References have References

In April of 2017, I made my first appearance as a conference presenter during a paper session at the American Educational Research Association's Annual Meeting (see "I am Because We Are Creative Equals" post). While at the meeting, I received a message from my advisor, Dr. Fournillier, to attend the "Promising Scholarship in Education: Dissertation Fellows and Their Research" poster session.
 
When I came in, I started out along the left wall and walked towards the back of the room looking at the posters and their authors, pausing to engage a few along the way. I reached the end of the row and met a Mexican-American doctoral student and discussed her work at length. Her study examined the volunteer work choices of high-achieving, Mexican-American students who elected to go to colleges in or near their community instead of schools that were a better "match" (schools with high selectivity). These students were recipients of full scholarships that provided them with the mobility to select any school, and they did not have to concern themselves with the cost of tuition. Whatever the price, it was covered.
 
After her elevator speech, we held a live working session on her conclusion. She was stuck on bringing together chapter five, so we talked out her findings, theories and the literature that spoke to or connected with what emerged. She was trying to put her finger on something. It was like the words were at the tip of her tongue, and I would not have been surprised if she blurted them out suddenly, but they just would not come together. So I asked her, "Is there something from your culture that can explain what you see here [tapping on the point of contention on her poster]?" I continued by providing a disclaimer, "Please excuse my ignorance, but something that comes to mind is 'Mi casa es su casa.' Is there a saying, tradition, or folktale that explains what you're seeing?" She exclaimed, "It's like Funds of Knowledge!" ​I responded that I was not familiar with it, but it sounded like she was on the right track. I encouraged her to look there, not knowing where there was myself, for an explanation.
 
Our session ended due to the formalities taking place in the center of the room (announcements, recognition of contributors, and a speech). I have not reconnected with this author, but I was excited to run into Funds of Knowledge while shopping for resources in my advisor's collection during the writing retreat (May 2018). I picked up my own copy soon thereafter.

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