My family migrated from Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico, and settled in California’s Central Valley with the support of our extended family. I grew up in Lemoore, surrounded by agriculture and rooted in a hardworking community.
I never imagined I would one day step beyond my hometown and pursue the opportunities I now have.
As a first-generation college student from a low-income background, attending college was not initially something my family or I were aware of. I enjoyed reading and learning but I believed my education would end after high school. Learning about QuestBridge during my junior year and attending the National College Admission Conference at Stanford University allowed me to dream bigger.
I went on to earn a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where I came to understand the profound impact of sociology in illuminating both personal identity and the broader social forces that shape our lives. My experiences there deepened my awareness of the complexities of race, migration, and class. As a scholar, my positionality not only informs my perspective—it fuels my ongoing commitment to research, mentorship, and service.
I am deeply grateful to the mentors, family, and friends who supported and guided me throughout this journey, helping me navigate challenges and achieve my goals. Soy porque somos.
“Books saved my sanity, knowledge opened the locked places in me and taught me first how to survive and then how to soar.”
― Gloria E. Anzaldúa