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8th grade student from Los Altos, CA

My SIP Odyssey: Magonistas, Mexican Marvels, and Pizzas
By Ayaan Dhruv

As the sun-drenched days of summer arrived, I found myself immersed in an enriching experience that would forever shape my understanding of history, leadership, and collaboration. Through my SIP journey at the University of Santa Cruz , I explored the depths of the Mexican Revolution and the impact of the Magonistas, an anarchist group amidst the transformation of Mexico. At the heart of my SIP experience were eight-action-packed weeks of researching, creating, and fun times.

At the beginning of the internship, we did fascinating research to understand the Mexican Revolution and all the characters involved. Meeting at UCSC for my SIP internship brought history alive through firsthand engagement with primary and secondary sources. I got to delve deep into so many materials, from newspapers and interviews from the Magonistas group, to a new book diving deep into the effects of the Magonistas. The physical act of handling these sources added a deeper dimension to my research, enabling me to step back in time and experience history in a unique way. UCSC’s environment fostered a dynamic research experience with my group members and mentor, Mr. Cruz.

Taking notes meant more than mere documentation; it was an act of immersion. Each note captured a piece of the puzzle, a fragment of insight that would eventually contribute to the bigger picture. Reading an interview and then reading a chapter of a book led me to discover similarities with writing styles, content, and characters. The stories of Mexican Revolution activists and change-makers could be woven together to create a fabric that reflected the complexity of the Revolution.

Collaboration was a pivotal experience in my SIP journey too! I got to create a shared notes document for my team members, which became a space for ideas to intertwine, where knowledge was shared freely. Amid our shared pursuit of knowledge, we discovered the value of interpersonal connections. I learned that collaboration is not just about ideas, but also about forging connections. My fondest memory was going to a pizzeria in downtown Santa Cruz and eating pizza with my group members and Mr. Cruz while talking more about our project!
Next was the heart of our project: crafting a research paper that explored into the Mexican Revolution and the role of the Magonistas during this transformative period. Guided by the insights of my mentor and by the collaboration of my fellow interns, we embarked on the meticulous task of outlining the research paper. Each section was thoughtfully orchestrated, serving as a palette for our combined exploration. It was such a great experience to create something so spectacular while getting to hear so many perspectives and ideas!

The final day arrived, a culmination of weeks of exploration and discovery. Standing alongside my fellow interns, we shared our collective findings with a sense of accomplishment–our voices united to tell the tales of the Magonistas and the Mexican Revolution. In that moment, I realized that the stories we tell have the power to shape one’s understanding of the past and inspire our journey into the future.

As my SIP experience comes to an end, I carry with me the knowledge that history isn’t confined to textbooks; it’s a living mosaic woven from stories and experiences. SIP has been a transformative chapter in my journey, teaching me that research is more than data; it’s a quest to uncover stories that have been present for centuries. From research paper outlines to shared notes, from leadership to collaboration, SIP has bestowed upon me a treasure trove of insights that will forever guide my path.

Thank you to Professor. Raja Guhathakurta for his wisdom and support, Mr. Anand Lallria and Ms. Lindsay Lauver for their tireless work, and Mr. Carlos Cruz for his mentorship and guidance.