Mateo Lara is currently pursuing a degree in English Literature and Language at Cal State Bakersfield. He has recently published his first collection of poems, entitled “Keta-Miha and Other Poems.” He is of Mexican-American heritage and endeavors to incorporate his ethnic identity into his writing. He also draws inspiration from his “real life experiences filled with pain, color, and everything in between.” From Mateo: “Reality meets fantasy in my world.”