Mahima Sosale  0:00  

Cool. So my name is Mahima Sosale. I'm a student at VCU, uh, Virginia Commonwealth University. I am interviewing Selena Davila from... how do you pronounce the name again?

Selena Davila  0:17  

Centerville.

 

Mahima Sosale  0:18  

Centerville, yes. Today is Wednesday, October 16, 2024 and the time is 3:03. Nice. We're starting on time. This interview is being conducted at Cabell Library. Selena, thank you so much for allowing me to interview you for this project.

 

Can get started.

 

So first, just like to talk about just basic questions about like you, your family, background. So could you start us off by sharing where your family is from, like your childhood, how you grew up?

 

Selena Davila  1:04  

So I...I'm from Fairfax County. Was born and raised in Centreville, in some parts of Chantilly. My family... I originally like grew up in Manassas Virginia, 

 

Mahima Sosale  1:23  

Okay

 

Selena Davila  1:23  

Um, I lived with my godmother for a little bit when I was younger, and thenI moved. We got a house in Centerville. Then we moved to an apartment, to our official townhouse in the [inaudible] area. We lived there for a couple years. Um, just, we pretty much just been living there for a while, ever since I was younger. Um, anything else that I'm missing?

 

Mahima Sosale  1:56  

How did you grow up?

 

Selena Davila  1:58  

 Um, what do you mean? 

 

Mahima Sosale  2:02  

Like, um, like, we could talk about, like, like, did you grow up with religion? 

 

Selena Davila  2:08  

My parents weren't really strict on religion. They were very much, like, theydid instill like that I should believe in God and Jesus and and I do still believe in that, but however, I don't go. My family has never been forced, never forced me to go to church. However, we did explore it for a little bit. However, we didn't really find...

 

Mahima Sosale  2:33  

oh, sorry, no, you're totally good.

 

Selena Davila  2:39  

We didn't really like, go to churches. We didn't really go to church, but we did try to explore it. However, we never really found, like, a place where we could, like, really be comfortable, I guess, um, but yeah, they were, they were never, never really like, oh, you need to believe this and this and this. And they weren't really strict with religion. However, like, I do believe in God, I do believe in Jesus, and I do it in the way that I believe [inaudible]. I've created my own relationship with, I guess, like my religion. But they weren't really really strict, I don't think. My parents are pretty, really young, and I grew up with my parents. My mom had me at 16/15, about to turn 16. Okay. However, I was born right before her birthday. So she was 15 when she had me, and my dad was 18, and so I grew up with my mom. Me and my mom were very close.  My dad and I are really close too, so I pretty much just grew up with them. It was nice, um, and then they had my brother, like, two years after um, and not so I me and my brother really close. Then they had waited eight years. But I'm really close to my sister. I love my sister,  but, yeah, we're really close knit family.  Well, yeah, I think my parents being really young really played a role in them not being as strict with religion, because they also, when they were growing up, they didn't they weren't really strict as well. Yeah, my grandparents, they were interesting people. I love my grandpa. Unfortunately, my grandma passed in 2011 but she was very interesting too. But yeah, they never really were strict on religion. Yeah, that's what I would say about that question. 

 

Mahima Sosale  4:35  

Okay, cool. Um, okay, then we can just talk more into like, school and stuff then like, education, like, what's the like, where do your I mean, obviously we go, like, you go to VCU now, but like, what's the highest level of education that you've gotten to? Like, what's your trajectory? What do you want to do? Do you have any plans?

 

Selena Davila  4:54  

In terms of the way I was raised, I was very much the older sister. Yeah, I was the older sister, and I very much the manager of the house. They definitely, my parents never finished high school, so they were very much like "Selena, you have to finish. You have to finish." They were very strict on that. They weren't strict with religion, but they were strict with my education.  And I definitely was very on top of that. I was school was my life for a lot of years. Um... um...I am in my third year of college. I was very fortunate. What was the second part?

 

Mahima Sosale  5:38  

Do you have any like future plans? 

 

Selena Davila  5:40  

Oh, my future plans. I'm currently studying Social Work and minoring both Criminal Justice and Psychology. Yeah, not that, not very recent anymore. I want to go into law school.  I want to go to law school. I want to study family law or immigration. That's my goal. I think it just, I'm very passionate about the Latinx community, and I think giving back through immigration law or family law is my best way to show it, I guess. 

 

Mahima Sosale  6:09  

Yeah, no, that's awesome.

 

Selena Davila  6:11  

 Thank you. 

 

Mahima Sosale  6:11  

That's super cool. So like you said that you your whole was your Were your parents also, like, from Virginia, or like,

 

Selena Davila  6:22  

My mom, she was born in California, and then she moved here to Virginia when she was like, two,  And then my dad was born in El Salvador, and sorry, transition from English to Spanish, 

 

Mahima Sosale  6:35  

You're good. You're totally good.

 

Selena Davila  6:36  

Um, but he was born there, and then he moved here when he was 12. He, his mom came here to United States before him. So he was raised by his aunt, which I consider mostly my grandma, but that's another story...

 

Mahima Sosale  6:53  

I mean, if you want, we can go into it, but you don't have to, okay,

 

Selena Davila  6:57  

But she [inaudible] from my dad and his sister, my aunt, and then they came over here with papers, and pretty much stayed with his mom for a little while, and then they had me 

 

Mahima Sosale  7:10  

Nice, cool. So you said that you've lived in Virginia like your whole life, right?

