My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. It means there was a journey embarked and sacrifices made by my parents for me to be here. I was raised in the Coachella Valley. My father was deported when I was seven years old leaving my mother to raise me and my three siblings alone. She worked long hours at a minimum wage job and barely made enough to keep the roof over our heads. She always shielded us from the worst parts and distracted us from things like an empty fridge. Despite our given circumstances, my mother encouraged us everyday to focus on our education. These experiences fueled my determination to pursue an education and create a better life for not only us but the surrounding community. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali almost every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. This large body of water fascinated me as a young boy. Growing up in a desert, the sight of a pool would excite me. To see such a massive pool right in front of me was mind-blowing. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. School was always my output growing up. I struggled with creating meaningful friendships in my young years so often I found that comfort in reading. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. I was often told by my teachers that I had great potential in being successful. This often confused me, as I wanted nothing more than to see my mother happy, a common experience among first generation students. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. My hometown has helped shape the person I am today. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood meant I was often exposed to situations as a kid that negatively impacted my mental health. I was only eight years old when I experienced my first drive by shooting. I was always in survival mode. I have learned to make the best out of that by embracing the skill of quick problem solving and multitasking it provided me. The Coachella Valley, being so close to the Mexico border, is majority undocumented field workers. It brought a sense of security growing up to see my culture all around me. I grew up with peers who understood the struggles I was going through back home and in a way, we uplifted each other when our teachers failed us. As I got older, I could not help but realize many of my peers were beginning to move deeper into the Coachella Valley. It did not take long to also see a shift in the surrounding community. I now know that this is due to gentrification. The valley has experienced a large growth in tourism as the Acrisure Arena was built, bringing in events like NBA games and hockey games. This meant the surrounding community saw an increase in living costs, pushing out many of us who were already living check by check. It was not surprising to learn that the Salton Sea was often the only affordable option for many. I believe this can be directly linked to the negative health issues it has proven to have on the surrounding community. A recent study published by Jules Bernstein from the University of California, Riverside described the Salton Sea as “an environmental catastrophe” as the dust particles lifted from the sand are filled with toxins that can cause respiratory problems. This was my firsthand experience with Environmental Racism and essentially the reason I expanded my area of study to Comparative Ethnic Studies as well. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same and promote safe community building.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. I was given the opportunity last summer before starting my first year of college to be an interpreter intern at Humboldt Redwood State Park. Through-out this internship I was exposed to the form's wildlife conservation comes in and led public programs like Creek Explorations off the Eel River to education the public on healthy water quality. Now that I have completed my first year at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environmental Resources Engineering department, it was great to apply that experience throughout my labs regarding experiments like testing water quality and air quality. This summer I have been given opportunity to intern for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration where I was placed in the National Weather Service Center near my home. This internship is providing me with the hands-on experience to climate research, community outreach and interpreting research data such as climate models. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My name is Miguel Pulido. First and foremost, I am proudly the son of Mexican immigrants. This is important for me to share because there is a unique significance to being a child of immigrants when living in the United States. It means there was a journey embarked and sacrifices made by my parents for me to be here. I was raised in the Coachella Valley. My father was deported when I was seven years old leaving my mother to raise me and my three siblings alone. She worked long hours at a minimum wage job and barely made enough to keep the roof over our heads. She always shielded us from the worst parts and distracted us from things like an empty fridge. Despite our given circumstances, my mother encouraged us every day to focus on our education. These experiences fueled my determination to pursue an education and create a better life for not only us but the surrounding community. After the deportation of my father, we traveled to Mexicali almost every weekend to spend time with him. I often remember being told stories of El Mar Con Los Pescados Muertos or the Sea with the Dead Fish as we drove by. The burning smell of decomposing fish would cling into the air. This large body of water fascinated me as a young boy. Growing up in a desert, the sight of a pool would excite me. To see such a massive pool right in front of me was mind-blowing. I did not have the tools as a kid to understand the harm this sea brought and the history of its development. My strive for a higher education includes equipping myself with the tools to finally understand the harm severity the Salton Sea continues to have on my community and join the ongoing battle to solve this issue. The Salton Sea sparked my passion for Environmental Studies. School was always my output growing up. I struggled with creating meaningful friendships in my young years so often I found that comfort in reading. Education provided me with a sense of security I felt nowhere else. I was often told by my teachers that I had great potential in being successful. This often confused me, as I wanted nothing more than to see my mother happy, a common experience among first generation students. During my last two years of high school, I received the opportunity to join my school’s Engineering Career Pathway which exposed me to the base level of Engineering. I learned what it meant to be an Engineer and the forms it’s various principles can be applied in. My high school fortunately received the funding to equip our Engineering classroom with power tools that allowed us to expand our hands-on skill set. On top of that, the classroom was also able to be equipped with a laser printer and 3D printers. I was able to explore and learn Auto-Cad during this time. I fell in love with it so much that I even enrolled in the Regional SkillsUSA competition for Technical Drafting and qualified to advance to the State Competition. This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had never before had the confidence and motivation to step out of my comfort zone in that manner. My hometown has helped shape the person I am today. