When you pick up an Underground Journal and look through the names of the art pieces, one thing you'll notice next to some names is a little star. That star signifies that particular piece has been recognized as an "Editor's Pick".

Among the incredible works of writing in the journal, there was one "Editor's Pick" that captured my eye. Aurora Ochoa's "Cheese in a Suitcase" evoked warmth, nostalgia, and longing as she beautifully recalled her memories of receiving treats brought back from her father's homeland of Honduras.

This perspective of her experience in a Hispanic-American family resonated with me and enthralled me to sit down with her to ask about her writing, perspectives, and Underground.

KC: Was this your first time being in the journal?- What made you want to submit this time?  

AO: Yes. Really, it was just my teacher suggesting it to me. I wouldn’t have even known about the underground otherwise. But I saw the Instagram post about the deadlines coming up, and I was like, wait, there’s really nothing to lose. I should submit!

KC: Exactly! Even learning about the acquisition process, your name isn’t on it! It’s completely anonymous. You have nothing to lose.  

KC: You said you’re a bit shy? Is that something that comes through when you share your writing, or is that a way you’re able to “shed the shyness”?

AO: I think it depends. Usually, when I write, it’s specifically for school assignments. We have to write a narrative, write a poem, or something like that. I never write for myself. I feel like it kind of goes away a little. I don’t know. Maybe I’m more comfortable with my teachers, or it’s just like, ‘I’m writing this and I’ll never see it again’. It’s not gonna hurt me, so I’m okay writing that rather than getting up and front and talking to a bunch of people. When I had to read it in front of the release party, that was actually terrifying! I was shaking and walking back to my chair [Aurora covers her face and shakes her head].

KC: It’s funny you say that because I know a few people read their works aloud, but the reason I chose you to interview was because yours was the one I vividly remembered the most! It stuck in my mind! Speaking more about your art, what is it that inspires it?

AO:  I’m not really sure if I can say I take inspiration from any specific author. I think in eighth grade we read a book by Sandra Cisneros. It was a book we had to read for class—a series of vignettes. But writing [“Cheese in a Suitcase”], I felt like I was really trying, not copying her, but I really liked her style. I feel like that maybe comes through in my writing. It was so long ago [that I read it] at this point, and I just write. It’s not something that’s super big in the back of my mind.  

KC: I guess it’s like a subconscious inspiration, maybe.  

AO: Yeah! And I didn’t go and read any of her other works, just that one.  

KC: Well, now I’m just curious, what is your favorite book that you’ve read?

AO: That’s a really hard question!  

KC: No, I understand!

AO: I haven’t been able to read a lot lately, but there is a book I read last year—The Black Tongue Thief. Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel following a morally grey character, kind of your basic fantasy storyline. But it was really funny, and I think it’s hard to write a book with humor like that.  

KC: You kind of already answered this, but do you remember a piece of writing that really pushed you into wanting to write? You mentioned Cisneros?

AO: I remember, it was The House on Mango Street. I don’t know what it was, but I really liked her writing.

KC: Oh yeah! That actually makes a lot of sense when reading “Cheese in a Suitcase” now. You said that was for a class, right?

AO: It was! It was for my English 1102 class. We had to write three personal narratives.  

KC: That piece for an 1102 class is crazy. That’s incredible. So what motivates you to write something like that?

AO: I feel like sometimes my best writing is when I’m upset, and in high school, one of the pieces I submitted for the Young Georgia Authors was about how much I loved my cat. And when she died, how much I loved her still. Or being upset at the things around me within my family. But with this specific story, my teacher asked us to write about happy things. ‘Cus she said ‘people usually write about sadness, if you could—write about something happy!’ So, this time, I was really reflecting on my family and living away from them.  

KC: I mentioned when we spoke before that I was really interested in the Hispanic/Latino perspective. I was interested in knowing if you ever have an internal debate when writing about your cultural experience. Are you writing for an imaginary audience that maybe won’t understand it, or is it more of a personal memory archive in your writing.

AO: I’m definitely writing without taking into consideration who is reading it. It’s specifically for me in that way. I’m using references that make sense to me because I’ve been exposed to them. A lot of other people may have no idea what I’m talking about. That could be an area of disconnect. But as a copyeditor for the Underground now, reading other people’s writing, I realize that probably a lot of my writing might be a little confusing! But I write it from my own memories.  

KC: Of course. I mean, when I read it, I didn’t feel any disconnect! Of course, I’m also Latina, so I have that experience as well. There wasn’t anything that couldn’t be understood. Even if someone doesn’t have the same background, you still write in a way that is so warm and familiar that it doesn’t matter. It’s almost a painful nostalgia (despite being written as a ‘happy’ piece); there is a little bit of aching in it.  

AO: Yeah, especially since it is about missing my family and not being able to see them as much. That hurt!

KC: Yeah, but that’s what I like about narratives like this. Especially with this being in a literary journal for college students. That feeling of yearning and aching for comfort, that won’t be exclusive to only a specific background. Missing home is universal. I think it worked perfectly. You don’t have to explain it, you just show it.

AO: Thank you!

KC: Building on that, how do you feel when you read works about Hispanic/Latino experiences? Do you think you can tell when it doesn’t feel authentic, or is that something that just comes out naturally?

AO: I think, yes, not everyone’s gonna pick up on it. But some works just feel weird.

KC: An internal cringe, almost!

AO: Yeah! I worried about that with my own writing. I was unsure of how I was coming across. I know it’s my experience, but since only my dad is Latino, I grew up pretty disconnected. I wasn’t fully able to speak Spanish at the level of a native speaker. It’s different. I sort of feel like an imposter as well. I worry that it comes off in my writing like that because I recognize when some writing does come across that way. Where they're writing it with an idea that people outside of that culture already have.  

KC: Yeah, but I think you do avoid that. Like you said, you’re writing for yourself, so you’re not trying to write for someone who doesn’t understand your experience. You’re not writing for an audience that needs to be told what your culture means.  

What would you say your biggest achievement with your writing is?  

AO: I’m not sure if I can say that I’ve had that yet! I think my submission to Underground would be my biggest achievement, at this point. I submitted things in high school, but it never really went far. It wasn’t something I was shooting for. It was more like ‘whatever happens, happens’.

KC: Well, speaking on that, how do you think the Underground has benefitted you in that artistic journey?

AO: I think it’s opened me up to other areas within GSU. I didn’t even know about [Underground] until recently, when my professor told me about it. Even though I’m still pretty new to the Underground, it’s nice to know that there are different communities and that I can meet new people and have that space.  

KC: Do you plan to submit again?  

AO: I haven’t really thought about! I’ve completed English 1102, so it would take something else for me to sit down and write.  

KC: I think you should submit again! I know it was something for an assignment, but it was an “Editor’s Pick” in the journal!  

AO: I did see that when they sent me the email, it said ‘you were also editor’s choice and we would like you to read it [at the journal launch party]!

KC: Yes! I think you should submit! Lastly, as someone who has submitted their work, why should other students submit to Underground?

AO: I think you should submit because sometimes the arts get lost, especially in higher education, it may not be seen as important, because art careers can be more difficult. But, while you can enjoy and share it with people, especially with something like Underground, a student-led magazine, it’s something different. Being able to share and interact with other people in this way. It’s not always an opportunity you’re gonna have outside of college. Be involved while you can! It’s possibly more accessible now than later in life.