I have had the privilege of learning history the same history topic from two different countries. When I was in elementary school I learned about the Mexican Revolution through the Mexican education system! From my young mind, the story went; Mexico had a dictator as a president, Porfirio Diaz, who only wanted to help the rich. Although my high school had an Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies as an elective, it ended up being dropped so it was not until my second year of college at UTEP that I re-visited the topic. Now presented as El Porfiriato with the nuances of a college-level course. The professor asked why he had a street named Porfirio Diaz, a street I encounter almost every day on my daily commute to school yet I had no idea. My interest in history took a long time to develop, and it was a bit unconventional. I committed to being a teacher my senior year of high school, and I was most passionate about Political Science so I thought I should become a government and economics teacher for seniors. It was not until my second year of college that I fell in love with history. It was not until college when I met borderland historians that discovered the massive impact, although often forgotten ways that my hometown Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and the city where I currently live and study in El Paso, Texas shaped the whole country. Meeting modern historians, and understanding the impact Mexican-Americans had in the United States was exciting, and ignited passion within me. I found out that the reason why we have a street named after a dictator in my hometown is because some of the more wealthy Mexicans who were in danger after the revolution fled north to what is Westside El Paso, Texas. Since they benefited from the Porfiriato they wanted to honor this “president”. This experience broadened my horizons and made me redefine what history is, and especially the role of historians. History is empowering so it is important for history to reflect everyone. My education made me realize that I would like to instill in my students the tools to become civically engaged member of society, who questions narratives, are curious, and research. Most importantly, as an educator and historian living in a border city, I want to make my students believe that they are the type of people who can make an impact. Thank you for listening to my story and considering me for the Joseph C. Lowe Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship would make a massive impact on my career and education, as my unpaid student-teaching semester approaches I am making a conscious effort to save money to pay for my living expenses.

I have had the privilege of learning history the same history topic from two different countries. When I was in elementary school I learned about the Mexican Revolution through the Mexican education system! From my young mind, the story went; Mexico had a dictator as a president, Porfirio Diaz, who only wanted to help the rich. Although my high school had an Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies as an elective, it ended up being dropped so it was not until my second year of college at UTEP that I re-visited the topic. Now presented as El Porfiriato with the nuances of a college-level course. The professor asked why he had a street named Porfirio Diaz, a street I encounter almost every day on my daily commute to school yet I had no idea. My interest in history took a long time to develop, and it was a bit unconventional. I committed to being a teacher during my senior year of high school, since I was most passionate about Political Science I decided I should become a government and economics teacher for seniors. It was not until my second year of college that I fell in love with history. Meeting modern borderland historians who researched and explored the massive impact, and often forgotten ways that my border community shaped the whole country was fascinating. My hometown Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and the city where I currently live and study El Paso, Texas had so much history I could have never imagined. The professor explained that the reason why we have a street named after a dictator in my hometown is because some of the more wealthy Mexicans who were in danger after the revolution fled north to what is Westside El Paso, Texas. Since they benefited from the Porfiriato they wanted to honor this “president”. This experience broadened my horizons and made me redefine what history is, and especially the role of historians. History is empowering so it is important for history to reflect everyone. My education made me realize that I would like to instill in my students the tools to become civically engaged member of society, who questions narratives, are curious, and research. Most importantly, as an educator and historian living in a border city, I want to make my students believe that they are the type of people who can make an impact. Thank you for listening to my story and considering me for the Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship would make a massive impact on my career and education, as my unpaid student-teaching semester approaches I am making a conscious effort to save money to pay for my living expenses.

