of my mind, resurfacing from time to time.
I grew up in an area where speaking Spanish was not "cool." My peers all spoke English, and I, wanting to be just like my friends, pushed my ability to speak Spanish to the side.
With my grandfather's words still brewing in the back of my mind, I ensured that I was still able to express myself well in my native tongue -- even if speaking Spanish was for nothing more than communicating with my extended family. But if I disclosed to my peers that I spoke Spanish, it was only when it came to earning A's in Spanish classes.
Flash forward to February 2020. I was now 18 years old and on my way to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico to compete with the Oregon Ducks Softball Team in the first tournament of the season. To say I was excited was a gross understatement. But I also knew I would likely be responsible for translating and communicating with the locals. I looked to help my team in any way possible, even off the field.
The biggest challenge on the Mexico trip came when Coach Lombardi gave me a microphone for a presentation in front of a whole elementary school. I was responsible for engaging a large group of little kids in a different language!! Oh my!!
But then, my grandfather's words resurfaced in my mind. I took a deep breath, and began explaining softball to the school kids.
The children were engaged and ecstatic. They were asking questions and clapping, with giant smiles on their faces. In that moment I felt a genuine connection. I felt welcomed and loved by these kids I had never met before. My heart was filled with joy and pride.
Shortly after I finished speaking on the microphone, tons of kids gathered around me asking me for my signature. The moment that really stuck in my heart was when a little girl came and asked me to sign her hair ribbon. Her brown eyes were filled with excitement.
I finally understood why. Language linked us. There was no difference between her and I; we were just human beings looking for a bond. Human connection in its purest form.
Throughout the trip I received many compliments on my ability to speak Spanish. I felt proud to be Mexican.
Towards the end of the trip, I walked down to the beach on the edge of the resort. The light sea breeze hugged my skin as the warm water touched my feet. I thought about my grandpa and how proud of me he would be.
I was in his home country, reconnecting to my roots, and chasing my dreams. His words finally made sense; I now seemed to understand the meaning. My ability to speak Spanish was the key to a magical lock. A key that unlocked a world full of warmth and human connection. One where I felt loved and accepted by just being the simplest version of myself.
Each one of us has a special key, and mine happens to be Spanish. I will forever hold my grandpa's words and the Spanish language near and dear to my heart.
"Las palabras que decimos demuestran el corazón que tenemos"
-autor desconocido
"The words we say show the heart we have"
-unknown
I can vividly remember my grandfather getting down on one knee, whispering that wisdom to me. The phrase translates to, "Never lose the language, as it is the link to your culture."
My grandpa's gaze was sincere, and his hazel eyes filled with love. As an average elementary school kid, I quickly returned to roughing up my siblings. But his words stuck in the back of my mind, resurfacing from time to time.
I grew up in an area where speaking Spanish was not "cool." My peers all spoke English, and I, wanting to be just like my friends, pushed my ability to speak Spanish to the side.
With my grandfather's words still brewing in the back of my mind, I ensured that I was still able to express myself well in my native tongue -- even if speaking Spanish was for nothing more than communicating with my extended family. But if I disclosed to my peers that I spoke Spanish, it was only when it came to earning A's in Spanish classes.
Flash forward to February 2020. I was now 18 years old and on my way to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico to compete with the Oregon Ducks Softball Team in the first tournament of the season. To say I was excited was a gross understatement. But I also knew I would likely be responsible for translating and communicating with the locals. I looked to help my team in any way possible, even off the field.
The biggest challenge on the Mexico trip came when Coach Lombardi gave me a microphone for a presentation in front of a whole elementary school. I was responsible for engaging a large group of little kids in a different language!! Oh my!!
But then, my grandfather's words resurfaced in my mind. I took a deep breath, and began explaining softball to the school kids.
The children were engaged and ecstatic. They were asking questions and clapping, with giant smiles on their faces. In that moment I felt a genuine connection. I felt welcomed and loved by these kids I had never met before. My heart was filled with joy and pride.
Shortly after I finished speaking on the microphone, tons of kids gathered around me asking me for my signature. The moment that really stuck in my heart was when a little girl came and asked me to sign her hair ribbon. Her brown eyes were filled with excitement.
I finally understood why. Language linked us. There was no difference between her and I; we were just human beings looking for a bond. Human connection in its purest form.
Throughout the trip I received many compliments on my ability to speak Spanish. I felt proud to be Mexican.
Towards the end of the trip, I walked down to the beach on the edge of the resort. The light sea breeze hugged my skin as the warm water touched my feet. I thought about my grandpa and how proud of me he would be.
I was in his home country, reconnecting to my roots, and chasing my dreams. His words finally made sense; I now seemed to understand the meaning. My ability to speak Spanish was the key to a magical lock. A key that unlocked a world full of warmth and human connection. One where I felt loved and accepted by just being the simplest version of myself.
Each one of us has a special key, and mine happens to be Spanish. I will forever hold my grandpa's words and the Spanish language near and dear to my heart.
-autor desconocido
"The words we say show the heart we have"
-unknown
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