This piece is a sad piece but it helps the listener to learn a lot about immigration. It makes me realize even more how fortunate americans are to be living here, especially if you were born here. Maria is an illegal immigrant who has risked her life and gone through so much just to live in the United States. She began doing hard labor when she was four and had to live in tough conditions. The music in this piece is really important because it gives you a feel of Maria's culture in some wierd way. However this piece was a bit depressing and I would have liked to hear a more balanced point of view, like more of the positive things that happened when she came to the US. But I like the point she brought up when she said people dont ever ask WHY immigrants came over here, or what their stories are in terms of how they got here. It'd be interesting to hear more from another American student's point of view as an improvement to the piece. I like how at the end the author gave her own opinion about immigrants and the whole racist conflict going on. I just wish this poem could be a little less sorrowful and at least give the listener a sense of hope in the ending or a proposed solution would be nice.~Sasha*

Way to go, producing this during the day of the intensive! At least I'm guessing that was the time frame. Well delivered, well organized. Maria was so real to me while listening to her. so vulnerable. I loved hearing her answers and thoughts as she formed them for her peer - that's something I only hear when one teen is talking to another. I loved the choice of music in this piece, as well as the part and timing it playing in moving the piece along. There was a point in the middle where my attention wandered a little bit, but then I was sucked back in when Maria described what it was like to come into the country illegally. Some of the production was a little rough, especially levels. But that's forgiveable given production time.