(Bernadette) Carmela Chavez:  

Born in Estancia, New Mexico in 1950, my family moved to Albuquerque's Barelas neighborhood in 1956, where life revolved around home, school, and church. I attended Catholic schools like my seven siblings, and aspired to sainthood, the convent, and teaching until Vatican II was convened, creating a more open atmosphere. Catholics began to engage in a more independent thinking process, learning much from members of other faiths. By the time I began studying at Albuquerque High School, I was exposed to a wider set of beliefs. Like many others of my generation, I developed my own personal approach, incorporating broad values, principles, and a deeply meaningful appreciation of symbolism, ritual and prayer. I graduated from high school in 1968 after running for class president and winning a close race. 15 years later it was revealed that the principal of our school had announced that my opponent won the election, because he thought I wouldn't be the best choice. The vote count has remained secret for all these years. The administrator who told me about it said that at the time of the school election (1967), he had been told that he would be fired from his job if he told anyone. By the time I heard the news, he had become principal of another school, and no longer feared being fired. At the University of New Mexico, where I earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences, I was a student government leader and a political activist. My achievements were many, and it was an intense experience. Once I got beyond the challenge of finding financial aid, developing new friendships, and making good grades, I threw myself with great enthusiasm into student activities and politics. The UNM student newspaper, the Daily Lobo, covered and advertised and featured so many items related to my activities that I became a bit of a campus celebrity. One of the university vice presidents told me that I ran for student government president twice because I "really wanted to be president of the United States". My school presidential hopes were dashed, but I was admitted to Harvard Law School in 1974. When I entered law school, I wanted to focus on the problem of designing social institutions that would reflect an enlightened and positive view of humanity, the individual and the planet. My political agenda seemed to be only a matter of time and the progressive realization of worthwhile pre-determined goals. Over the years, political reality has more than challenged my optimism, but I developed a dogged determination to keep working toward the goal of reaching the...Expand for more