Hometown: San Salvador, El Salvador, moved to Culver City, California at age 5
Major: political science
Future plans: attending graduate school in the fall at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with the goal of becoming a professor

Why did you decide to come to UCI?
I decided to come to UCI after attending a college visit day for newly admitted Latina/o students called Raza Day. It was an event that was put together by the student organization MEChA and featured a number of faculty, current students and alumni. I was particularly inspired by a UCI alumna who spoke about her academic journey into a Ph.D. program and whose experiences closely reflected mine. Her speech motivated me to attend UCI and encouraged me to pursue higher education in spite of a multitude of challenges and barriers. The event was significant for me because I witnessed how people who reflected the members of my community achieved academic success, pursued professional advancement, and advocated for the betterment of their communities.    

What challenges have you faced in your pursuit of a higher education?
As a former AB 540/ undocumented student, navigating college without federal financial aid and limited familial assistance have been the most challenging endeavors so far. Throughout my college career I worked multiple part-time positions and applied to numerous scholarships in order to finance my education.

At a very young age, the pursuit for a better life was irreversibly engrained in my being. While I faced a multitude of barriers and challenges associated with my undocumented status, I refused to yield to adversity. Instead I decided to transform my initial frustrations into proactive initiatives that aim to address the needs of underserved and underrepresented immigrant communities. In addition, I sought the mentorship and guidance of a number of peers, academic counselors and faculty who were instrumental in helping me bridge my academic and social advocacy interests.      

Have you received any major awards and/or scholarships to help fund your education?
Throughout my time at UCI, I have received several scholarships and fellowships that helped me fund my education. Among the most significant: the MALDEF DREAM Activist Scholarship, sponsored by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and awarded to students demonstrating exemplary service, leadership, and advocacy work for the DREAM Act, and the Young People For (YP4) Fellowship, sponsored by People for the American Way Foundation. I was nominated to engage in a long-term national network of progressive leaders to encourage civic participation among youth. I was also awarded the Manuel N. Gomez Endowed Scholarship for participating in an academic enrichment program and demonstrating exemplary academic and community outreach. I participated in the Summer Education Advancement Program (SERP) as a research fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and most recently I was selected as a recipient of the UCI Order of Merit and the Alice B. Macy Outstanding Undergraduate Paper Award.

What activities have you been involved with while at UCI?
I participate in on-campus and community organizations that focus on facilitating student engagement in academic advancement, community outreach, and civic participation. I have become exposed to the underlying social issues affecting underprivileged youth and the social implications they endure as members of underserved communities while working with community spaces including the UCLA Labor Center in Los Angeles and El Centro Cultural de Mexico in the predominantly Latina/o working-class city of Santa Ana. On campus, I have been involved with student groups such as MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanao de Aztlan) and DREAMS (Development, Relief and Education Act for Alien Minors) at UCI. Additionally, I have participated as a student intern and teaching assistant for Global Connect and the UCI Saturday Academy of Law. Most recently, I served as a college mentor for a high school out-reach program called La Escuelita. In addition, I serve as the academic research co-manager for the Social Science Academic Resource Center (SSARC) where I assist students in developing a better comprehension of the research process while motivating them to pursue their research interests at a graduate-level.

What has been the focus of your research?
Under the guidance of Jeanett Castellanos, SSARC director and social science lecturer, I conceptualized an honors thesis investigating the social and educational processes of Latina/o undocumented students. The study considers multiple psychological, social and cultural variables that may influence academic persistence among Latina/o undocumented students within the University of California system. Through a combination of in-depth interviews and psychometric surveys with a sample of Latina/o undocumented undergraduate students, this mixed methods investigation reveals the educational journeys of undocumented students and the institutional initiatives and propositions that can be undertaken to serve the critical needs of this population.

Additionally, under the mentorship of Stacey Lee, educational policy professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I conceptualized a pilot study seeking to understand the academic and personal experiences of undocumented Asian Pacific Islander (API) undergraduate students in post-secondary institutions.

Who has played an important role in getting you to where you are today?
My mother and my sister are the most important people in my life and the people that consistently motivate and encourage me to pursue better opportunities. In addition, Jeanett Castellanos and Caesar Sereseres have provided academic counsel, dedicated mentorship, and unwavering support that have proved instrumental in shaping me into a research scholar and community advocate. Under their guidance, I have engaged in graduate-level research and have come to understand the importance of pursuing a graduate degree for the fulfillment of my dreams and the betterment of my community.