Written by: Divanny Arvizu, Caminos al Futuro 2024
I wobbled down the stairs with my laundry bag in hand, getting accustomed to the uncomfortable feeling of the turf burn I received on my knee while playing soccer. Thankful to find an available washing machine, I began to unload my bedsheets and add the laundry detergent provided by the Caminos staff.
When deciding to participate in this pre-college program, I was unsure of what to expect. As I previously discussed with Cisneros Executive Director Dra. Vaquera, I found it quite difficult to comprehend that a fully-funded program offering educational opportunities to youth actually existed. I am originally from a small town in northern Louisiana that has a small Hispanic population. Opportunities like the Caminos program are uncommon. I am grateful that I was able to take advantage of this program and further my education.
My cohort and I began the morning by working on our Community Action Projects. We walked into our classroom dressed head-to-toe in business casual attire. Although we usually wear casual clothing to classes, today we were going to be meeting several influential Latinos from the Department of State. After several hours of researching how to implement our individual projects and receiving a Portuguese lesson from Cisneros Associate Director Trey Johnston and Caminos Program Coordinator Naomi Falú-Guzman, we took a short lunch break.
After class, we were treated to Chipotle bowls. As usual, this included several high school students sharingchisme and discussing what we had to do for the rest of the week. Afterwards, we began our short walk to the Department of State. There, we met several Latinos who are foreign and civil officers. We discussed key topics, such as the impact that imposter syndrome on Hispanics in professional settings. Rosemarie Skelly, the Deputy Officer Director of the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Affairs, gave us a passionate speech where she reassured us to never doubt our educational abilities. She discussed her Columbian background and shared her mother’s advice whenever we feel as though we are less than: “we all wear underwear” and we are all human.
Divanny Arvizu is a 2024 Caminos al Future Scholar. Divanny’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.