At just 12 years old, Arianna Carias is pursuing a dream many adults take years to achieve: becoming a writer. Her goal goes beyond seeing her name in print; she aims to create stories that offer comfort and escape, especially for voices often left unheard, like those of Latina women. Arianna’s journey began with frustration over the lack of books representing her culture, sparking her passion for storytelling.
Through musical theater, a film class and her online platform «Tales With Ari,» Arianna is laying the foundation for success. Her experiences during the pandemic deepened her love for storytelling as a means of escape. Supported by Esperanza Academy, she continues to grow, receiving valuable feedback and opportunities to improve her craft.
Driven by a desire to empower others, especially from her cultural background, Arianna uses her writing to give her peers a voice and push herself to improve. Her journey so far reflects resilience and a passion for bridging cultural gaps through storytelling. At a young age, Arianna is already proving that stories have the power to uplift communities and change perspectives.
What goal or dream are you currently pursuing? What steps have you taken, or plan to take, to reach your goal or dream?
The dream I am currently pursuing is to become a writer/author to give others a safe place to escape their troubles and to create characters I can relate to. To do this, I have been writing my own novel. I have also learned a different type of storytelling through a film class. I do musical theater, where I tell the stories of many different characters. During COVID, I shared my love of reading through an Instagram page where I read children’s books.
Tell us about the journey that led you to your current goal/dream.
In 2018, I attended a Black Girl Magic conference where I noticed that I couldn’t find any books about Latinos. This made me angry and gave me the idea to write a book about powerful Latina women. Unfortunately, I haven’t accomplished this dream yet, but I would like to in the future. During COVID, I started an Instagram page called “Tales With Ari” (@taleswithari), where I read children’s books online. Reading these books helped me escape the world we were living in at the time. I was able to immerse myself in someone else’s world for a while. This greatly developed my love for reading and storytelling. In school, I saw a poster that said in 2015, only 2.4% of books featured Latino characters or had anything to do with Latin culture. In 2018, that number increased to only 5%. This made me sad and fueled my desire to tell stories about my people. That experience solidified my decision to become a writer, sharing the voices that often go unheard.
How has your experience at Esperanza Academy supported you in your pursuit of your goal/dream?
Esperanza Academy has provided me with a lot of positive support for my writing. My teachers often tell me they are eager to read my work and give me useful feedback to help me improve. They are always willing to assist. In my film class, I participated in a national film contest hosted by HITN and won. When I met with the President of HITN, I was told that my writing was what set me apart. In my film, I told the story of Billy Ocasio, who opened the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. He wasn’t well-known despite his significant contributions to preserving Latino culture, no matter where people are. Without this film class, I wouldn’t have learned a new way to tell a story. Overall, Esperanza Academy has been incredibly supportive of my dream through both encouragement and education.
What are some ways that you strive to be a role model for your peers?
When it comes to my peers, I work hard and constantly strive to write to the best of my ability. I am always looking for ways to improve, and I never give up. I also include my peers in my stories in a positive way, empowering them and giving them a voice through my writing. I take on challenges, no matter how difficult they may seem, which inspires others to do the same.
