The First Generation Plus Success Center hosted an open mic and art show event in honor of Women’s History Month on Thursday night. Art pieces from USC students lined the inside of the First Generation Plus Success Center at Tutor Campus Center. Artist bios and descriptions of the pieces were posted next to each piece for attendees to read.

Elisa Cabello, the center supervisor at the First Generation Plus Success Center, opened the night by reading aloud her poem titled “Forget Me Not,” following the event’s Forget-Me-Not theme, a flower seen as a symbol of remembrance and a tribute to those who have left their homelands in search of a better future.

The night was designed to empower first-generation students by giving them a platform to showcase their talents. Artists whose work was displayed presented their piece, explaining the inspiration behind it and the narratives that were portrayed.

Jesus Moran, a graduate student studying digital media management, presented a piece titled “Amor eterno,” meaning “eternal love.” 

Moran grew up near USC, describing the University as a “home” to him before becoming a student, due to his frequent visits to the campus fields to play soccer. He said art has always been a part of his life, largely influenced by the friends he grew up with, who saw art as a cheap and accessible form of expression.

The written description of his piece read: “a mother hugging a newborn. A symbol of first love and everything women/mothers go through in order for their children to be successful.”

“It’s a symbol of unconditional love. Your mom is your first love, and she’s the first one that gives you your hugs, your warmth, your home,” Moran said. “It’s something that you just don’t forget: your mom and your mom’s love. As you get older and go on your own journey, mom is always mom.”

Aaliyah Pitts, a graduate student studying law, submitted a piece inspired by overcoming a tough time in her life, celebrating and acknowledging the pain in doing so.

“It’s an eye looking inward and seeing now this woman that’s been through so much, growing wings and kind of transcending that experience but also finding hope in dark times,” Pitts said about her piece. “I like to intertwine mental health and transcending tough times … finding hope and resilience through them.”

Two other pieces were on display, including work from Ximena Sanchez Martinez, a doctoral student studying psychology. Her piece was a photograph inspired by her undergraduate thesis written at Stanford, which focused on the challenges undocumented students faced in pursuing higher education.

Moran, Pitts and Martinez all heard about the event either via a newsletter or through Instagram, and each took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their art.

“It’s nice to see everyone’s work and talk to people about their art and things that matter to them,” Pitts said. “I also think it’s nice to have these forums especially because we all have different backgrounds and [go to] different schools at USC … We would never get to interact if I didn’t come to events like this.”

Martinez and Moran both said it feels hard to find a community on campus as a grad student, and this event helped them to find that.

“I don’t understand how the clubs work here or organizations, so it was just nice to be here in community with students,” Martinez said.