Friday, December 18, 2009

ALC Holiday Party


Please join us for the
Amigas Latinas for College

Christmas Party

Hosted by Carolina Mendoza &
Natalia Sanchez

Where: 2213 Peppermill (Natalia’s House)
When: Sunday, December 20 @ 7:00 pm
RSVP by December 19
to Natalia at 832-656-8508
Please bring a festive drink or dish!!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Thank you to our friends and supporters

Last Monday, ALC held a benefit fundraiser at El Tiempo Cantina on Washington Avenue. Many of ALC's friends and supporters attended the event and enjoyed the food, drink and good company.

El Tiempo Cantina Washington

The ALC board and staff extend their thanks and appreciation to all who attended. Special thanks to Roland Laurenzo, owner of the El Tiempo, who hosted the event and is generously donating a portion of the restaurant's proceeds from that evening to ALC. Thank you also to our friends who made personal contributions that evening, including:
  • Beverly Bradley
  • Manuel and Marcelo Marini
  • Dr. and Mrs. Martin Steiner
  • The Bohorquez Law Firm, PLLC
  • Dwayne Cobbs
All your generous support is greatly appreciated!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Engineering Scholarships

The Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) and the Texas Engineering Foundation (TEF) will award approximately $100,000 in scholarships to college students attending at an ABET-accredited engineering program at a Texas college or university. To be considered for the scholarships, you must apply by January 15, 2010. Download an application form and a list of eligible universities from the TSPE website. The Greater Houston Chapter of TSPE also requires an essay on the topics provided in the application. Scholarship awardees will be notified by the end of February 2010. For more information about the scholarships, click here.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Linda Lorelle College Preparatory Conference

The Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund is proud to announce its Sixth Annual College Preparatory Conference scheduled for Saturday, January 30, 2010.

The conference is a FREE, city-wide symposium created to educate students and parents about the college process. The LLSF would like to share all the important information, tips and strategies we gather each year in support of our scholarship recipients within the Greater Houston Area.

You must register online to attend. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., a brief General Session takes place at 9:00 a.m. followed by breakout sessions before and after lunch that will address the following topics:

• How to choose a college
• The admissions process
• Financial aid
• Campus life and housing
• Preparation for college

Lunch will be provided free of charge and sessions will be moderated by a Houston television or radio personality. The day wraps up with an opportunity for students and their parents to mingle informally with the panel participants and take part in a drawing for numerous door prizes, including two $1,000 scholarships. To be eligible for the drawing, participants must complete all four breakout sessions and they must be present to win.

Last year, the conference attracted over 2500 high school students from over 160 different Houston area high schools. All Houston universities were present along with 40 vendors giving students the opportunity to mix and mingle with local businesses and local universities.

Please plan to attend; to register, click here. For more information, check out the website.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Student Day at Houston AutoRama

Student Day at the Houston AutoRama 2009 is a two-part program entitled Engineering Speed for middle school through college age students that demonstrates the connection between technology, cars, math and real life.


See Heavy Metal, a 1970 Chevelle owned by Richard and Jean Tapia, at AutoRama

Engineering Speed will be at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Friday, November 27, 2009 as part of the Houston/International Show Car Association Education Day. Student Day is sponsored by Rice University's Center for Excellence and Equity in Education.

There is no cost to students or chaperones; however, everyone MUST have already registered online, mailed a confirmation form that they will attend the program, and received an email from the organizers.

For more information or to register, click here.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund


For information about scholarships that may be available for your college education, check out the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

MFAH Volunteers Needed

Sunday, November 15th, is the next Bayou Bend Family Day. Come and volunteer with us!

Family Days are usually every third Sunday of the month, September through May, rain or shine. Family Days are the perfect day to bring children to Bayou Bend, as the home and gardens are abuzz with excitement and activities, demonstrations, and performances. Best of all, admission is always free on Family Days!


This month´s theme is
Harvest Celebration. Celebrate the first and the many subsequent American harvest celebrations with traditional Native American performances, music, and storytelling. Find out about the dress and customs of the earliest European settlers before heading over to the craft table to make your own corncob doll or pine cone turkey!

