“Knowing that there are people who believe that students like me can succeed at institutions like the University of Chicago is very important and serves as encouragement for me to work hard and pursue my academic and professional dreams.”
Have you selected a course of study? Are there any professors whose classes have changed or challenged you?
I have chosen to double major in public policy and comparative race and ethnic studies. While I am still exploring topics within the majors, I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the classes that I have already taken. At times, though, taking classes that address experiences I am familiar with has been very difficult. I never thought that I would analyze and approach these topics under an academic lens. It has been difficult to separate my experiences from my academic work and be able to see things from a
different perspective—I am still working to find a way that allows me to combine the two.
What activities are you involved with outside the classroom? Have you held any leadership roles in your extracurricular activities?
I have slowly increased my involvement in extracurricular activities. I am involved in RSOs such as El Movimento Estiduantil Chicanx de Aztlan de UChicago (MEChA), the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), and Mural Magazine . I participate in the annual OLAS Cultural Show as a choreographer and have found this to be a very rewarding and fun experience. At Mural I am treasurer and am working with the rest of the board to help the magazine expand. I also recently became a part of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., a Latina multicultural Greek sorority on campus. I am currently vice president of our
chapter and work to put on events both within the university and in the larger Chicago community, especially bringing events to campus that we haven't see previously. Lamda Pi Chi is a group of strong women empowering others.
What is your favorite UChicago memory or proudest achievement thus far?
I think that I still have a lot to accomplish at this university. However, I think that what I have come to value the most is being a part of Lambda Pi Chi. Not only have I met amazing women who share many of my goals and values and serve as one of my strongest support systems, but we also work as a team to bring resources to the community that we have found to be missing, even if that is just a space for people to share their experience and serve as guides for other minority, first generation, low-income students. We try to keep everybody in mind and stay in touch with our community's needs in addition to the needs that we see for ourselves.
If you could speak directly to the person whose gift supported your scholarship, what would you say?
Thank you! I realize that being at a prestigious institution such as the University of Chicago is a privilege and a blessing that not many people have. Especially for first generation and low-income students like me, going to college and reaching our goals falls mostly on our own shoulders, even if we have all of the support that we could ask for from our parents. Opportunities such as the Odyssey Scholarship allow me the luxury of attending an institution that has so many resources for its students.
Knowing that there are people who believe that students like me can succeed at institutions like the University of Chicago is very important and serves encouragement for me to work hard and pursue my academic and professional dreams.
