A transformational point in my time during the UW started when I joined the non-profit the Dream Project as a mentor winter quarter of my freshmen year. I came into the UW planning on double majoring in Law and Business to eventually become a corporate lawyer. I realized after my first quarter I was not passionate about what I was studying. Through the Dream Project, I further realized I was passionate about educational inequality issues and working with students . What inspired me most was being a part of student journeys where despite life obstacles many of them faced, they worked hard and strived for social mobility. As a first-generation college student that did not endure the many struggles my students faced, such as being a refugee, I was able to empathize the difficulty in navigating a complex system for my younger sisters and myself.
From the Dream Project, I began to narrow down my interests and involvement in programs that continue my passion with students, from Alternative Spring Break to College Access Now. The following year, I decided to major in Social Welfare to utilize the holistic and critical lens social workers use to support my students. Coming from a background of where my closest loved ones struggled with mental health issues, I value providing a variety of resources to empower my students in every way- socially, mentally, physically, emotionally and academically.
As I continued in the Social Welfare program and began to design and facilitate the seminar, Oppression through Policy, my puzzle pieces started to further align. I realized my calling in the realms of social justice and education was in initiating and facilitating dialogue among students through programs. Through dialogue, I learned individuals are able to develop deep relationships and communities. I have expressed this passion through my seminar, participating in intergroup dialogue (IGD) and serving as an IGD facilitator. I plan to continue this work through my concentration in Urban Education and Community Development, as I continue my education in Washington University's MSW program this August.