go to college. The school where
I volunteered had one counselor
assigned to support 3,000 students.
If a student were interested in going
to college, he or she would have
to advocate heavily for themselves,
navigating academic requirements,
college and financial aid applications,
and much more.
Inspired by College Track, I worked
to build similar supports for my
students, creating a tutoring program
and recruiting college peers to
volunteer. During this time, I realized
I had a natural strength in building
relationships with students, namely in
being their advocate and validating
their struggle, but also in pushing
them to be the agents of their
own education.
I soon realized I wanted to continue
on this path to become a teacher.
My passion was seeded after
these experiences, which led me
to dedicate my life to fighting
educational inequality and improving
the trajectory of our under-resourced
communities, first, as an Educational
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Opportunity Program counselor at
UC Berkeley and later as a Teach for
America bilingual elementary school
teacher. As a College Track alumna,
I recognize I have a following of
people whom I am responsible for
and that I am not contributing to a
better future for anyone, including
myself, if I do not return to the roots
that nurtured me and help others to
take root and grow.
Today, I’m proud and humbled to
be that role model for my brother,
my cousins, my students and their
families, as well as to have the
ability and knowledge to take on
responsibilities that benefit my
family’s future. I am an agent of
change, which means I am in service
of my students, our families, and
our community. I know each day is
a chance to succeed, bringing us
closer to the transformative change
we collectively seek.