Written by: Claire Avalos, Caminos al Futuro 2022
Hi! My name is Claire Avalos and I am from Surprise, Arizona. Immediately after I was informed of my acceptance to Caminos al Futuro, I was both eager and nervous. Growing up as a Latina in a predominantly white suburbia, there were not many people I could connect with other than my schoolmates at my majority Hispanic elementary school.
What first attracted me to the Caminos program was not only getting the chance to explore Washington, D.C., but the chance to be around other Latinos from across the United States who I have shared experiences and interests. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up on. The Caminos program would allow me to receive that sense of belonging and acceptance I didn’t feel as often in my community.
Since my first night at the Mount Vernon campus, I have had nothing less of an exhilarating time. After me and my fellow scholars did icebreakers and got to know each other, we have since developed an unbreakable bond. From late night Glee sing-alongs, to laundry day, to important discussions about the Latino community in our lectures with Dr. Vaquera and Trey, I have gotten to experience that sense of community I have longed for since I was young.
Additionally, I have not only found a sense of belonging amongst the other Caminos students, but a figure I am inspired by and hope to be like someday: Paulina Vera. Following our lectures with Trey, Professor Paulina Vera gave us a tour of the GW Law School and performed a moot exercise. Here, me and my fellow students got to practice how to approach an immigration case that Vera and many immigration lawyers face every day and how we would attempt to have our client qualify for forms of relief. Not only was I extremely fascinated by the evaluation of these cases, but how Vera became such a powerful and unapologetic Latina in a country where that is very difficult to achieve. Seeing her work has inspired to push past the boundaries that Latinas are faced with and become a figure like her.
While it has only been five days, being part of the Caminos al Futuro program has gifted me with invaluable experiences and opportunities that I would not have received elsewhere. In the short amount of time being here, I have already gained a sense of belonging, community, and idol. I cannot wait to learn more about my culture and how to develop into an influential and confident Latino figure.
Claire Avalos is a Caminos al Futuro 2022 scholar. Claire’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.