Bayou Bend needs enthusiastic volunteers to help with the next Family Day. Volunteers assist small children with craft projects that are designed to correlate with the theme chosen for the afternoon. Volunteers are needed from
3:00-5:00 p.m.. Or, you can work both shifts! The first shift is from 1:00-3:00 p.m. If you are interested, please contact Sarah Castro at Bayou Bend at
scastro@mfah.org.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Scholarship opportunities

1. Houston Hispanic Forum: deadline is November 20, 2009 (no exceptions). For more information, click here.

2. Ruby Sue Clifton Scholarship presented by Smart Financial Credit Union. For more information, click here.

Houston Hispanic Forum Career & Education Day

The Houston Hispanic Forum presents its 24th annual Career Forum and Education Day for students in grades 6-12 and their parents.

Saturday, January 9, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center

  • Talk to professionals about careers
  • Complete your FAFSA and apply to Texas colleges online
  • Get the facts about financial aid
Free admission and lunch
For more information, contact the Houston Hispanic Forum at Hispanic_Forum@sbcglobal.net or visit them online at www.hispanicforum.org

Monday, November 2, 2009

Online magazine

Some of you might be interested in Teen Latinitas, an online magazine for young Latinas based in Austin.

Latinitas: The First Magazine for and by Latina girls

Looking for Latina writers

ALC received this notice of opportunity from Ariana Alvarado today:

I hope this email finds you in good health and spirit. For those of you who know me, I am super passionate about the Latino community. Doing my part to uplift mi gente has always been a career goal of mine whether it be through tv, film, or the written word. I have stumbled on a niche that hardly gets any attention or support: Latinas in college.

As Latinas in college, we experience many of the fears and excitement that all other college students do. Yet, there are unique aspects of our culture that makes our college experience different. Therefore, I have created EducatedLatina.com, the first online college magazine created for the modern, worldly, chic Latina of today. The website offers advice, tips, and tricks for navigating life on and off campus while offering a community of support to get you that degree. Whether you are an undergrad, grad, or doctoral student, Educated Latina is here to guide you through it!

I am seeking writers and bloggers for the website. Please feel free to forward this description to anyone or any listserve that might be interested:
Are you an undergrad or grad student? Do you have an opinion? Do you love to write? Are you up on what's hot in entertainment, fashion, politics, college life and more? Are you passionate about the Latina community and cultura? Come and write for us!

This is an opportunity to write about issues affecting the Latina community on and off campus. Please submit a 500 word article and be sure to include a bio of yourself with: your name, age, college/university, major/minor, extracurricular activities and career goals. Please email administrator@educatedlatina.com. Thanks!

The site is still under construction and is set to launch in January 2010. I am very excited about this new venture and would really appreciate your support, comments and ideas. Please spread the word out to the Latinas in your life. Hopefully Educated Latina will inspire them to go to college, stay, and graduate!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Nuestra Familia, Nuestra Salud

The 3rd annual Nuestra Familia, Nuestra Salud Health Fair takes place this Sunday, November 1, 2009, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The fair is free of charge and open to the public. ALC will have a table at the fair; if you are interested in volunteering, contact Adriana Sanchez at 281-777-3534.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Volunteers needed for annual Day of the Dead celebration

The annual Day of the Dead celebration commemorates the Hispanic community's tradition of honoring our loved ones who have passed on. This year's event is a celebration with food, music, and dancing and includes mariachis and folkloric performances by “Los Chaparitos”.

Volunteers are needed to decorate and set up the altar and assist with registration. Work hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please call Polly Alam at 713/ 927-1080 by Friday October 30 at noon if you can volunteer.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Update from the National Hispanic Environmental Council

ALC member Priscila Cevallos recently attended the Hispanic Environmental Council Program in New Mexico. Here is a report on her experience.

"I just got back from the national Hispanic Environmental Council Program in New Mexico and it was simply amazing! Our schedule was full: we did everything from camping next to a beautiful lake, to visiting the Los Alamos Laboratory where the first atomic bomb was created. The experience was wonderful and I definitely learned so much from the lectures/presentations, and the water, soil, vegetation, animals, and human impact field studies we conducted. We were able to visit many National Parks and hike all over New Mexico! I only wish that I could have stayed a while longer. Thank you Virginia [Baxt] for letting me know about the program. The bonds created there are going to last a lifetime and I hope that I will be able to get another internship with the people I met there. Thank you again."
All the best,
Priscila Cevallos

Monday, October 19, 2009

Calling Future Doctors

Beginning December 1, 2009 through the second week in February, 2010, graduating high school seniors interested in the medical profession can apply to the Partnership for Primary Care Program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. This innovative program gives you the opportunity to pursue a medical degree without taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). While there are no shortcuts to a quality education, there is an alternative path to gaining entrance into medical school. The PPC program is designed to help qualified, dedicated young people get a foot in the door of the medical field and to eventually contribute to improving health care in parts of Texas that need it most.