Catapulted Into Sucess “What if they built a catapult, got in there, and set up a mattress on the other side?” I would throw out these types of unhinged ideas every time we drove by the Loop 375 Border Highway, from where I would see the places I used to visit in Juarez, Chihuahua, my hometown. We moved to El Paso, Texas after my mom met my step-dad, an American fugitive and although their marriage brought on a turbulent journey, one filled with economic uncertainty and legal battles, I am grateful because it made me who I am and it shaped my educational goals. As a first-generation student my desire to study History and Political Science was not ideal, I often encountered skepticism, people would respond, "What are you even going to do with that?" I grappled with the pressure to make my education worthwhile, exploring other career interests that never quite felt right until my senior year of high school when I joined Service Leadership Society. The Service Leadership Society (SLS) was the perfect fusion of government and debate club. I had found my place. As I explored the world of the American legislative process, I fell in love with it as I crafted the perfect oppositions and rebuttals. I cycled through a process of research, editing, and writing for a whole school year. The culmination of our efforts came when we competed in the Austin Capitol, where our bill received the highest number of votes in favor. Although our bill was being presented in mock legislation against other schools, Austin presented me with motivation and ambition. Being in the Austin Capitol while it was in session allowed us to meet a plethora of representatives and politicians from all over the state, who were from all socio-economic backgrounds. This experience solidified my commitment to public service. I realized how much I enjoyed mentoring the underclassmen; and I loved being able to understand government and laws to the point of being able to explain it to others. My amazing teachers and SLS mentors, Ms. Romo and Ms. Vazquez, were one of the main reasons I had such a transformative senior year. It was with their unwavering support; organizing field trips to meet city representatives, calling vendors to helps all of us fundraise enough money for the trip and giving plenty of opportunities to grow. Even though they were respectively an english and biology teachers, they inspired my passion for history and political science. After we had a presentation about the Grow Your Own Teacher Program (GYOT), I felt inspired by them, and I successfully applied. Maybe this was the beginning of my career. Pursuing a career in teaching allows me to complete a full circle moment. The place where I once felt alienated and lost in, I could work towards making it a safe space that encourages civic participation and growth. I know I want to make an impact beyond the classroom and pursue graduate school, which the GYOT fellowship allows me to do. Since then, I have been shadowing teachers and gaining hands-on experience in the classroom. In my first year, I mentored the Service Leadership Society, guiding students as they wrote a mock bill on AI for a statewide competition in Austin. This year, I organized fundraisers for the basketball team and planned a field trip to watch the UTEP women’s basketball team for National Women in Sports Day. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to empowering students with the knowledge and confidence to become active participants in society. While working for GYOT, I have pursued other opportunities. Due to financial hardship, I have struggled to be on campus and am forced to opt for online classes. My packed work schedule has also limited my ability to join organizations. My FAFSA does not accurately reflect my financial situation; despite my mom’s generous salary as a bartender, her gambling addiction, and my baby sister’s childcare expenses means she cannot contribute to my education. Despite these obstacles, I have made a conscious effort to seek growth through organizations that provide stipends or accommodate my limited schedule. I have participated in programs like the Undergraduate Fellows Program, Summer Democracy School, and the Political Economics Reading Group at UTEP. Additionally, I have worked as a tutor for El Paso Community College and joined the El Paso Women’s Volunteer Organization, which offers flexible opportunities that align with my busy schedule. These experiences have challenged me to grow as a scholar and educator, and I am determined to make myself a competitive candidate for graduate school. As I look ahead to graduate school and beyond, I am filled with excitement and anticipation. My goal is to make systematic changes in education or immigration, driven by a deep-seated desire to contribute to the betterment of our world. This scholarship would not only alleviate the financial burden of pursuing my dreams but also empower me to take on new challenges with confidence and determination. In closing, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for this opportunity. Thank you for considering my application and for believing in my potential to make a meaningful impact.

“What if they built a catapult, got in there, and set up a mattress on the other side?” I would throw out these types of unhinged ideas every time we drove by the Loop 375 Border Highway, from where I would see the places I used to visit in Juarez, Chihuahua, my hometown. We moved to El Paso, Texas after my mom met my step-dad, an American fugitive and although their marriage brought on a turbulent journey, one filled with economic uncertainty and legal battles, I am grateful because it made me who I am and it shaped my educational goals. As a first-generation student my desire to study History and Political Science was not ideal, I often encountered skepticism, people would respond, "What are you even going to do with that?" I grappled with the pressure to make my education worthwhile, exploring other career interests that never quite felt right until my senior year of high school when I joined Service Leadership Society. The Service Leadership Society (SLS) was the perfect fusion of government and debate club. I had found my place. As I explored the world of the American legislative process, I fell in love with it as I crafted the perfect oppositions and rebuttals. I cycled through a process of research, editing, and writing for a whole school year. The culmination of our efforts came when we competed in the Austin Capitol, where our bill received the highest number of votes in favor. Although our bill was being presented in mock legislation against other schools, Austin presented me with motivation and ambition. Being in the Austin Capitol while it was in session allowed us to meet a plethora of representatives and politicians from all over the state, who were from all socio-economic backgrounds. This experience solidified my commitment to public service. I realized how much I enjoyed mentoring the underclassmen; and I loved being able to understand government and laws to the point of being able to explain it to others. My amazing teachers and SLS mentors, Ms. Romo and Ms.Vazquez, were one of the main reasons I had such a transformative senior year. After we had a presentation about the Grow Your Own Teacher Program (GYOT), I felt inspired by them, and I successfully applied. Maybe this was the beginning of my career. Pursuing a career in teaching allows me to complete a full circle moment. The place where I once felt alienated and lost in, I could work towards making it a safe space that encourages civic participation and growth. I know I want to make an impact beyond the classroom and pursue graduate school, which the GYOT fellowship allows me to do. While working for GYOT, I was also part of the Undergraduate Fellows Programs at UTEP, continued to mentor SLS, and volunteered at Las Americas Immigration Advocacy Center. As I look ahead to graduate school and beyond, I am filled with excitement and anticipation. My goal is to make systematic changes in education or immigration, driven by a deep-seated desire to contribute to the betterment of our world. This scholarship would not only alleviate the financial burden of pursuing my dreams but also empower me to take on new challenges with confidence and determination. In closing, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for this opportunity. Thank you for considering my application and for believing in my potential to make a meaningful impact