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood meant I was often exposed to situations as a kid that negatively impacted my mental health. I was only eight years old when I experienced my first drive by shooting. I was always in survival mode. I have learned to make the best out of that by embracing the skill of quick problem solving and multitasking it provided me. The Coachella Valley, being so close to the Mexico border, is majority undocumented field workers. It brought a sense of security growing up to see my culture all around me. I grew up with peers who understood the struggles I was going through back home and in a way, we uplifted each other when our teachers failed us. As I got older, I could not help but realize many of my peers were beginning to move deeper into the Coachella Valley. It did not take long to also see a shift in the surrounding community. I now know that this is due to gentrification. The valley has experienced a large growth in tourism as the Acrisure Arena was built, bringing in events like NBA games and hockey games. This meant the surrounding community saw an increase in living costs, pushing out many of us who were already living check by check. It was not surprising to learn that the Salton Sea was often the only affordable option for many. I believe this can be directly linked to the negative health issues it has proven to have on the surrounding community. A recent study published by Jules Bernstein from the University of California-Riverside described the Salton Sea as “an environmental catastrophe” as the dust particles lifted from the sand are filled with toxins that can cause respiratory problems. This was my firsthand experience with Environmental Racism and essentially the reason I expanded my area of study to Comparative Ethnic Studies as well. With my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I plan to apply my study in Comparative Ethnic Studies into effectively fostering the bridge between underrepresented communities and the tools to bring them Environmental Justice. I primarily plan to focus on communities affected by the strategic placement of wastewater treatment plants or neglected unsafe bodies of water like the Salton Sea. The reason I chose to study Comparative Ethnic Studies on top of Environmental Engineering is to provide myself with all the tools necessary to better understand and collaborate with a diverse range of communities. By confidently applying my intersecting identities as a First-Generation Chicano Man in a predominantly white field, I hope to inspire those around me to do the same.

My early adolescence years should have been better. The lack of resources on campus for queer youth played a large role in the obstacles I had to face within myself and my community/peers. I began my gender-affirming care when I was sixteen years old, in my early junior year. The fear for my safety and rejection resided inside me every day due to the lack of representation on campus. I was the first openly transgender male student to medically transition. I have always helped those around me and opened myself to new possibilities. I built a new relationship and found ways to try to connect on campus. It was the first in-person year back since Covid had struck so there was lots to explore. Although I began to socialize greatly in class, despite the constant misgendering and questions about my identity, I often kept to myself during lunch. There were not many resources or support on campus to help me navigate through the feeling of loneliness within me so I became determined to create more that same year. This resulted in me becoming president of the GSA club on campus. During my time as president, I promoted resources for LGBTQ+ students and provided my peers with the safe space I would have benefited greatly from my first years of high school. My time spent on the time sparked a passion for helping others and improving my community the best I could. I applied this passion with my passion to my academics to pursue a degree in Environmental Resources Engineering. My degree in environmental engineering will teach me all the information I need from the disciplines within it to solve the environmental issues I will be faced with in the best way possible. I plan to work closely with my peers and Engineering faculty to learn crucial skills like teamwork and critical thinking to best apply them to my everyday life. I am going to participate in internships to gain exposure to the type of problems Engineers are faced with and learn how to best connect with the community. I plan to take my higher education back to my hometown, the Coachella Valley and apply it to solve lots of complex environmental issues being ignored due to environmental racism. One big issue I will focus greatly on as I learn the most I can in the field is the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea has over time become a huge health concern for the residents of the Coachella Valley due to the toxins it releases into the air. These toxins are then carried when dust storms drag across the valley, proving to cause health issues like cancer in one’s later life. The Salton Sea also has become a blatant example of environmental racism due to it being the cheapest option for minorities and agriculture workers in the Valley being pushed out by gentrification. This issue affects everyone in the Valley, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. I plan to use my passion for connecting with the community and improving their overall well-being by opening up a relationship within LGBTQ+ resource centers in the Valley that might be experiencing neglect from the city or the surrounding community. I plan to use my position to advocate for the importance of these resources and fund these centers the best I can throughout my career. I also want to work closely with these centers to provide mentorship or internships to LGBTQIA+ youth interested in pursuing their higher education in STEM.