More information about the program can be found here. If you are interested in medicine, please check out the website for more information and for application forms.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Teen and Parent Conference

In honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, Bridge Over Troubled Waters is hosting its 4th annual Teen & Parent Conference.


BOTW particularly needs adult mentors for the conference. If you are interested in attending or volunteering or just want more information, please contact LaShic Patterson at .

Monday, October 5, 2009

Volunteer Opportunity - Institute of Hispanic Culture

The INSTITUTE OF HISPANIC CULTURE is celebrating EL DIA DE HISPANIDAD at Miller Outdoor Theater. This major annual event features some of the best dancers, music and performances from various Latin American countries.

Volunteers are needed SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. to pass out programs. If the volunteers want to stay for the performance, they get free seating at the front.

The INSTITUTE gives several scholarships every year. This is a great opportunity for ALC members to meet some of this wonderful organization's board members. ALC Board Member Polly Alam will be there and will be glad to introduce volunteers to Institute board members.

If you can attend, call Polly asap on her cell phone at 713/927-1080. Attire is casual; jeans are fine but please be presentable to meet INSTITUTE directors and officials.

Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Young Women Energized

Registration is now open for the Women's Energy Network's (WEN) Young Women Energized event on November 4, 2009.

Young Women Energized (YWE) is a mentoring event designed exclusively for high school girls. Learn about exciting careers open in the energy industry and network with industry professionals from a variety of companies and disciplines.

Parents are welcome and will have the opportunity to learn more about university programs and scholarships.

Date/Time: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
4:30 pm - Registration & Refreshments
5:45 pm - Welcome & Introductions, followed by Program for High School Girls & Parents
Location:
United Way Community Resource Center
50 Waugh Drive
Houston, Texas

If you are a student and would like to register for the event, click here. For more information about the event, click here.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Congratulations Priscila!

Congratulations to ALC member Priscila Cevallos for being selected to participate in the National Hispanic Environmental Council's Youth Training Institute. The week long institute begins September 19, 2009 in beautiful northern New Mexico and is designed to train the environmental leaders of tomorrow. Our best wishes to Priscila!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Volunteers needed for Food Distribution

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 from 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

The Houston Food Bank will be hosting a month-long event spotlighting hunger. The theme and slogan for this year is Hunger Bites. There will be 30 food fairs going on throughout Houston on September 16, 2009.

The Ripley House on Navigation will be participating as a distribution site and is currently seeking volunteers to help. The tentative hours are from 7:00am – 2:00pm. For more information or to volunteer, contact Natalia at the Ripley House at nferreyra@Neighborhood-Centers.org. Adriana Sanchez will be carpooling, so if you need a ride, please contact her at asanchez@amigaslatinas4college.org.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Free Legal Clinic

ALC member and third year law student Andrea Ramirez has sent notice of a free legal clinic this Saturday at Texas Southern University. If you need legal advice regarding property taxes, foreclosures or wills and estates, please feel free to attend the clinic.

Opal Mitchell Lee Property Preservation Clinic
Legal Advice & Counsel
FREE 1-ON-1 PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH A VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY


Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Place: Jesse H. Jones School of Business
Texas Southern University Campus corner of Cleburne and Tierwester Streets)

Types of Cases: Property Taxes, Foreclosures, and Wills and Estates
Please call us if you have transportation needs.

Contact Us:
Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Inc.
Box 1156
3100 Cleburne Street
Houston, Texas 77004
Office: (713) 313-1139
Fax: (713) 313-1153
Email: earlcarlinstitute@tmslaw.tsu.edu

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Yoga - Updated

ALC is offering a free yoga class for its members on Thursday, August 20 at 4:30 p.m. at the Clay Road YMCA.

Yoga improves flexibility, strength, muscle tone and reduces stress. If you have not already tried yoga, take the class to see how you like it. It may work for you!

Please call Adriana Sanchez @ 281-777-3534 should you have any further questions.
Look forward to seeing everyone there!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Fiestas Patrias Scholarship

Fiestas Patrias Grand Ball of Houston is offering its annual scholarship for 2009. To be considered, you must complete a written application. For a copy of the application, contact Adriana at asanchez@amigaslatinas4college.org. so that she can forward it to you. The deadline for applying for the scholarship is September 15, 2009, so if you are interested, don't delay!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Christmas in August

Free for ALC members, friends and family. For more information or to RSVP, contact Adriana at asanchez@amigaslatinas4college.org.



