December 20, 2023
Yearning for Inner Serenity, Natalia Oseida’s Metamorphosis
By John Myers
By Diana Villano
Adolescence can be the most frantic yet sublime experience in a person’s life. As kids, we tend to wonder what tomorrow, and the years to follow, will bring. Young adults reflect on their teenage years as the prime of their rebellion or the emergence of independence and discovery. For Natalia Oseida it was anything but a tender meadow, rather an overwhelming sea of responsibility and confusion.
It may be 10 minutes after 4:00 on a weekday when you might catch Oseida walking down the street wearing her purple long-sleeve top, medium-rise denim jeans, black Converse, and a hint of purple eyeshadow. Or perhaps you might be mesmerized by her 2000’s inspired outfits. Such as her fetch impression of Regina George; a black top, low-rise bootleg jeans, and classic Y2K off-white chunky sneakers. She walks gracefully and assuredly. Nonetheless, under this level of composure surfaces a young 16-year-old who struggles to feel a sense of tranquility.
An honor student, eldest daughter, and a role model, Oseida takes pride in who she is. Using her voice and dialect skills, Oseida tackles difficult situations that cross her path. During global Socratic seminars, she quickly formulates her phrases when randomly called on, receiving an “excellent participation today Natalia,” comment from her teacher. Being bilingual, she naturally avails immigrants by demonstrating how to use the latest technology and aids her parents when they struggle to communicate with their partnering organizations. Despite her efforts, the workload continues to pile up.
During the pandemic, Oseida and her family would preach in the park. As time passed, Natalia became distressed by the possibility that her father could catch the virus. “He was in a vulnerable position, and I was against this idea. There was always a chance of him coming home wounded.”
Through precaution and determination, La Iglesia Evangélica de la Buena Semilla was built and will soon reach its 2nd anniversary. The establishment of the church made her the priest’s daughter. This weight of responsibility drowned her. “Natalia is well-spoken. She deals with the circumstances steadily and calmly. She is a quick thinker, a nurturer, and an adviser. But, as the smart girl that she is, adults tend to forget she is only 16 years old,” Giannie, best friend of Natalia, says. Natalia must attend every mass on the weekends. This can lead to stress and continuous headaches. Nonetheless, Natalia keeps her composure and holds her head high.
“She is poised, observant, and mostly she looks pleasantly engaged in conversation. She has a good poker face,” is how a teacher describes her during class. Juggling both extracurriculars and academics, Natalia has endeavored to leave time to herself. “Even though my days are packed, I attempt to do a few hobbies to distract myself”. Whether it’s crocheting hand warmers for the winter, or carefully double-stitching mushroom keychains for her friends, Oseida is mindful of her actions while still maintaining her duties.
Natalia Oseida’s mind may spiral from time to time but by focusing on what keeps her sane, crocheting, or pocketing a downtown girl aesthetic, Natalia slowly finds herself a mild pond to rest by.
