I am a proud Bay Area Native. I grew up in East Palo Alto, CA and went to college at the University of Redlands. I graduated in 2023 with a major in race & ethnic studies and sociology/anthropology and a minor in women, gender, sexuality studies.

Fun fact: I am a foodie. Trying new food places and in general exploring new places with friends and family is one of my favorite hobbies. I would also consider myself a bit of a gym enthusiast.

Being first generation and the eldest daughter, I was always expected to go to college. But the statistics were against me. I was from a low-income family and it wasn’t until I attended—on scholarships—the only private high school in my small hometown that I understood how I would be able to make it to college. The school’s entire mission was not only getting Brown and Black students into college, but also supporting us along the way, academically and professionally.

These support systems allowed me to meet mentors along the way that I could fall back on when doubts and questions about navigating college would arise. I was able to graduate debt-free with multiple scholarships in my corner. My personal experiences with supportive systems like Beyond 12 have fueled my dedication as I work to support first-generation students from underrepresented background similar to mine.

My advice for you would be to find your anchor, community, and safe space to rely on when challenges arise or you just need to be uplfited.

For me, it took a village and my parents didn’t graduate high school, so I had to find the communities that I could go to when I had doubts or was experiencing new emotions and challenges.

Your safe space can be an organization, club, volunteering, job, or community. We don’t need to do it alone, despite the messages we receive. Get out there! You never know what you may find—you may even find yourself becoming a leader in these spaces. Sometimes you may just need a reminder that we are not alone and we have people in our corner rooting for us!