Friday, July 24, 2009

Campus Tour of Houston Baptist University

A campus tour of Houston Baptist University is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Adriana Sanchez by July 31 so that she may have a count of how many will attend. If we do not have enough people who RSVP, we will have to cancel the tour.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Adriana at
asanchez@amigaslatinas4college.org.

Try Yoga

ALC is offering a free yoga class for its members on Monday, August 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Clay Road YMCA.

Yoga improves flexibility, strength, muscle tone and reduces stress. If you have not already tried yoga, take the class to see how you like it. It may work for you!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Make College Happen

The College for All Texans website contains all the information you need to select the Texas university, college, junior college or technical school that’s best for you. It also contains tools to plan your education in detail. You can even apply to college online and apply for financial aid.

Check out the website at collegeforalltexans.com for more information.

Rice Launches Scholarship Web Site

For those college-bound students looking for financial help, the search just got easier. As a service to the community, Rice University's Multicultural Community Relations, Public Affairs has created a Web site that contains a comprehensive list of scholarships available to local students.

The web page was launched in June with more than 40 links to a wide variety of organizations offering scholarships. The awards vary in terms of requirements and amount of money offered. Some examples of the diverse groups that provide scholarships are the Houston Livestock Show and rodeo, the Houston Association of Black Journalists, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Chinese Professional Club of Houston.

Check out the site here.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Campus visit to St. Thomas University

Here are some photos from the ALC visit to St. Thomas University this week.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Campus visit to Rice University

Here are some photos from the ALC visit to Rice University last week.



Saturday, July 11, 2009

Tomball Leadership Retreat, July 11, 2009

Amigas Latinas for College students from middle, high school and college met in a beautiful pastoral setting for a leadership retreat in Tomball, Texas at the home of executive director Virginia Baxt. In this warm, open and sharing group of young people and parents, participants bonded, developed as a team, learned leadership skills and developed awareness of issues affecting the world in which we live. Ideas for sustainability, social justice issues and developing spirituality among various peoples were discussed. This is the last retreat that will be held at this site since the home has been sold.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Latin Culture Expo 2009



Latin Culture Expo
Saturday July 11, 2009
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Ripley House Neighborhood Center
4410 Navigation Boulevard
Houston, TX 77011
Free Admission!
Special Guest: Astros Miguel Tejada

Do you feel Mexica has always had the glory among the Hispanic countries? Well this is your chance to come out and rejoice not only Mexico, but all the different Hispanic countries. Embrace diversity through food, music, dances and history.

Participating countries:
  • Puerto Rico
  • Argentina
  • Colombia
  • Peru
  • Costa Rica
  • Mexico
  • Many more

Participating consulates include Colombia, Mexico and Costa Rica. Have fun and learn about other cultures in areas like art, music and food. Listen to great music and dance to the rhythm of different beats.

Diviértase y aprenda sobre otras culturas en áreas de arte, música y comida. Escuche música diferente y baile al son de nuevos ritmos.
For more information, call 713-315-6411

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

GEAR UP Leadership Retreat @ UH

Amigas Latinas recently partnered with GEAR UP Pasadena for an intensive two-day Leadership Retreat at the University of Houston. Students from Pasadena and South Houston High School gathered at UH for the retreat that featured workshops on leadership and personal development. Also included were a scavenger hunt and a luncheon at the UH Hilton. It was a wonderful and worthwhile experience for all who participated. Special thanks to ALC graduates Hilda Bautista and Andrea Ramirez and ALC staff member Adriana Sanchez for their help with the retreat.


Friday, July 3, 2009

The Awakening of Lideres Latinas for a New Dream


Join us for the Amigas Latinas for College annual Leadership Retreat for mothers and daughters
July 10-12, 2009 in Tomball Texas

Awakening – a key part of the Initiative is to offer all members of Amigas Latinas for College the opportunity to awaken into a commitment to act and to create a grounded optimism about our future here on Planet Earth. This succeeds the work of the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium.

Leadership -The purpose of this amazing new project is to create a new understanding of Leadership in Latinas by "Changing the Direction of our Dreams" - for a world that is environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just, while being led by brilliant, active, and inspiring Latinas.

Featuring Andrea Ramirez, Priscila Cevallos and Cinthya Bengtsen
Food cost: $20
Call 832-444-7844 to register or for more information

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

NEW OFFICERS for 2009-2010 School Year

Congratulations to new officers for the 2009 - 2010 school year! They are Carolina Mendoza (President), Natalia Sanchez (Vice President), Cynthia Hernandez (Treasurer) and Pricsyla Riquelme (Secretary).

