Meet Ariadna Sánchez Hernández

We were lucky to catch up with Ariadna Sánchez Hernández recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ariadna , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose the moment I realized that education could be both an act of resistance and a path to healing. I was born and raised in Ejutla de Crespo, a rural community in Oaxaca, Mexico, where many women—especially after marriage—put their dreams on hold. When I immigrated to Los Angeles 20 years ago, I believed my path was already set: to be a housewife, a mother, the angel of the house. But everything shifted one afternoon at the local library, when a librarian mentioned there was an adult school nearby where I could learn English. That simple moment lit a spark. With the support of my husband and sons, I began taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, which led to my General Educational Development (GED), a high school diploma, an Associate of Arts degree, and eventually, a university degree.

Today, I am a graduate student pursuing my Master’s in Spanish—the first in my family to reach this milestone. My purpose is rooted in my own journey and in the stories of the women who came before me—women who had so much to offer but lacked opportunity. I want to become a Spanish professor because I know there are many Ariadnas out there who just need someone to believe in them. Education gave me my voice—and now, I want to help others find theirs.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m proud to be the author of Visitas inesperadas, a Spanish-language poetry collection that received the 2024 International Latino Book Award in the Poetry category, and La jugada del día, a children’s book that celebrates baseball, family, and the power of dreaming big—regardless of where you come from or what you look like.

My work is deeply rooted in storytelling, language, and cultural memory. Through poetry, children’s literature, and community workshops, I strive to create inclusive spaces where all voices are not only heard but genuinely celebrated.

What excites me most about what I do is the opportunity to honor my roots while building bridges across communities through language and literature. I see my work as a form of human connection—one that fosters understanding, healing, and transformation.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, curiosity, and optimism.

Resilience allowed me to keep going even when the path felt uncertain or when I believed I didn’t belong in certain spaces—while learning a new language or navigating the educational system. I learned to embrace challenges as part of the process, not as signs of failure.

Curiosity pushed me to keep asking questions, to seek help when I felt lost, and to trust that every step—no matter how small—was meaningful. Whether in ESL classes or at book events, my curiosity kept me grounded in the joy of learning.

And optimism helped me imagine a future beyond my immediate circumstances. Even in moments of doubt or difficulty, I held onto the hope that things could get better—that my dreams were possible and within reach. That mindset is what continues to push me forward.

For those early in their journey, my advice is this: Be patient with yourself. Trust your process. Surround yourself with people who believe in you—and when you can, be that person for someone else. Ask for help when needed, stay open to learning, and never underestimate the power of your story.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been learning how to cope with grief and turning to writing as a safe space for healing. After losing my father a year ago, I began to embrace writing not just as a creative outlet, but as a refuge—one where I could process pain and reconnect with my purpose. For many years, I doubted whether my experiences were worthy of being shared. But this past year, releasing my children’s book La jugada del día—a tribute to my father—helped me build confidence in my voice as a writer and reminded me of the power of storytelling to inspire and uplift others.

This creative process became a balm, a quiet place of peace, and a way to spread hope to others who may be navigating similar losses. I’ve grown more comfortable sharing my perspective and showing up as my true self, while also encouraging others to tell their stories. I believe that being vulnerable is a powerful step toward becoming the best version of ourselves—and that belief continues to shape how I show up in every space I enter.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos by Jose A. Jarquin (@sonajero_pachanguero) & Mateo Jarquin

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