Don't believe them when they tell you that I don't exist

A newly minted Latina Ph.D. reflects on her educational journey. The story begins with her early years attending a Catholic grammar school in Queens, New York, and follows her through the fabled halls of several of the nation's top universities. The author shares an account of the challenges that she overcame and the lessons she learned. She discusses how family and a sense of history and community helped her find the strength to persevere despite the sadness, confusion, and pain that can sometimes accompany "getting an education." She describes her struggles with writing and finding her own voice, and tells how, through reading and writing, she moved closer to coming to terms with her past, present, and future.