Written by: Dania Arteaga, Caminos al Futuro 2023
I traveled 2680 miles away from home to be with twelve strangers from all over the country for three weeks, and it was not a scam! I submitted the Caminos application thinking it was too good to be true. I am incredibly grateful that I was wrong. I applied to the program to discover more about career paths in law. Initially, I was nervous about what my life would look like on the George Washington University campus. I never imagined creating amazing bonds with people who want to thrive academically and genuinely make the world a better place with their ambitions of being engineers, lawyers, and doctors. This past couple of days has felt like a dream with constant laughter, fun activities, and class materials about Latinos in the United States that are not part of any school curriculum.
Caminos al Futuro is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With only a couple of classes, I have cultivated a greater sense of confidence to tackle the college application process. In Changing the Narrative, an intensive essay preparation class, I have learned what admissions officers look for in a college essay, along with what mistakes to avoid. Additionally, I have received feedback on the essays I wrote to gain acceptance to the program. A new set of eyes on my potential college essays have helped me identify what I am doing correctly, what I need to work on, and what I can take out of my essays. All the information I have been given has been more useful than what I have received from my school counselors, and will allow me to become a more competitive applicant for college.
I am incredibly grateful for the Caminos al Futuro program and its team who have made this all possible. I am excited for what the future holds for my Caminos family in this upcoming college application season and beyond!
Dania Arteaga is a Caminos al Futuro 2023 scholar. Dania’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.