Speaking on behalf of the board and myself, we are all here to help you make this the best year yet of Amigas Latinas for College.


Virginia Baxt, Executive Director and Founder
Amigas Latinas for College, Inc.
a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization

Thursday, June 25, 2009

ALC Grads June 2009 Get-To-Gather


Amigas Latinas for College college students got together for an informal get-to-gather at the home of executive director and founder, Virginia Baxt, on Tuesday evening, June 23, 2009. Fun was had by all, as the pictures will show.


Campus Tour of Rice University

A campus tour of Rice University is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Adriana Sanchez by June 30 so that she may have a count of how many will attend. If we do not have enough people who RSVP, we will have to cancel the tour.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Adriana at asanchez@amigaslatinas4college.org

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

College tour of St. Thomas University

A campus tour of St. Thomas University is scheduled for July 14 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Please RSVP to Adriana Sanchez by July 10 so that she may have a count of how many will attend. If we do not have enough people who RSVP, we will have to cancel the tour.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Adriana at asanchez@amigaslatinas4college.org

Stay Cool at MFAH!

Come volunteer at the Museum of Fine Arts. It’s a Summertime Beach Party at the next Target Free First Sunday, July 5th. The MFAH needs volunteers, so if you want to be part of the fun, sign up ASAP.

Target Free First Sundays take place in the Audrey Jones Beck and Caroline Wiess Law buildings from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Volunteer shifts are from 12:30-3:00 p.m. and 2:30-5:00 p.m. You can sign up for one or both.

Young adults 13-17 are encouraged to volunteer (children's activities only).

Volunteers can help in one of two areas:

1. Children's activities: direct interaction with children and craft projects or
2. Directional assistance: volunteers are stationed at the museum entrances to welcome visitors.

If you would like to volunteer, please call 713-639-7507 or e-mail lgilmour@mfah.org with your name, desired time, and preferred assignment* (children's activities or directional assistance).

*While every effort will be made to accommodate volunteer assignment preferences, we may need to reassign volunteers to the areas of greatest need at the time of check-in. We appreciate your flexibility.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Garage Sale a Success!

Thank you to our ALC members, directors and friends for making the fundraiser/garage sale a huge success. Special thanks to Adriana Sanchez and Paula Alam and their families and staff for their hard work and to Polly for providing us with a terrific location for the event. Even though the weather was hot and muggy, many volunteers showed up to help. Thank you as well to everyone who donated items to sell and food and drinks for the volunteers.

Here are some pictures from the event.




Thursday, June 11, 2009

Univision Radio interview for 'Awakening the Dreamer'

Univision Radio is airing Amigas Latinas for College "Awakening the Dreamer" symposium information this Sunday, June 14, 2009 on radio station 106.5 FM from 6 to 6:30 AM. Radio Host Renzo Heredia interviewed Amigas Latinas for College parent, Cleusa Cevallos, for information about the symposium and Amigas Latinas for College since daughter Priscila Cevallos, co-facilitator of the June 20th symposium, could not attend to do the interview.

For more information on what this initiative is about check their website, http://awakeningthedreamer.org/, and attend the 9:00 - 1:00 PM symposium at the HEB Bunkerhill Community Room, 9710 Katy Freeway, June 20, 2009. We hope to see you there.


Cleusa Cevallos, Adriana Sanchez and Adriana's son, Nicholas

Cleusa and Adriana

Cleusa

Cleusa and Renzo Heredia

Renzo Heredia

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Please volunteer to help at the ALC Garage Sale

We need your help at the upcoming ALC Garage Sale on June 13, 2009, at the Amegy Bank parking lot, 5301 Bissonnett in Bellaire.

Please sign up for one or more shifts to work the day of sale. Shifts are as follows:

6am -9am Set-up
9am - 11am Assist with garage sale
11am-1pm Assist with garage sale
1pm -2pm Closing of garage sale

We'll have refreshments available for everyone. Also, we are still accepting donations of items for the sale.

Please support Amigas Latinas by helping us raise money! For more information or to donate items, please contact Adriana Sanchez at asanchez71@att.net or at 281-777-3534.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

ALC Hilda Bautista speaks to immigrant students at Lee College



May 28, 2009

My name is Hilda Bautista I have just completed my third year and am about to enter my fourth and final year at the University of Texas at Austin. I am majoring in Human Biology with a minor in Social aspects of Health and Disease and will be applying to medical school upon graduation next spring.