 

Selena Davila  7:17  

Yeah, my whole life. 

 

Mahima Sosale  7:17  

Okay, cool. Do you have any families that are still living in El Salvador? 

 

Selena Davila  7:24  

Yes. 

 

Mahima Sosale  7:24  

Yeah?

 

Selena Davila  7:24  

I have a lot of family. And I go visit pretty often. Okay, the last time I went actually was 2022, because college is hectic. But yeah, I have a lot of family back home. 

 

Mahima Sosale  7:34  

Nice. Are you still are you close with them as well? 

 

Selena Davila  7:36  

Yeah, I think I would say I'm really close with them.

 

Mahima Sosale  7:39  

How often do you like talk or see each other?

 

Selena Davila  7:42  

It's hard because we have very different schedules. 

 

Mahima Sosale  7:45  

Yeah.

 

Selena Davila  7:46  

But my cousin, she's in college right now in El Salvador so she's pretty busy, but I try to keep in contact,

 

Mahima Sosale  7:54  

Nice.

 

Selena Davila  7:54  

At least once a month. 

 

Mahima Sosale  7:56  

No, that's awesome. I that's really cool.

 

Selena Davila  7:59  

Thank you.

 

Mahima Sosale  7:59  

Um, and do you still have any other family like that live in Centerville or in like that kind of general area? 

 

Selena Davila  8:10  

Um, I have a lot of family all over Virginia, pretty much. I think I have a lot of family lives in Manassas. I have a lot of family lives in Sterling, Leesburg. I have a couple people who live in Centerville, also New Jersey. I have people who live in New Jersey, but I have a really full house too. A lot of them live in Warrenton, Virginia. They live all over the place. 

 

Mahima Sosale  8:40  

That's awesome. That's really cool. Like, the entire, like, the whole, like, Eastern seaboard. Do you like, um, do you try, like, do you go and visit any of them? Or do you guys have like, get togethers with the with them as well? Or is it, do you guys

 

Selena Davila  8:54  

We're really close knit. We're very like, we like to come together and see each other. We actually did that last weekend. 

 

Mahima Sosale  9:00  

Oh, nice 

 

Selena Davila  9:01  

Family from New Jersey came down, and they came to spend the weekend because it was my dad's birthday. 

 

Mahima Sosale  9:07  

Happy birthday to your dad.

 

Selena Davila  9:08  

 Thank you. Thank you. So we did come down and like they got together and everything, it was nice. We're really, really close knit, although we have our issues sometimes. 

 

Mahima Sosale  9:16  

Yeah, you know that's family. Nice. Okay, so then next, we're just kind of moving into more like, just your life in Virginia. What was it like to grow up in Centerville, like when you first kind of got there, if you remember or like, what are your earliest memories, I guess, of like when you were first growing up in Centerville?

 

Selena Davila  9:39  

I think, personally, when I started elementary school, I saw a very predominant, like predominantly Asian community, so it's kind of hard to see, I think I lacked in the representation of like Hispanics when I was growing up. However, when I moved to a different part of Centerville, I definitely was, like, not smacked in the face, but like, very well presented with a lot more of that community,  which I felt like it was really interesting when I was younger, there was a Spanish Immersion like program at the elementary school I went to last. I went to three different ones.  But my last one they, they had a Spanish Immersion program, and I think that's what sparked like, a bit more of like this, where I'm like, "This is my community". Like, I like, I feel more passionate about it because I feel like, at first, like I, I saw a lack of it. So I guess like that played a role in, like, have, like, my progression and passion for the Latinx community. But, yeah, I don't know if that answered your question. 

 

Mahima Sosale  10:51  

No, it does definitely. And could, if you say you still go, do you still go, like, go back there and stuff like, when you have, like, since you have family there, like, can you talk about how it's like changed, how, like, the community or and stuff has changed over time almost,  if you've noticed any changes, 

 

Selena Davila  11:11  

Honestly, I don't think I've noticed any changes, because predominantly so it's in the, like, a lot of the Asian community is there. I don't know if I just don't, I don't go there as often as I wish I could, just because, like, my family's already, like, there. They usually go to my house. So it's usually, like, hard for me to go up there, but for the most part, I don't think it's changed that much, okay? I don't think. I don't know. I mean, 

 

Mahima Sosale  11:45  

That's okay 

 

Selena Davila  11:46  

That's a hard question to ask, because, like, when I go there, it's very much, like, I'm in and out. 

 

Mahima Sosale  11:52  

Yeah, no, yeah. 

 

Selena Davila  11:54  

I don't know how to explain it.

 

Mahima Sosale  11:55  

I totally I get it. I get it. Um, what was your experience like, with like, the Latino community there, like, I know you said, like, in like, your third elementary school was where, like, you started to feel like a really big Latino presence. Or, like, have, like, with the Spanish Immersion program, but in general, or like, like, what was it like with the Latino community?

 

Selena Davila  12:21  

Could you repeat the first question? Yeah, sure.

 

Mahima Sosale  12:24  

So, what has been your experience with the Latino community there?

