When James Paredes walked into his kindergarten classroom in Los Angeles, he didn’t understand a word of English. He had just moved from Mexico, and everything—from the language to the culture was new.

“I was way behind, and my teacher told my parents to take me to the library every day,” he recalls.

They did. James spent hours at story times, listening to audiobooks and flipping through picture books, slowly building the skills he’d need not just to get by, but to thrive.

Today, he’s preparing to graduate from UC Irvine with an astonishing four majors: business economics; political science; criminology, law and society; and social ecology. He’s completed research fellowships, interned in Washington, D.C., led the Latino Business Student Association, conducted fieldwork in Mexico, and participated in the Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP).

But none of that matters to him as much as the people who got him here.

“When I work hard, it really reflects what my parents sacrificed for me. They always said, ‘Your only job is to focus on school.’ I owe them everything,” Paredes says.

A new lens

Paredes arrived at UC Irvine in fall 2020—one of many students starting college during the COVID-19 pandemic. He enrolled as a criminology major with dreams of going into law enforcement. But that path quickly shifted.

“As we were having these national conversations about police reform, I realized I wanted to be someone who solved problems,” he says.

Motivated by that shift in perspective, he added business economics to better understand financial systems, social ecology to explore how those systems affect people and communities, and eventually political science to examine institutions of power. Each new major added complexity to his academic load—but also brought new clarity to his goals.

“I like to be informed before forming opinions,” he says. “Every class I took gave me a new lens to think about social issues.”

His intellectual talent and curiosity haven’t gone unnoticed.

“James is mature and professional beyond his years,” says sociology assistant professor Irene Vega. “When I was onboarding him as my research assistant, I was so impressed by all the ideas he brought to the table. I knew the project would benefit from his leadership and can-do attitude.”

Vega first met Paredes in an online summer course. He visited her office hours to talk about class topics—and his future. Almost a year later, they’re working side-by-side on a research project focused on immigration and higher education.

“He’s always looking for new opportunities to build his skills and help people,” she says.

Beyond the classroom

While juggling a 16- to 20-unit course load—plus heavy summer schedules—Paredes still found time to take learning beyond the classroom.

In 2023, he joined the inaugural cohort of UC Irvine’s Social Ecology Field Study Abroad program, a hybrid research and service-learning experience in Guanajuato, Mexico. For three weeks, he and a small group of students worked with local nonprofit Fundación Vamos México and Centro Fox, shadowing civic engagement programs and gathering data on their community impact.

“For me, it was deeply personal,” he says. “I grew up in Mexico, and going back to do research and give back in a meaningful way—especially in communities that reminded me of my own childhood—was powerful.”

Later that year, he applied to the UCDC program, UC’s academic internship program in Washington, D.C. There, he worked as a research intern at Public Citizen, a nonprofit that focuses on government accountability and equitable trade.

Paredes focused on U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade relations, writing memos on topics like genetically modified corn bans and tariff impacts. He still works for the organization remotely.

“It was very relevant work, and very connected to my interests,” he says. “The opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world policy—it made everything click.”

Paredes also found time to participate in the School of Social Sciences SAEP program, an intensive research and professional development experience for students from underrepresented backgrounds. His project examined how policies designed to support undocumented students in California’s public universities are experienced by students firsthand.

“I found that many students still face major challenges, like academic alienation, constant stress, and a real sense of disillusionment when it comes to their futures,” says Paredes.

Start small, build, and expand

If you ask Paredes how he managed to balance four majors, three internships, research assistantships, and leadership roles he’s quick to point to the support he’s received.

He credits the support he received from faculty like Vega, as well as campus offices like the Latinx Resource Center, the Office of Civic Engagement, and the Field Study Office in the School of Social Ecology.

“Because of UCI, my dreams became possibilities,” he says. “Wherever I go, I want to leave something better than I found it. That’s always been my mindset.”

That mindset shapes his vision for the future. Paredes plans to take a gap year or two to work—potentially in education, immigration advocacy, or nonprofit leadership—before applying to Ph.D. programs. Long term, he hopes to work in higher education leadership or public service, possibly even as a university chancellor or the U.S. Secretary of Education.

“I like to think in scales,” he says. “Start small, build, and expand. But always with intention.”

As he reflects on his time at UC Irvine, it’s the full circle moments that mean the most. He recently reconnected with the kindergarten teacher who encouraged his parents to take him to the library—and now she’s planning to attend his college graduation. For Paredes, it’s moments like these that are proof that every sacrifice made on his behalf was worth it.

“It means the world to share these moments with the people who made them possible,” he says. “The sacrifices my parents made—they’re the reason I’m here. That’s the legacy I want to build.”

-Jill Kato for UC Irvine School of Social Sciences
-pictured top to right: James Paredes, set to graduate in June with four majors. Paredes with his parents at his kindergarten award ceremony.