Breaking Out of the Bubble

By Francisco Villaruel

As a Chicano growing up in Los Angeles — and later navigating the state systems — my world was often confined to a small bubble. For much of my life, I could not see beyond certain city blocks or cell blocks. The system shaped my vision, limiting it to what it allowed me to see: black and white.

Since my release six years ago, I have been introduced to a wealth of ideas, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world. That has been an amazing experience, yet I still often felt as if I was stuck inside that same bubble.

Time moved forward, and I found myself standing in front of communities across Los Angeles, urging people to stop voting for things — or against things — that ultimately harmed their own neighborhoods. Yet I could not understand why so many continued down that path. Once again, my vision had narrowed to black and white.

What I needed was a global perspective.

This summer, I had the honor of attending the AFS Youth Assembly in New York City as a delegate representing UCLA. Meeting people from across the world, hearing their struggles, and learning from their ideas was transformative. Among the many incredible voices I encountered was Saji Prelis, Director of Children & Youth Programs at Search for Common Ground, Co-Chair, Global Coalition, Youth, Peace, and Security. His words on peace-building and global cooperation were powerful and inspiring. People left his talks motivated, and I count myself among them.

What I took from this experience is clear: These kinds of assemblies are not just valuable — they are necessary. They remind us that we must learn from one another, not only as nations, but as human beings seeking peace, justice, and prosperity. They pull us out of our bubbles and open our eyes to the wider world — and to the solutions that can only be found when we face global challenges together.