Naya Rivera Tribute

By: Riley Esquejo

Although I never knew her personally, I looked up to Naya Rivera. She was a role model whose death broke the hearts of many people. Finn Hudson and Santana Lopez were two of my favorite characters when I first started watching Glee. Season five came along, and we were struck by the death of Cory Monteith. Then, exactly seven years later, we were struck by Rivera’s disappearance which, in the end, led to her demise. Even the way she died sent chills down my spine as if this year wasn’t already filled with tragedies. This whole year is a tragedy. 

Nobody could have played Santana Lopez the way Naya Rivera did. She had a strong and fierce personality both on- and off-screen. She played an LGBTQ+ character beautifully and became the epitome of acceptance. She filled my mind with optimism and warmed my heart with laughter.

Not only was she an actress and a singer, but she was also a mother. Rivera saved her child that day. I think that we get so caught up in her glorious moments on Glee that we sometimes forget that she was much more than that. She is a hero, who sacrificed herself for the wellbeing of her son. Her legacy will live on, as well as her name. Naya Rivera.