Resilience Cafe Essay

“We believe that unions have always been about much more than the industries in which they operate, the fight is never about grapes or lettuce ... It is always about people.”
- Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez and Isidro Olvera are similar, in many ways. They both believed in equal rights, they both fought for their cause without violence; and they both are my heroes.
Cesar Chavez is resilient, because he risked his body and life for equal rights to Mexican workers. He was born in March 31, 1927 in a small farm near Yuma, Arizona. As he grew, he saw that the Mexican workers were treated like dirt. He got older and decided to do something about it. He would fast from eating products from Mexican farm workers, he would start marches, and he would go on strikes. In 1962, Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association. Later it became the United Farm Workers (UFW). He died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. He once said "The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature." That makes him resilient because he risked his life for equal rights to Mexican workers. He would literally do anything for equal rights to Mexican workers. Like Isidro Olvera, he would keep on fighting even when things got tough.
Isidro Olvera Perez is resilient because he would keep on living even when things got bad. Isidro Olvera was born on May 15, 1966 in a little town in Mexico called San Sebastian. He was a mischievous boy, but changed when his mother was in a bad condition. He changed his ways at that moment, but slowly became his old troublesome self. When his mother passed away on May 17, 1986, he completely changed his bad ways and became good. His heart changed as well, He later came to America to help Mexicans who were poor, who had no shelter or home. He became recognized in his church as one of the best community leaders in church. “Mas Vale un Paso que Dure, y no un paso rápido que canse.” That means it’s better to go slow and endure the pain, than to go fast and fall completely. Isidro Olvera is resilient because he completely changed his ways when the going got tough, and he had the heart to help others who didn’t have anything. It takes a lot of strength and endurance to be able to bounce back from a tragic event like that.
I connect with Cesar Chavez and Isidro Olvera because I believe in equal rights for everyone, and I help those in need. When I was in elementary school, I was one of the only Mexicans in the school, and I was discriminated against. The kids would call me names. They would make fun of me and they would say I was the color of poop. They would hurt me, but I didn’t let them get to me easily. Just like Isidro and Cesar, I would keep on going when they told me to stop; I would keep trying when they told me I couldn’t; and I would keep fighting when they told me I would lose. This connection is important to my life because it’s not just a legacy but a journey-a goal to accomplish. I will try my best to accomplish that goal and continue their legacy they left me.
Their legacy is a torch that needs to light all the candles of the world, until its flame has been spread to everyone in the world. My goal is to try to light as many candles as I can. Their legacy needs to continue forever, because everyone needs to know that they put their blood and tears to help their people, when others didn’t. I need to follow in their footsteps and do what they did, so I can touch everyone I can. Some people don’t realize that their legacy isn’t just a good deed, but a way of life.