 

Selena Davila  12:28  

I think it's pretty positive, if I'm being honest....Definitely like I...I was very close minded. I think I only thought El Salvador was placed in like that was the community. But I met a lot of, like, people from Guatemala, not very, not a lot of Colombians, if I'm being honest...a lot from Guatemala and Mexico. So it was definitely good, like, I opened my mind to, like, different cultures and different variety, I guess, um, but I just, I was just El Salvador, and that's it, like, yeah, like, I'm Latina because I'm Salvadorian. That's like, I'm from another place. Yeah, I didn't even think of that when I was little, yeah, because my family's just very like much, like El Salvador, yeah, but it was definitely eye opening when I first, like, started to be not introduced, but, like, more exposed to [inaudible].

 

Mahima Sosale  13:36  

Cool, okay. Um, and what was your experience like with those, like, outside of the Latino community?

 

Selena Davila  13:43  

Um, when I was younger, I was very, like, very to myself, very I would consider myself an observer, more than a talker, yeah. So I don't know if, like, my my friend group is very diverse too. So I don't know, like, I don't know how to answer that in the sense of like, it's never been a negative interaction. I feel like where I grew up was very diverse, so they're very open to diversity and being different. So I've never experienced, I don't think I've not to say, never experienced, but I don't think there was ever a prominent example where it was like a negative experience with other cultures, because I've always lived in a diverse community. And that's why I initially chose VCU, because of diversity, I don't think I could go to a predominantly white university or, you know, like, I think I need diversity in order to, like, expand my knowledge. 

 

Mahima Sosale  14:45  

Yeah, no, yeah, that makes sense. And what are some of, like, the biggest obstacles that you've encountered here or, like, in Richmond or in VCU, or um like, growing up in Centerville. 

 

Selena Davila  15:01  

Do you think does that have to pertain to be in Latina or?

 

Mahima Sosale  15:06  

I mean anything, yeah. 

 

Selena Davila  15:07  

 Um, in terms of being Latina? Um, I guess, like, people taking me seriously, that's a big issue. Or, like, I guess the traditional view in the Latino community. I think it's very like, how do I explain this? It's very like strict like, women are supposed to be home taking care of the kids, cooking. I'm very much I don't want to do any of that.So it's very much like, that was a that was a challenge within my own household, because my dad is very traditional, but he grew out of it. He grew out of it. But he, at first, he was very much like, "Selena, you need to learn how to cook. You need you need to do this, this and this." And I'm very much like I don't I will listen,however I don't agree. And I'm very much, like, I tell that to my dad, we're very close. And like, I love debating with him. So, uh, just it was, it was definitely hard in the beginning, because I'm very much, like, soft and like, I'm okay with, I'm a people pleaser. So it's like, okay, like, I'll do it. However, I disagree, yeah, and I'm willing to say that to my dad, but however, I've definitely experienced that in the workforce. When people take my, I guess, nice or kind demeanor, and they're like, "Now you gotta do this and this and this."

 

Mahima Sosale  16:37  

Oh, like they yeah.

 

Selena Davila  16:38  

I'm not your house-maid, I'm not going to clean this office just because you tell me to and like, I guess, like, it's a challenge like that, they take me as both a woman and a Latina. Like, they definitely take the stereotypes in the workforce and go with it. I think those are my challenges, especially as a woman, they definitely take advantage. 

 

Mahima Sosale  17:00  

Yeah. Oh, that sucks. 

 

Selena Davila  17:03  

It's okay. I've gotten better in the sense of like, choosing better employment.

 

Mahima Sosale  17:08  

Good, um, and have you found any like resources, or what kind of resources have you found like to help you with your life? Have you used or like gone to any organizations or anything for help, for anything, either here or like you or your family. 

 

Selena Davila  17:28  

Um, I think...I don't know if this answers your question. However, I think I will have two answers. Um, one, when I was younger, we definitely used the free reduced lunch program as a resource, just because my mom was raising my sister. So it's just one income going into the household and feeding three kids was a lot. We use the free reduced lunch program. We got the free supplies [inaudible], free reduce lunch was a resource we used. That was when I was younger, when I'm when I was getting older... In college, I think using LSA (Latinx Student Association) as a resource for both professionally and acad- like, I guess, academically, I don't know if there's a difference between the two. Professionally, just because, like, I'm, I'm a first generation college student. So we do things like resume workshops, interview, mock interview stuff, because my parents actually don't like, my parents, although they've been here for a while, they also have never been exposed to how to make a resume, how to make a cover letter. So I use those resources now as an adult, eventually going into the workforce. Um, that's what I do. Academically. I don't think it's different, actually.

 

Mahima Sosale  18:56  

I mean, if there's like, academically, like, as far as like, um, helping with, like, studying or helping with, like, just, I mean, I would even say, like, in just helping with, like, having a community, like, a sense of community. 

