People of the Mercado

Jessica’s childhood was difficult, but with her grandmother’s encouragement, she overcame adversity and pursued a career in nursing, which she later sacrificed to heal from the most devastating loss in her life.

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Tragedy marred Jessica’s existence even before her birth in Guatemala City, resulting in the absence of her biological mother and father from her life. At only a few months old, Jessica was sent to live with her grandmother in San Francisco La Unión, a small town in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala. Jessica’s grandmother, Paula Chávez Gómez, became a lifeline and the only mother figure she and her two sisters ever knew. Jessica suffered oppressive harassment throughout her childhood that caused her to question her self-worth, but her grandmother’s constant love and encouragement motivated her to seek purpose in life. One of Jessica’s happiest memories is her nursing school graduation and seeing how proud her grandmother was of her accomplishment.

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Jessica’s life had turned around; she felt fulfilled working as a nurse with special needs children and enjoyed precious moments alongside her grandmother, such as going for walks to church, enjoying a cup of coffee, and her warm embrace. This happiness would be short-lived as Jessica’s grandmother, her best friend, and confidant became ill and passed away. Her grandmother's death sent Jessica spiraling into a depression, which was her impetus to migrate to the United States, hoping for a new start. At 20 years old, Jessica and her younger sister made the month-long journey together, and after spending cold nights sleeping in the forest, losing personal belongings, and enduring hunger, they eventually made it safely to Los Angeles.

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Today, Jessica works at Chichén Itzá restaurant in Mercado La Paloma and is grateful for her colleagues whose unconditional support and friendship have helped her heal. Jessica is living her best life, meeting new people, and taking up sports such as running and boxing. She is content with her life in Los Angeles but continues to be intentional about preserving her language and culture. Jessica proudly wears her vibrant traditional clothing when the opportunity arises and hopes to visit Guatemala one day. Her biggest dream is to help her family, including her biological mother, with whom she has reacquainted.