My greatest achievement is being admitted to all 21 universities I applied. I was most proud of my likely letter from Columbia Univeristy and named a John Jay Scholar. That day and every day I remind myself with pride that I am a result of growing up in South Central Los Angeles to two hardworking undocumented parents. Now, I am a low-income first generation student at Columbia University and majoring in Political Science and Latino/a Studies with aspirations to be an immigration lawyer. For years, I have watched my mother suffer from the daily fears associated with her immigration status. Her hand would strangle mine as we boarded each bus, her fear disabling her from simple tasks. I have always advocated for my mom, and now I lobby for the people of my community who face the same apprehension. I began working with the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA) campaigning for a more inclusive society in their youth group for four years.Now, I part of California Dream Network, college branch of CHIRLA. Most recently, the group and I wrote a segment in support AB 2004 (dream loan modification) that appeared on Univision. I have advocated in Sacramento for SB 972 (acess to permits for street vendors), SB 836 (protecting immigration status in courtrooms,AB 2004 (dream loan modification and AB 1766 (identfication cards for all). I am currently shadowing an immigration lawyer for a week at CHIRLA to truly delve into day to day responsibilities. At Columbia Univeristy, I have best ultized my education to choose courses that best align with my career aspiration. I am currently taking a course Seeking Asylum: History, Politics and the Pursuit of Justice in the United States. This seminar explores the roots of and responses to the contemporary refugee "crisis" at the U.S.-Mexico border. We examine the historical factors that are propelling people, including families and unaccompanied minors, to flee the so-called Northern Triangle of Central America; the law and politics of asylum that those seeking refuge must negotiate in the U.S.; and the burgeoning system of immigration incarceration that detains ever-greater numbers of non-citizens. The course is organized around a collaboration with the Dilley Pro Bono Project, an organization that provides legal counsel to detainees at the country's largest immigration detention prison, in Dilley, Texas. Additionally, courses on insight of immigrant communities like Critical Approach to Race and Ethncity, Race and Gender in Latin American Revolutions. I continue this advocacy at my internship during the school year, a non-profit organization, Community Impact in English as a Second Language program. I serve as a teaching assistant to undocumented low-income adults. I hope to continue my career aspirations at University of California, Los Angeles with a Critical Race Studies Specialization. I would like to deepen my understanding of race and provide tools and strategies to further civil rights and human rights in my home city. I would like to serve my community where I have seen smiles reduced to tears from the continuous anxiety and fear of the unknown just like my mother navigating her life in Los Angeles. I have committed myself to help others feel like a valued member of the community that deserves inclusivity for their needs. These progressive values mean the embodiment of uplifting others for access to opportunity, representation and action while holding existing institutions of power accountable. With my dedication and passion, I will be a leader of the inclusive societal shift we deserve and my education would just help me learn fundamental histories of marginalized communities I will serve.

The American Dream means the embodiment of uplifting others for access to opportunity, representation and action while holding existing institutions of power accountable. American Dream is serving my community where I have seen smiles reduced to tears from the continuous anxiety and fear of the unknown just like my mother navigating her life in Los Angeles. I have committed myself to help others feel like a valued member of the community that deserves inclusivity for their needs. I am a low-income first generation student at Columbia University and double majoring in Political Science and Latino/a Studies with aspirations to be an immigration lawyer. For years, I have watched my mother suffer from the daily fears associated with her immigration status. Her hand would strangle mine as we boarded each bus, her fear disabling her from simple tasks.Now, I lobby for the people of my community who face the same apprehension. I began working with the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA) campaigning for a more inclusive society in their youth group for four years. I have recently joined California Dream Network, college branch of CHIRLA. Most recently, I wrote a segment in support AB 2004 (dream loan modification) that appeared on Univision. I have advocated in Sacramento for SB 972 (acess to permits for food street vendors), SB 836 (protecting immigration status in courtrooms),and AB 2004 (dream loan modification). I am currently shadowing an immigration lawyer for a week at CHIRLA. At Columbia Univeristy, I have best ultized my education to choose courses that best align with my career aspiration. I am currently taking a course Seeking Asylum: History, Politics and the Pursuit of Justice in the United States. This seminar explores the roots of and responses to the contemporary refugee "crisis" at the U.S.-Mexico border. We examine the historical factors that are propelling people, including families and unaccompanied minors, to flee the so-called Northern Triangle of Central America ; and the burgeoning system of immigration incarceration that detains ever-greater numbers of non-citizens. The course is organized around a collaboration with the Dilley Pro Bono Project, an organization that provides legal counsel to detainees. I continue this advocacy during the school year, I work at the non-profit organization, Community Impact in English as a Second Language program. My internship is solely focused on undocumented low-income adults and I serve as a teaching assistant. Furthermore I am currently interning at Midtown Community Court, specifically Project Reset. As a byproduct of immigrants and impoverished South Central Los Angeles, I constantly witnessed instances of oppression through the “justice” system thus I would like to further participate in restorative justice through alternative justice. Project Reset specifically focuses on offering a third option, giving participants the possibility to avoid court and a criminal record by completing community-based programming. The program holds people accountable for their actions while promoting healing and strengthening public trust in the justice system. I specialize in the consulting for Latino based communities and assist in immigration lawyer who participate in our division, Project Reset. I hope to continue my career aspirations at University of California, Los Angeles with the only university in the nation with a Critical Race Studies Specialization. I would like to deepen my understanding of race and provide tools and strategies to further civil rights and human rights in my home city. With my dedication and passion for this space, I will be a leader of the inclusive societal shift we deserve and my education would just help me learn fundamental histories of marginalized communities I will serve.