 

Selena Davila  19:10  

Um, I agree with that. And also, um, to go off of that, like, I think joining LSA has definitely, like, helped me find that community at VCU because at first when I moved here, I was like, "Okay, there's a lot of diversity. However, I don't see any Latinos," like, where are they at like, they're hiding from me. But when I joined LSA, I was very much like, okay, like, "This is where, this is where it's at." This is where my community is at, and like, I just have, I just had to seek it, because I think in the beginning it was definitely harder for me, because I was like, like, actually, like, where are they? Like, like, mi familia. Like, I didn't, I couldn't, I didn't see anyone that looked like me, right? So it was, it was definitely hard in the beginning, but joining LSA as an organization as a whole definitely helped me find that community here at VCU, because at first it was definitely hard. Cause I only had like, one Hispanic friend, I've known you for like, I've known them for like, set like, a lot of years, like, since seventh grade. So I was like, "Okay, where are the rest?" VCU, like, definitely, like, shines the brightest, because of its diversity. So I was like, "Okay, where is the diversity in Hispanic [inaudible]..."

 

Mahima Sosale  20:25  

Okay, cool. No, that's awesome. I'm happy that you found that here. Can you tell me about, like your current job, or any other, like, the jobs that you've had since you started living in Richmond.

 

Selena Davila  20:40  

Since I started living here in Richmond, okay. Um, when I moved, when I moved here for school, I first started out doing a work study job at the VCU sports nutrition department. I worked at the smoothie and fuel station. I worked with the VCU athletics. So I prepared uh smoothies for  athletes, and I also gave out snacks and all that stuff. That's what I worked for, worked in for two years? Both freshman year and sophomore year. And then eventually I was like, "Okay, I can't do this no more." I looked for another job. So I found the research assistant job with Dr, yeah, Dr Gabby. And then also I found another job with peer academic coaching here at the CLC. And both of them are very well. I love them, but I also have another job I didn't find here at Richmond, though. I don't know if you want...

 

Mahima Sosale  21:43  

No, I want all the details. 

 

Selena Davila  21:45  

Okay, so my eye doctor, I found it after my first year here at VCU. It's back home, though, okay, I work as a patient service coordinator. I also do the optimist, optimist. I don't know how to say 

 

Mahima Sosale  22:03  

Optometrist?

 

Selena Davila  22:04  

No, Optometric tech, so I do all the testing, the pre testing stuff, um, that's pretty much what I do. I do that over summer break, winter break, Thanksgiving break, and did I say spring break? Yeah, in spring, and that's what I do. And then I work in both, I work everywhere. Pretty much I work in my eye doctor in Warrenton, Gainesville, for a couple weeks during Covid, but I'm never going back there. 

 

Mahima Sosale  22:36  

Oh no, okay, cool. 

 

Selena Davila  22:40  

And in Centerville.

 

Mahima Sosale  22:42  

That's awesome. Okay, so, okay, we're gonna start talking more like, again, like the same kind of, like jobs and stuff. Um...we talked earlier about, like, some of the issues that you dealt with, as far as, like, people, having, oh my god, words are like, not coming to me. 

 

Selena Davila  23:08  

Are you talking about, like, how people are not taking me seriously?

 

Mahima Sosale  23:11  

Yeah like we talked about, like, those issues and stuff that you had, um, and I just wanted... have the needs of the people that you serve changed over time. I don't- That might sound weird.

 

Selena Davila  23:26  

I-I don't know if I'm interpreting it wrong, but, like, I've worked in different areas, so I think, yes, I think, because I worked in fast food, and I also worked now, I work in retail, right? And I also work in, like,

 

Mahima Sosale  23:44  

Research...

 

Selena Davila  23:45  

Research and also mentoring, yeah, I think, I think yes, each person, like fast food is like the food, retail is very much like patient care. Like I say, retail but I work in the patient care area. Actually, I don't sell the glasses or the contacts, I help the patients who sees the optometrists. And then research is my research. Research, yeah. Then mentoring is just mentoring. So I guess yes, the needs, okay, over time. I think that's what you were asking. I think yeah, from what I've interpreted from the question.

 

Mahima Sosale  24:34  

Um, and then okay, here's like, Okay, this is, like, actually a fun question for me. Just because I like to hear, so has your personal experience shaped how you pursue your jobs, the different jobs that you do...

 

Selena Davila  24:53  

Has my experience? Yes.

 

Mahima Sosale  24:57  

How?

 

Selena Davila  24:59  

I used to work in fast food, and that definitely taught me, taught me so much, about myself, taught me how to work with people, taught me how to like, communicate well and also not let my emotions take advantage of the situation. But I knew after that I knew, and I promised myself I would never go back to food service, yeah, um, I don't know if that answers your question. 

 

Mahima Sosale  25:25  

Yes. 

 

Selena Davila  25:25  

I'll continue, but I make sure that's what answers um, so I did definitely want to try retail, um, patient care, sorry. Um, and then my experience, my experience is fast food, definitely, like, well, like, unspeakable years ago, this is such a like, complex answer, because I have so many, so much work experience, I guess. But I knew in since working at this [inaudible, talking about food service job], I was like, "Okay, I need a more career driven, like, career driven, um, job experience." And so I definitely wanted to move on from this [inaudible] to working with people. I wanted to work more with people, and I wanted to, I at least, like, learn new things. So yeah, in this smoothie station, I was learning how to make smoothies. Like, how will this be career? Like, how is this, in the end, help me get to where I want to be so I was like, "Okay, I'm done with this. I need to do something that I actually feel like will make a difference." And that's when I found a research assistant job. And I was like, this is exactly what I want to learn about, and this is exactly what I'm passionate about. And so I found that job, and also my mentoring job. I have been trying to get that job for two semesters now. So I was very fortunate to actually get it. And I think I wanted it so bad, because I was like, as a first generation college student, I was like, okay, like, okay, like, I wasn't able to get this resource when I was a freshman, so like, let me give back to, like, give back to others. Like, also, like, I guess, give back my wisdom of trying to tackle it all by myself to now like, let me help someone else. And I talk with my students every week, and they're amazing people. I love them and giving back to them, it just feels so good and like I feel like I'm learning about myself as well as a person, as an individual, as an individual and as a student. I talk about time management skills, procrastination when I'm doing it. So it's like it, like, hits me, like reality, like a reality check, like "Hey Selena, like, you need to also stop, also learn all these time management skills. Like, can be a hypocrite. You need to do them too." So, yeah, I think my experiences both in the food service here at VCU and back home, definitely changed my like, I guess my route to finding employment.

