An Open Letter to My Brother, My Hero

Dear Oj,

 First of all, I want to apologize for the delay. This should have been written a few weeks ago. Please don't let my tardiness be a reflection of a lack of great admiration for all your accomplishments. You are an amazing human being that I am so proud to be connected to. Many people, even those close to us, do not realize how hard it was for us growing up.

 I remember one day, about 15 years ago, I walked into your room and found you hiding, literally hiding in your own room. For a second (in my very adolescent mind) I thought, "Why is he hiding? He HAS his own room?" Then, the nurturer in me became so sad. I wished, and prayed for you to be able to make it out of that house. God knows I hated it there. There was so much going on. Having a sister addicted to drugs who often came home in a violent rage because our mother wouldn't give her money for more drugs and having a mom who was seemingly overwhelmed with her role in the family, wasn't easy. Oftentimes she wouldn't even talk to you, which broke my heart. Having a father who checked out almost as soon as he came home from work wasn't easy either. Who knows; he probably was tired of the conditions at his job, his crazy family and we all know, as people of color, fathers are supposed to provide shelter and food. Culture tells them, or told them, not to get too close; providing for his family was his sole responsibility. I just wanted you to get out of there and make it to a place where you didn't have to hide anymore.

You did it! Not only did you do it but you did it to the EXTREME!!! You did your homework by candlelight when the electricity was out. You spent more time in the library or at the local bookstore than you did at home because you were determined, determined to not only make it out, but to make it. You researched schools on your own and chose the best one for you (I won't say anything here). You did whatever it took and made it. Yes, we all (Mom, Dad, Grandma, Sern, the boys and I) moved you into your dorm but you did it. You managed to find your way in a place that didn't want you. People like us aren't wanted in universities like USC. Yet, you did it! Not only did you finish but you also graduated cum laude (or was it magna cum laude, I don't know much about those things). You also managed to find the perfect partner for you; the intelligent and beautiful Silvia Aviles who I'm sure contributed to your success. You did this all while preparing, and taking that dreadful LSAT and getting into the second highest rank, and arguably the best, law school in our nation. (Here's another school, about which, I'll withhold my comments.) Again, you were at a place that didn't really want you. I'm sure there were times when you wanted to hide but you managed to push yourself along. Probably too hard, I know there were times when you weren't eating right and suffered from toothaches, allergies, and even intestinal issues because you were working so hard and not taking care of yourself. Yet, you managed to finish, with a style and smoothness that only you possess. You finished and graduated while now preparing, at least mentally, for the dreaded BAR exam, obtaining a position at a very large law firm and, oh yeah, the wedding (the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended, I might add). You also managed to obtain a clerkship working with the Alaska Supreme Court where once again, you are being recognized for your talents and hard work by The Supreme Court justices.

 You are an amazing man, Oj! My eyes are tearing up now and every time I think of your abilities and accomplishments.

 Finally, I'll address your latest accomplishment. You passed the BAR exam!! What an amazing accomplishment. Amazing in the macro sense. On the micro level, everyone who knows you, knew you were going to pass. You are the hardest working and most talented person I have ever known. I'm sure everyone around you feels the same. (At least they better feel the same.) But, when you take a step back and look at this holistically, taking in all aspects of your life and how it has affected your educational career, you see a truly extraordinary man.

Oj, I cannot express my admiration and pride in words. It's overwhelming. You have done something for us that I am eternally grateful for. Serena and I just had a discussion about how USC was the first major university we ever hung out at. If it weren't for you getting the ball rolling, Bry and D wouldn't be as comfortable visiting big schools like UCLA, USC, Cal and Stanford. I only hope that their comfort does not get in the way of the drive you passed on to others, like Sern and myself. Sern and I were also talking a little about how we need to start our own UCLA recruiting for others in the family, especially a young cousin/sister woman named Nell. All credit goes to you, Oj. You started a path through a wilderness of weeds and rocks that would have been a lot easier to hide in, but instead you trudged through. Who knew, all those years ago, you would become the first Villalba to go to law school, graduate and become an attorney. Grandma would be so proud to call you a lawyer.

Because people like us don't usually become attorneys there has been and will continue to be obstacles at your firm next year. I really wish you would have told the doorman who thought you were a deliver/messenger person to f*#% off but I know you’re too cool for that; I'm the angry one in the family, not you. Even that incident, I know, won't stand in your way. (Wow, I now feel the urge to read Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You’ll Go.) You'll continue to succeed because that's who you are. Never will you need to hide again because you truly are an amazing man Oj!! Congratulations.

Love,

 your older sister and admirer, Ana