I am a low-income first generation student at Columbia University and majoring in Political Science and Latino/a Studies with aspirations to be an immigration lawyer. For years, I have watched my mother suffer from the daily fears associated with her immigration status. Her hand would strangle mine as we boarded each bus, her fear disabling her from simple tasks. I have always advocated for my mom, and now I lobby for the people of my community who face the same apprehension. I began working with the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA) campaigning for a more inclusive society in their youth group for four years. I have recently joined California Dream Network, college branch of CHIRLA. Most recently, the group and I wrote a segment in support AB 2004 (dream loan modification) that appeared on Univision. While, I have advocated in Sacramento for SB 972 (acess to permits for food street vendors), SB 836 (protecting immigration status in courtrooms,AB 2004 (dream loan modification and AB 1766 (identfication cards for all). Similarly, I joined Chirla Action Fund to question both Karen Bass and Kevin De Leon, candidates for Mayor of Los Angeles in order to grant CHIRLA’s endorsement. I am currently shadowing an immigration lawyer for a week at CHIRLA to truly delve into day to day responsibilities. At Columbia Univeristy, I have best ultized my education to choose courses that best align with my career aspiration. I am currently taking a course Seeking Asylum: History, Politics and the Pursuit of Justice in the United States. This seminar explores the roots of and responses to the contemporary refugee "crisis" at the U.S.-Mexico border. We examine the historical factors that are propelling people, including families and unaccompanied minors, to flee the so-called Northern Triangle of Central America; the law and politics of asylum that those seeking refuge must negotiate in the U.S.; and the burgeoning system of immigration incarceration that detains ever-greater numbers of non-citizens. The course is organized around a collaboration with the Dilley Pro Bono Project, an organization that provides legal counsel to detainees at the country's largest immigration detention prison, in Dilley, Texas. Additionally, courses on insight of immigrant communities like Critical Approach to Ethnicity and Race and Ethncity, Race and Gender in Latin American Revolution. I continue this advocacy at work study during the school year, I work at the non-profit organization, Community Impact in English as a Second Language program. My internship is solely focused on undocumented low-income adults and I serve as a teaching assistant. Furthermore I am currently interning at Midtown Community Court, specifically Project Reset. As a byproduct of immigrants and impoverished South Central Los Angeles(between Downtown Los Angeles and Compton/Watts), I constantly witnessed instances of oppression through the “justice” system thus I would like to further participate in restorative justice through alternative justice. Midtown Community Court is a continuation to use my innovative thinking centered in underrepresented communities and enact community engagement for restorative justice. Project Reset specifically focuses on offering a third option, giving participants the possibility to avoid court and a criminal record by completing community-based programming. The program holds people accountable for their actions while promoting healing and strengthening public trust in the justice system. I specialize in the consulting for Latino based communities and assist in immigration lawyer who participate in our division, Project Reset. I hope to continue my career aspirations at University of California, Los Angeles with the only university in the nation with a Critical Race Studies Specialization. I would like to deepen my understanding of race and provide tools and strategies to further civil rights and human rights in my home city. I would like to serve my community where I have seen smiles reduced to tears from the continuous anxiety and fear of the unknown just like my mother navigating her life in Los Angeles. I have committed myself to help others feel like a valued member of the community that deserves inclusivity for their needs. These progressive values mean the embodiment of uplifting others for access to opportunity, representation and action while holding existing institutions of power accountable. With my dedication and passion for this space, I will be a leader of the inclusive societal shift we deserve and my education would just help me learn fundamental histories of marginalized communities I will serve.