“Dressing badly has been a refuge much of my life, a way of compelling others to engage with my mind, not my physical presence. Page. 283”

“Until we get equality in education, we won't have an equal society.”

“I have come to believe that in order to thrive, a child must have at least one adult in her life who shows her unconditional love, respect, and confidence.”

“[T]he more critical lesson I learned that day is still one too many kids never figure out: don't be shy about making a teacher of any willing party who knows what he or she is doing.”

“I couldnt even tell if I had any sadness of my own, because I was so full of Abuelitas sadness.”

“Many of the gaps in my knowledge and understanding were simply limits of class and cultural background, not lack of aptitude or application as I feared. Page 135”

“Negative thinking saps strength.”

“Negativity is like burning plastic: while destroying itself, it annoys everyone with its stench.”

“Why dwell on negative thoughts? When you can think positively.”

“There's a strength in that look, a wilfulness; one would almost call it defiance except that it is so good-humoured. It is the look a woman would wear - would have worn - if she asked a man, a stra...”

“If its reality you want, I suggest you look out the window.”

“Reality is how you look at it”

“I never speak in silence.”

“Admitting failure is quite cleansing, but never - pleasurable.”

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”