About Me

Profile

About:

Greetings illustrious human beings!

My name is Andy Escobar, and I like you, I’m your friend, and your ally. I’m a Radio-Television-Film, Latin American Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies triple major with certificates in Latin@ Media Studies, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and LGBTQ/Sexuality Studies. You must be wondering what the heck I want to do with so many varied interests? I aspire to become a film director and screenwriter; I want to create socially conscious, progressive, and relevant films that shed light on marginalized communities to increase visibility. My ultimate life goal is to become the first Latino to win the Academy Award for Best Director and Screenwriter. I am a strong believer that media can affect perceptions/biases/socialization and I want to facilitate a positive change in which we perceive marginalized communities.

I come from a northwest suburb of Houston called Cypress. I grew up watching movies all the time and spending time with all of my cousins. My parents worked extremely hard to provide me with the opportunities that I am so blessed to have. Things have never been handed to me, and I've always worked immensely hard to be as fortunate as I am.

I’m a deeply emotional, loving, accepting, compassionate, social, and altruistic person. I'm left handed and I've been a vegetarian for over six years. My Meyers Briggs is ENFP and my “true color” is an extreme "blue." I am blessed to say I grew up and live with both of my parents, my younger brother, my two younger foster sisters, and my younger foster brother. I am a first generation college student and proud Chicano/Tejano/Mexican American! I live and breathe social justice – it’s one of my main passions in life. I live my life for others and to help others. There is so much space in this world and I believe we need to take it all up.

Why I Ride

Even while writing this, I get emotional. I get emotional because “cancer don’t care." Cancer affects all of us, directly or indirectly.

I ride for those who don't have a voice in this battle. For those who have been denied healthcare access due to the color of their skin or their cultural background, for their lack of access to money, because their gender identity does not match the one they were assigned at birth, since their disability doesn't allow them to travel to a healthcare provider, and so many more. I ride for anyone who is invisible, for the people that aren't thought about on a daily basis. I ride for those whom I advocate for everyday.

Cancer seems to be the only manifestation that can truly transcend differences and treat everyone equally. Why can’t we? I believe we should be able to celebrate our differences and acknowledge them, not shame them or be "blind" to them. Unfortunately, cancer illnesses and complications run deep in my history: family, friends, educators, and even myself.

Yes, I had my very own cancer scare. Luckily, I have the privilege to say that my tumor was benign. I remember the fear I felt when the doctors told me I might have cancer due to the excruciating pain I felt in my leg. I was shocked and scared for my life. I was only a freshman in high school, I had so much more that I wanted to do! Fortunately, after over a year of pain and a day spent in Texas Children’s Hospital filled with CAT scans and MRIs, I was told that my tumor was benign. “Thank God!” was my parents reaction as they sighed in relief. But I got to thinking of all the people in my life who I knew and will know that were actually afflicted by cancer, whose tumors were malignant and potentially metastasized. I felt a self-initiative to actively do something to fight for those people. I participated in Relay for Life, I raised money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and I worked to raise awareness of different forms of cancer and whom they affect. I plan to continue my efforts to alleviate those affected by cancer and to work with others to find a cure.

I ride for my abuelita, Onelia Garza, a breast cancer survivor. Someone who has always taught me to love and take care of those around me, especially my family. She continues to provide me with her wisdom, some laughs, and her compassion.

I ride for my tia, Rosa Anna Garza, a melanoma skin cancer survivor. Someone who has been like a second mom to me. A completely altruistic person who always goes out of her way to do things for our family. She's taught me what it means to be genuinely selfless.

I ride for my tia, Brenda Gonzalez, who is living with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Someone who has always loved everyone around her without judgement. She was recently diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a year ago. From the ALS Association, "a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed." She is so resilient and powerful. I continue to learn from her kindness.

I ride for the haters and the supporters alike because without them I'd have no motivation to move forward.

I ride because I want my siblings and future children to be able to live in a world without cancer and inequality.

I ride because social justice is needed, even amongst folks who are affected by cancer.