 

Mahima Sosale  28:12  

Um, can you talk maybe... Is there like a specific initiative or campaign or, like, a program that you've been involved with?

 

Selena Davila  28:28  

I don't think LSA would be included in that. No, I don't think...

 

Mahima Sosale  28:31  

I mean, you could talk about LSA.

 

Selena Davila  28:33  

Um, LSA. I talk about LSA like, that's my whole personality. I love LSA. Like I when I say, like, I love LSA, it's like, that's my home away from home. So that's why, I guess I talk about it. It's not my personality- trust it's not. But I guess, like in-in regards to this question, LSA is the work I'm part of. I'm part-I'm the Familia chair for LSA, and so my job is to... it's a whole program. So the LSA organization has a Familias program that pretty much creates, like, I don't know if you know what bigs and littles are like, of sororities. I do that however, there are bigger groups, and there's two, like, it's called padres, which are in translation bigs for other people. And then there's kids. So it's a bunch of kids who have different, similar, like, similarities and like hobbies that are very similar. And I grouped, I grouped them together with my co-chair, and that's what I do. That's my-that's my responsibility in LSA.  So as LSA, we are, we strive to make a community here at VCU to help the Latino community come together and also spread awareness about the Latino culture. And that's-that's pretty much what I'm in to spread awareness about Latino community and culture. We do a lot to help the community here, because I feel like...there's still like, although like, VCU has a lot of resources, I feel like they lack in sense of, like helping sometimes the Latino community. I feel like there could be definitely, like a bit more work there. And luckily, we have our sponsor, who has created the El Centro here at VCU, which is supposed to be a place where latino/latine, the Latine community, can come together and like, help each other out and like use that space to professionally, like develop and also academically develop more and like grow. Which I think is a great initiative here at VCU, especially with the big community, who we have here at VCU, who's who identify with the Latino community. That's what I'm part of.

 

Mahima Sosale  31:08  

That's awesome. That's awesome.

 

Selena Davila  31:10  

Yes, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I try not to make LSA my whole personality.

 

Mahima Sosale  31:17  

It's okay, like, what, like, what you do is really cool.

 

Selena Davila  31:19  

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, I spent like, so many hours doing it. I guess that's why it makes it, that's why I guess, like, it has such an impact in my life. Because, like, again, like, although I had some of it in elementary school, some of it in middle school and some in high school, I feel like I'm more connected to my community than I've ever been here at VCU. So I guess that's why I give very much credit to LSA for my experience here at VCU, because I feel like I'm at home, away from home.

 

Mahima Sosale  32:00  

Yeah, that's awesome. I'm glad that VCU has that, yes. And I'm glad that you're giving that to other people.  Wow. I feel like inspired. So we're gonna, like, awkwardly switch gears and we're gonna talk more, like, about Covid and and stuff. So where- Do you remember like, where you were living when the pandemic started? Like, how did you first learn about covid? 

 

Selena Davila  32:31  

Um, I was living in a townhouse in Centerville when Covid hit. Um, I was in my sophomore year of high school, um, when I learned my family, my family is very much like my mom reads articles about like, what, what shows we shouldn't be watching, so I didn't watch SpongeBob like for a couple years because she read this article, and she was like, "Nah, you're not allowed to watch that." So I don't ever, sometimes I don't even get the SpongeBob references that my friends say. Sorry, that was off track. But that's when I first learned about Covid, when my dad was very much like protective mode. So we like bought Lysol. So we bought Clorox wipes. We stayed home for like, we never left the house. When we left the house is very much like one person goes and then comes back. We had a new routine where we washed everything that came into the house, whether it be clothes, vegetables, fruits, cans, water bottles. We wash like, we literally like, either put in the sink and rinse it and put soap on it like it was, it was-it was interesting. It was always a routine, and we it like grew on us still today, like we still wash our vegetables when they come in, and then we put them in the fridge, and we still wash we still wash them when they come out. We all became germaphobes. They would make fun of me being a germaphobe before that, and I'd be like, "Oh, wow, look at you guys, like you all are germaphobes." So my family was very strict during Covid. I didn't ever see my friends during that time, if I did, it was on my birthday. It was like, right after, like, Covid, like, struck. It was like, my birthday is in April, so, um, right when it struck, they did a whole, like, car, like-like, the drive by, and it was, it was really nice and very emotional, because that was  my first time seeing my friends in a long time. So that was nice. Some of them would send me letters and be like, but I can't even open it. I had to spray Lysol on it. My family was very strict with that stuff, but it was for a good reason, like good reason, but, yeah, that's that's when I found out about Covid and how that influenced my first Covid months.

