"Magdalena" ...Writing Piece

Magdalena,

Leader, smart, outgoing, and responsible. Magdalena was my top academic student full of joy, dedicated and willing to share her knowledge and lend a helping hand to her peers that struggled. Naturally, she would reach out to those in need this past school year.

A child loved by her family, friends and those who knew her well. .What could possibly be wrong? I wondered. Thoughts flashed through my head like a fierce whirl wind with out end and I hoped scenes from the past would not prevail in this child. I had seen that pain before in many forms in the eyes of the innocent who were robbed the joys of childhood. On a daily basis I had visited, interviewed, or rescued children from the arms of those that should had been their protectors. My role then was a child abuse investigator for Child Protective Services. I had visited many homes and schools and witness the other side of the coin. Too often, children carried a heavy burden that those around them did not know, but I vowed that if I switched my roles I would never forget that children too have their share of troubles and must be guided to relieve the load. Thus, I dreaded to know the source of Magdalena’s pain.

I do not recall the subject or what we were discussing in class, but I do remember standing in the classroom and looking to my right and my students at the blue team table looking puzzled. There they sat the group of four and three of them just gazed at each other confused by what they were seeing…tears rolling down Magdalena’s checks. They didn’t say a word or make fun of her because Magda was admired and respected by all. As I began to make my way towards her the room went silent and all eyes were fixed on my every move as I took each step I could hear the throbbing beats of each heart get louder and louder as I drew near her. As I reach out, the chorus of the beating sounds began to diminish into silence. Softly my hand touched her shoulder and then like a roaring cascade tears overflowed her checks and splattered onto the hard surfaced desk. Slowly, she folded her arms and over the desk laid them to rest with her head over them. At that moment I understood something was causing her great pain. I whispered to tell her it would be alright and to take her time and when she was ready we would speak in private. She nodded yes and continued to softly cry.

Her classmates did not ask questions or interrupt, but soon it would be P.E time. They quietly stood up and carefully pushed in their chairs. Moreover, quietly they all gazed back with empathic eyes as they walked out the classroom. Soon I discovered the source of her pain was the fear of leaving this country that she knew as home, but she suffered in silence the fear of having her mother deported to Mexico if things did not go well in the consulate office of Juarez, México to legalize her mother’s residency status in this country. As the date approached I witnessed her tears, fears which turned into struggles on academic work. I recall telling her not to be afraid that things would we alright. I assured her that her mother would be fine and that it was all a process. Magda would be out for the week during the process because she would have to go with her mother to the appointment in Juarez because there was no one to be left behind with. Prior to leaving I gave her a copy of Esperanza Rising and told her it would be her assignment to read the book and write reactions responses to each chapter during her week out of school. Like Esperanza she too was about to begin a new journey and face unforeseeable challenges Never did I imagine that Magda’s fears would become reality. Her mother was denied reentry into the country and she would not return to her home or school. I prayed for her safety and well being because I know she was about to face a great challenges in her life. New school, new friends, new systems, and a new culture.


As the days passed and she did not return her classmates began to ask questions. Where’s Magdalena? Why hasn’t she come back? Did something happened to her?. They would save her the daily class work and weekly flyers and file them in her desk. Yet, one morning right after the 1st tardy bell rang my dear Martin came running into the room and loudly announced Magdalena would not be coming back for ten years. At that point every ones eyes shot back at me waiting for an answer. I told Martin to take a seat and everyone else that I would have to look into it to find out what the status was on Magdalena. I spoke privately with Martin that day to find out who his source of information was and that next time he would come to me instead of shouting his announcement to the class. Yes, indeed after making some calls I spoke with Magdalena’s father and his wife would not be allowed reentry into this country for ten years. Like Magdalena her father too had great pain he carried the burden of having been separated from his family. He stated he was working a second job and trying to save some money to hire a lawyer and that he would not give up because he understood that his children identified this country as their home.

Now, I was faced with the fears of those like Magdalnea who began to make the connections that their family too could also face the same challenges some day. The issue had to be addressed in the classroom and questions had to be answered or attempted to be answered. We addressed them through news articles regarding immigrations reforms and the protests taking place in our country and in our community. Also, my students watched the news anytime immigrations issues were being presented and reported back. Finally, they wrote letters to Magdalena to keep her informed of any new things learned or new projects in the classroom and that indeed brought peace to the hearts of those who missed her.