Karla Cornejo Villavicencio on “Catalina,” the Tale of an Undocumented Student at Harvard
Digest
Carla Conejo, author of "The Undocumented Americans," delves into her new novel "Catalina," which follows an undocumented immigrant navigating college and her uncertain future. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and the complexities of immigration in America. Conejo explains her decision to write a novel instead of a memoir, citing her desire to explore a fictional world and create a character that embodies the complexities of undocumented immigration. She also discusses the influence of her own experiences and the impact of the Dream Act on her life. Conejo reflects on her decision to publish an anonymous essay about her experience as an undocumented immigrant at Harvard, describing the feeling of urgency and the need to share her story. She then discusses her decision to expand "The Undocumented Americans" beyond her own story, highlighting her desire to connect with other undocumented immigrants and challenge the dominant narrative surrounding their experiences. Conejo shares how a particular interview with a group of immigrant women in Miami deeply affected her, inspiring her to create a grandmother character in "Catalina" who embodies the strength, resilience, and complexity of immigrant women. She reflects on the impact of obtaining citizenship, describing the shift in her sense of security and the lingering fear of deportation. She acknowledges that her experiences as an undocumented immigrant have shaped her identity and continue to influence her perspective. Finally, Conejo discusses her desire to move beyond the topic of undocumented immigration in her future writing, expressing a desire to explore new themes and challenge expectations. She emphasizes her commitment to storytelling and her ongoing pursuit of mischief and creative exploration.
Outlines
Catalina: A Novel About Undocumented Immigration and the Journey to Citizenship
Carla Conejo, author of "The Undocumented Americans," discusses her new novel "Catalina," which follows an undocumented immigrant navigating college and her uncertain future. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and the complexities of immigration in America. Conejo also reflects on her own experiences as an undocumented immigrant and her journey to citizenship, highlighting the impact of the Dream Act and the lingering fear of deportation.
From Memoir to Fiction: The Evolution of Carla Conejo's Writing
Conejo explains her decision to write a novel instead of a memoir, citing her desire to explore a fictional world and create a character that embodies the complexities of undocumented immigration. She also discusses the influence of her own experiences and the impact of the Dream Act on her life.
The Power of Storytelling: Sharing Experiences and Challenging Narratives
Conejo reflects on her decision to publish an anonymous essay about her experience as an undocumented immigrant at Harvard, describing the feeling of urgency and the need to share her story. She then discusses her decision to expand "The Undocumented Americans" beyond her own story, highlighting her desire to connect with other undocumented immigrants and challenge the dominant narrative surrounding their experiences.
Finding Inspiration in Other Stories: The Impact of Interviews and Personal Experiences
Conejo shares how a particular interview with a group of immigrant women in Miami deeply affected her, inspiring her to create a grandmother character in "Catalina" who embodies the strength, resilience, and complexity of immigrant women. She also reflects on the impact of obtaining citizenship, describing the shift in her sense of security and the lingering fear of deportation.
Keywords
Catalina
"Catalina" is the title of Carla Conejo's new novel, which follows the story of an undocumented immigrant navigating college and her uncertain future. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and the complexities of immigration in America.
The Undocumented Americans
"The Undocumented Americans" is Carla Conejo's first book, a memoir that explores her own experiences as an undocumented immigrant in the United States. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award and received critical acclaim for its honesty and vulnerability.
Dream Act
The Dream Act is a proposed piece of legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. The Dream Act has been debated in Congress for over a decade, and its passage remains uncertain.
Immigration
Immigration is the movement of people from one country to another, often for reasons of economic opportunity, political asylum, or family reunification. Immigration is a complex and multifaceted issue with significant social, economic, and political implications.
Storytelling
Storytelling is the art of sharing stories, whether through spoken word, written text, or visual media. Storytelling is a fundamental human activity that allows us to connect with each other, share experiences, and learn from the past.
Identity
Identity is a complex and multifaceted concept that refers to the sense of self that individuals develop over time. It is shaped by a variety of factors, including personal experiences, social interactions, and cultural influences.
Family
Family is a fundamental social unit that plays a vital role in the lives of individuals. It provides support, love, and a sense of belonging.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a prestigious private Ivy League research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is known for its academic excellence and its historic role in American higher education.
Q&A
What inspired Carla Conejo to write "Catalina" as a novel rather than a memoir?
Conejo felt that she was still too young to write a memoir and that her most significant experiences were yet to come. She also wanted to explore a fictional world and create a character that embodied the complexities of undocumented immigration.
How did Conejo's own experiences as an undocumented immigrant influence the writing of "Catalina"?
Conejo drew heavily on her own experiences, particularly her time at Harvard and the impact of the Dream Act on her life. She also incorporated elements of her family's history and her own personal struggles with identity and belonging.
Why did Conejo choose to publish her essay about being an undocumented immigrant at Harvard anonymously?
Conejo felt a sense of urgency to share her story, even if it meant sacrificing anonymity. She believed that her story needed to be told, and she was willing to risk her own privacy to make that happen.
How did Conejo's experience of obtaining citizenship change her perspective on her identity and her life?
While obtaining citizenship brought a sense of security and relief, Conejo still feels a lingering fear of deportation. She acknowledges that her experiences as an undocumented immigrant have shaped her identity and continue to influence her perspective.
What are Conejo's plans for her future writing?
Conejo is eager to explore new themes and challenge expectations in her future writing. She is motivated by a sense of mischief and a desire to create stories that are both thought-provoking and entertaining.
Show Notes
Catalina Ituralde is the protagonist of the novel that bears her name, “Catalina.” In the summer before her senior year of college, she’s working as an intern at a prestigious literary magazine, and come fall she’ll be back at Harvard to plot her future. But, contrary to a life of comfort that this scenario suggests, Catalina’s situation is complicated and uncertain: she’s an undocumented immigrant, raised in Queens by her grandparents, and after graduation she might not have the privilege of choosing what job she takes. “Catalina” is the second book by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, who first gained attention with the essay “I’m an Illegal Immigrant at Harvard,” published anonymously in the Daily Beast; her first book, “The Undocumented Americans,” was a finalist for the National Book Award. Though Villavicencio has since become an American citizen, “There’s this Latin American paranoia that comes from my parents, [who] grew up under a dictatorship,” she tells David Remnick. “I’ve heard all of these stories . . . and then there’s also being undocumented here, where the idea that I could disappear at any time, my parents could disappear at any time – I don’t think that I’m necessarily capable of feeling that kind of permanence.”
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