 

Mahima Sosale  35:08  

So did you guys ever, did any of you ever get covid? What was, um, or were all of you like?

 

Selena Davila  35:14  

We didn't get covid In the beginning, and then my aunt got Covid, who lived with me. She lived with me. My like my uncle lived in the basement. They got covid because she worked during this time. She got covid and this was around the time when our house was being processed. My parents were buying a house during this time, so like, right when she found out she had Covid, since she lived downstairs, she was quarantined downstairs with my uncle and then my mom and my siblings and I, we both, we just automatically, just moved to the new house. We weren't supposed to get the house until later. However, the homeowners were like, you guys can come. My parents just said, "we can just go."

 

but yeah, and then my family got Covid a couple months or a year later? And I didn't get covid, though. It was, I was the only one in the household who didn't get Covid. I tested negative two times, my whole family got Covid, and they were, like, so confused, because everyone in the house got Covid except me. I probably had it first, and then I gave it to them or something. I don't know. I don't know how it works. And then I got Covid recently for the first time. Over the summer. 

 

Mahima Sosale  36:42  

Oh, wow.

 

Selena Davila  36:43  

So, right before I had to move back. I don't know how I got that actually. 

 

Mahima Sosale  36:47  

How was it-What was it like to, like, being in the house? Because, like, you guys were saying that you were super strict and stuff. Was it just because, like, you know, the like, rules and stuff became super lax about, like, having to quarantine and stuff. Is that-

 

Selena Davila  37:05  

In the beginning?

 

Mahima Sosale  37:05  

Like in the like, when your family got 

 

Selena Davila  37:07  

Oh when my family got it, my family was just, like, eventually gonna get it. As long as we're taking care of ourselves outside the house, like it really doesn't matter inside, because, like, all of us were gonna get it. All of us at that time, they took it very much like a flu. Okay, so they did take care of themselves. We did a lot of calcium indies, and we stayed home. They stayed home from work. But they were like, "Selena, you're just gonna eventually get it." Obviously, take care of yourself. So you put me on medication. We started taking medication all together, stuff to like Emergen-C, also started taking that. Does that answer your question? 

 

Mahima Sosale  37:50  

Yes, that's that's definitely... Was there anybody that was like, severely impacted by Covid in your family?

 

Selena Davila  38:06  

Severely? 

 

Mahima Sosale  38:07  

Yeah, like, severely. So, like, if they had to, like, go to the hospital or something, 

 

Selena Davila  38:12  

No. 

 

Mahima Sosale  38:13  

No? 

 

Selena Davila  38:13  

Luckily, no, I don't have any. My grandpa was very cautious about everything, but I don't have any other [inaudible] close with my dad's parents. So no, I don't think so. 

 

Mahima Sosale  38:34  

And then, like, like vaccines and stuff. Did you guys all take them and, like, the follow ups and all that, yeah?

 

Selena Davila  38:41  

Yeah. My dad was very like, we're getting it okay? I was like, okay, yeah, I have my Covid vaccine card.

 

Mahima Sosale  38:50  

Nice, cool.

 

Selena Davila  38:51  

In order for us to go to El Salvador too, we had to have...

 

Mahima Sosale  38:53  

Oh, yeah. But what about your family in like El Salvador did they also?

 

Selena Davila  38:57  

Yes, they're very adamant about that too. Yeah...

 

Mahima Sosale  39:03  

Cool, um, and then you in 2020 were you still in high school? Or did you start college at that time? Were you like transitioning?

 

Selena Davila  39:18  

I was in high school.

 

Mahima Sosale  39:20  

Okay.

 

Selena Davila  39:21  

Was it 2020? Wait, yes, it was right? Yeah, yeah...

 

Mahima Sosale  39:27  

Covid was 2020.

 

Selena Davila  39:28  

Because I was a sophomore, junior, 2020. Okay, okay, yes, wait, sorry, I'm getting messed up in the sense of like when I when, when I moved so, 2021? Okay. 2018 to 2019 I was a freshman, 2019 to 2020 I was a sophomore. 2020 to 2021 Oh, I was right. I just want to make sure, um, yes, I was doing high. School. I did online school for two years.

 

Mahima Sosale  40:02  

How was that?

 

Selena Davila  40:04  

It was an interesting time. 

 

It was an interesting time?

 

...My siblings and my parents both had to go to work. It was interesting time because my, that's when my I knew how my siblings were as students. Oh, it was definitely hard for me, because I my outlet was school. So, like, not being able to go, like, out and meet new people, I was very much like, I need to meet right? I like to meet new people, and I like to interact with people. Even though I'm a very shy person, I don't know why I need to, like, I just needed that. Like, I need to get out of my house and seeing my siblings every day like they would frustrate me so and they they're very much like, interesting students. Yeah, it's an interesting time. I think, Oh, wait, did I do? No, I think I did one year of online school, fully junior year, fully online. Senior year, I went back, okay, yeah, I went back because I couldn't do anymore. Yeah, my parents were like, "Yeah, you guys gotta go."

 

Mahima Sosale  41:08  

So your siblings also went back?