I am going to share with you a little bit of my background and why I am here tonight. I come from a large family, five children and two parents make seven and am the oldest of my siblings with a ten year difference between my youngest brother and myself.

I was born in Mexico and I have been living here in the United States for a little over 18 years, so the United States is truly the only country I have ever known. I grew up in West Houston, jumping around from one apartment complex to another, but luckily remained in the same schools growing up and teachers always gave my parents good remarks about how I was doing in school. Doing well in classes really prompted my goals to do well in school and I aspired to be a doctor. Yet, no one ever really told me how that dream could be accomplished. How would I go from being the “little Rocio” as my family would call me, and become the respected doctor I aspired to be?

Back then I didn’t have a clue. In middle school all of my friend’s parents had gone to college or had some type of formal education. Their parents were professionals, they went to schools like UT and Texas A&M, and were engineers, business. . I didn’t even know what “UT” was. So I knew that I somehow had to get to college if I ever wanted to achieve my dreams. But I had no real guide as to how to do it or what that meant to “go to college.” How would I apply? Who pays for college or is it free? And I that time I was too young to know which where the questions to ask. . . .

. . . So in some ways I have beat the odds. I stayed on track throughout high school knowing that their would be a light at the end of the tunnel, a light held by my mentors and teachers, and graduation, a sort of liberation into the real world, or the real world of college in my case.
It is important to know that from my high school, not many students attend a four-year college. Surely, a handful more go to community college but still transfer to a bigger university to pursue their professional goals. but there are many more that go into the minimum-wage work force, which we know today, is unstable and insecure and at best pays to make ends meet. A handful of my friends settled down and started families, even. And that is a great responsibility that I personally could not handle, not yet. They have made decisions that have changed their whole lives. But so have I.

After sending out applications to 10 Colleges and Universities, I got waitlisted in a handful and rejected from a couple, and accepted at the state universities. My final decision of which to attend was a financial one, . . . I had visited the campus and saw the diversity among the students, a diversity that I was excited about. My parent’s were on board with my decision. If they had any hesitation about me attending UT, it was under my radar. Once I got settled in Austin at the University, I was excited to be out of Houston , ready to explore the city and take advantage of it as a student. I was eager to study hard to get good grades, which I needed not only to maintain my scholarships but also to be a competitive applicant when Medical Schools applications came around. Now a little bit about College life.

College life is tempting. I am not going to lie to you there are many invitations to socialize in college. There’s independence that I didn’t have back at home on top of the many new friends and the city itself, full of night life, was overwhelming and if I would let it, a huge wave that would suffocate me in all of its glory. There are those who sink, the ones who unfortunately flunk out the first semester, and those that ride the wave safely to shore, the students who succeed academically and are safe for one more semester, or until the next wave comes in. There were many nights when my friends were going to watch a movie, hang out, go to a party, but I knew that I couldn’t, that I had to buckle down and finish my homework or study for an exam. I had my priorities and keeping a focus throughout the semester allowed me to not be on the line when finals came around at the end of the semester. Fighting temptations that can consume your nights and your wallets (let’s face it, going out can add up), but having friends that would study into the night always made it easier to fight desire to go out. However, once I had a routine down, I knew when I could make time to study and time to play.

College is challenging. The professors introduce the material in class a lot of times talking about theories and other things that can be way over the student’s head and then You are responsible to figure out the problems. Once in a while you are lucky enough to get a professor that not only gives you examples in class and makes the material tangible and enjoyable. I have had classes, that no matter how hard I tried, the material was just too challenging. But there are always resources. There Tutoring centers and the professors are almost always willing to help you during their office hours. . . .

. . . I know that I have one more year to go, and have to yet start my career, but know that I am here representing only a sample of the many career opportunities that are available in college. There are anthropologist, geologists, engineers, accountant, historians, writers, poets, mathematicians, just to name a few. But the thread that holds us together is higher education. Higher education is the only passport we need to navigate the intellectual world. We are young and full of potential and the world needs us to give back with our ideas, our experience, and our skills. It is up to us, up to you, to make a difference and that begins with you and your education.
It is always important to remind yourself the purpose of doing what you are doing. My parents came to America hoping for a better future for their children and I am going to school because I have younger brothers that need a role model in school. But in the bigger scheme of things, I am doing it because there is a community out there that needs us to go into professions where we understand their problems and background. And demonstrate “que si se puede.”