 

Selena Davila  41:10  

Yeah, we all went back. We wore masks full time. Yeah, majority people were masked in high school, yeah. Not everybody was. There was like a couple people who didn't wear masks, and that's just like their beliefs, but yeah, to protect ourselves we wore masks.

 

Mahima Sosale  41:30  

Um, and how, how do you think Latinos were impacted by the pandemic? Like, did you know a lot of Latino people that were vaccinated? Did you or was there, like, any kind of taboo or something?

 

Selena Davila  41:51  

I think from, like, news, I think Latinos are very some of them were very much like, "Oh, this is," there was a lot of conspiracies of like, "This is trying the government trying to track me," or mostly like with them, like at the like the people who come here illegally, that was an issue in that community, because they were like, "Oh, this is just the way for them to track me, or to know where I am." It was like, very much as it was, like, a hesitant idea. For the most part, some of my family's really religious, so they were like, no vaccines. But for the most part, how it affected, like, how had Covid affected Latino community? I think since we're very much like a family oriented community, like culture and like community, that was hard for us to like not spend time with our family. So I think that was an aspect that definitely hurt a lot of us. I think my family too. I can't, I don't know if I can speak for everybody.

 

Mahima Sosale  43:07  

I mean, you can if, even if it's just like your personal thoughts on how, how it affected everyone, or just like how it affected your family, 

 

Selena Davila  43:15  

Um, I think the most part, it was just like the family part, we couldn't see each other. So there was times like when Covid started to, like, lessen its degree I guess? We definitely got together, but it was always ended up with someone with Covid. That's when we eventually learned, like, "Yeah, like, let's not do that anymore." But yeah, I think it was definitely really hard mentally for everybody in the community, I think. Everybody just wanted to be together. It was just hard to not be together. Yeah, I don't know, like, if I can, if there's anything else I can say on that, I think that's all I can say, I don't know what else. I can't really remember it's been a long time. For the most part, I think that's my answer for that question. 

 

Mahima Sosale  44:10  

Okay, um, okay, so this is just the last couple of questions. Do you feel like you belong in Richmond or in VCU?

 

Selena Davila  44:26  

Um, when I'm first moved here, I don't think I didn't think I did, just because I'm very I'm very much from, I don't know if it's Suburban. No, Suburban. That's a car, right?

 

Mahima Sosale  44:40  

I mean, it's a it's also like the type of like residenence as it's like neighborhoods and stuff.

 

Selena Davila  44:47  

I don't, I wasn't raised near the city very much like not I live close to DC. However, it wasn't like where I lived. So when I first moved here, I was definitely like, I like, stayed in my dorm, 24/7, so it was definitely hard for me to even have a community here. So that's why I felt so "I don't belong here," and that's why I would go home every two weeks. I was like, I need to go home. I need to go but now that I found LSA, again, I feel like I belong here more. I don't go home as much, just because first, I'm busy and also like I feel more comfortable here, but I do feel like I belong here a bit more than I did before. 

 

Mahima Sosale  45:37  

Nice, um, is there anything that prevents you from feeling like you've from like you feel, from feeling like you belong here?

 

Selena Davila  45:47  

Um, like, if I didn't have LSA or...

 

Mahima Sosale  45:52  

I mean, either way, like, is there anything that prevents you from feeling like a full sense of belonging here? Like, with LSA or without LSA?

 

Selena Davila  46:01  

I think because my family isn't here, I feel like, sometimes I'm like, "Oh, do I really want to be here." 

 

Mahima Sosale  46:08  

Right. 

 

Selena Davila  46:09  

Because I love my family so much. I'm very close. I don't know. I think that's a kind of difficult question for me to answer. 

 

Mahima Sosale  46:21  

Okay, I think that's okay. 

 

Selena Davila  46:23  

I don't really know how to answer.

 

Mahima Sosale  46:25  

It's okay. Um, have you ever like omitted parts of your identity or cultural practice or anything to fit in to, like any community or any space?

 

Selena Davila  46:38  

Um, I don't, I don't. I'm not sure, um, I feel like, sorry, I have to think about this question. I don't think so. I don't think I've ever had to, because I've, I guess like, I've chosen like my circle very, very, not harshly, but very strict in the sense of like, I didn't I knew that my friends had to be someone who respected diversity, who respected differences. So I think I've never had to, like, really, like, say, like, not this or like, I had to, like, be like, against my morals, because I feel like when I grew up, I was very like when I grew up, as I grew up my parents were very like, instilled all those morals like really deeply in me. So I feel like I've never had to like, really be like, ever justified the idea of like, eliminating a part of my identity just to fit in. I think my parents have instilled in me that my identity so unique that I shouldn't ever have to, like, take something out, you know, like my identity, my identity and like, they've always supported me in anything I've decided. So, yeah, I don't think I've ever had to. I'm lucky to say that, because not all communities are as welcoming or as diverse. So I think that's how I would answer the question.

 

Mahima Sosale  48:25  

No, that's cool. That's awesome. I'm I'm happy to hear that.

 

Selena Davila  48:28  

Thank you. Thank you. 

 

Mahima Sosale  48:29  

Um, have you ever refrained from doing something like, stopped yourself from doing something to fit into like the US idea, or like the US model?

 

Selena Davila  48:46  

I feel like we've all done this unconsciously. Yeah, I feel like it's just I can't pinpoint specific time, unfortunately, maybe like I not that I-It's not recent anymore, but like, when I was a freshman- sophomore. Beginning of my sophomore year, I decided to go to law school. However, I believed that I couldn't do it because I hadn't seen representation. And I was like, "Oh, maybe I can't do it". Like, maybe I'm not like, worthy of the position or going to law school. So I guess like, the idea that the US has, like, is very low percentage, and like, especially Latinas in the legal field. So I think that's when I tried to, like, be like, "okay, like, I can do something else." Like, do something like social work. I guess that's an example. 

 

Mahima Sosale  49:44  

Yeah, sure. No, 100%.

 

Selena Davila  49:47  

Just to answer the question, I think that would be my answer, just like, I guess conforming to like, where I'm represented and where I'm not represented, and that's how I conform to the United States ideas of what a Latina can do and what a Latina can be. I think that would be my answer.

 

Mahima Sosale  50:10  

With immigration, like, how do you what do you think about how, like, the issue of immigration is talked about by politicians or then, like the general public. 

 

Selena Davila  50:26  

That's a difficult and complex question, because it's a very controversial topic. I believe that the media portrays immigrants as criminals, as a negative factor in the United States. However, I've known my dad is an immigrant like, you know, like, I don't know. It's just, it's very one sided, right? It's a, it's a controversial topic. I think that's a difficult question. Sorry,  um...

 

Mahima Sosale  51:21  

What do you want them to know? Like, if you could talk to them, or, like, give your opinion, or whatever, to like a politician, or like, even just like to the general public about, like, what do you want them to know about Latinos?

 

Selena Davila  51:34  

Latinos specifically? That we are a group of different individuals that have different variations of culture, and keeping an open mind about how different we can be, and not putting us all in a box, can definitely open your mind to Latinos in general. I feel like a lot of people put us in boxes, and a lot of people think of us are just Mexicans or just like people from Salvador or El Salvador or people from Honduras or Colombia. And I feel like although we do identify with these countries, we are not always the same, right in the way we are raised, and our beliefs are not always the same. So I think, like keeping an open mind about it, and not treating us all of the same, I think would be my I guess spiel about the Latino community, because I feel like we're all just different. Like you may be me, but like, I'm one variation of being Hispanic or being Latina compared to another person, you know. Like, we're all raised very differently, although we have some of the same cul, like, What's the word? Not-I guess cultural aspects are very like, we have similar things however we're not all the same, and just putting us all in a box is not the way to go, especially with politics, I don't know. Like, that's a very controversial topic for me. I'm not very comfortable saying 

 

Mahima Sosale  53:24  

That's okay, 

 

Selena Davila  53:26  

Answering that question in a sense of like, I don't know, I don't know...

 

Mahima Sosale  53:31  

 That's okay.

 

Selena Davila  53:31  

I need to be more informed in that aspect, a little bit more in order to back up my reasonings for certain certain things. Because I think I lack in that. I think I lack in like, being informed. And I think that's what a lot of Latinos lack in, is like being informed on certain things. But overall, I think people should be more open minded, see the differences and don't just, like, ignore them, right? That's one thing I would say. 

 

Mahima Sosale  54:05  

Okay, um, what do you what would you like the public to know from, like, your life story? Like, what do you want people to try and, like, take away 

 

Selena Davila  54:15  

From my life story? 

 

Mahima Sosale  54:16  

Yeah. 

 

Selena Davila  54:17  

Um...I guess like to not let like the statistics or information or misleading information stop you from doing what you want to pursue. I think you could probably see like I went from food service to all the way to mentoring the research that, like, I didn't think it was possible at first, but now that I like see more representation here at VCU and back home and on the news and on in the media... representation is so important. So important. And that has guided me to be the person I am today and my goals and my beliefs so over... I guess the moral of the story just be more like open to doing something that, although lacks in representation like you can do it too, you know, I think that's what, yeah, from my story, it's not very different from most people, but I think that's what I would give for that.

 

Mahima Sosale  55:30  

What do you want students like me to take away from the interview? Like this interview?

 

From this interview? I don't know that, like unexpected things can happen, and life is unpredictable, and you'll eventually find your community and wherever you are and just finding what you're passionate about comes through experiences, I think. But, yeah, that's, that's what I would say for the question.

 

Anything you say is the right answer.

 

Selena Davila  56:15  

Thank you. Thank you.

 

Mahima Sosale  56:18  

Is there anything else that you wanted to add about anything that we just didn't go over?

 

Selena Davila  56:23  

Um, I don't think so. I think I said majority of what I wanted to say. I think the questions were really well like well written made me think a lot about my time here at VCU and also my employment journey, how many places I've worked and how those those work experiences have shaped the person I am today, for sure. Because I don't think I would be able to interact with being patient if I didn't work in food service, because that definitely challenged me so much. Especially, like, as a 16/17, year old, that was a difficult time for me. I'm very like, I was very like, shy and people plays there. Now I'm like, "Okay, I need to get over that." I need to stick up for myself. I think I definitely learned that after food service and the other jobs I've had.

Mahima Sosale  57:29  

Well, that's all the questions that I have for today. Thank you so much for speaking with me.

Selena Davila  57:35  

Of course, I enjoyed that.