Written by: Isabella Manzanares, Caminos al Futuro 2019
My name is Isabella Manzanares and I’m from Las Vegas, Nevada. As soon as I got the acceptance email for this program, I was ecstatic. This was going to be a brand new experience for me that would benefit me in the future. I FaceTimed my mom as soon as I got off work and we both screamed in happiness. We worked on the application together knowing it was a leap of faith. When I first got to GW, I had mixed feelings. I was scared to leave my loved ones for three weeks, but I knew that new adventures awaited. Throughout the past two weeks, we have had endless laughter in class and had countless late-night talks.
The last Monday of Caminos al Futuro started with a tour of the GW greenhouse, then seeing the beehives, and concluded with a guest speaker about Public Health. There were African albino frogs in tanks, caterpillars cocooned on plants, and a variety of exotic flora. Next, we were able to see how beekeeping occurs on top of Bell Hall. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and hold a panel of bees making honey. At the beginning of this program, they told us to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. I have taken that advice and have run with it. Lastly, there was a guest speaker, Professor Uriyoan Colon-Ramirez talked to us about the barriers of public health for Latinx communities. It showed me a new perspective on the health of the United States.
To end our day, we talked to Professor Hernandez who got her Doctorate at Harvard. It was inspiring to see a Latina in STEM, and we took full advantage of her experience by asking questions about her experience as a Latina in the Harvard doctoral program. She made the whole class lighten up with humor before she told us the sad truth, that she has faced discrimination from her peers even at the very top. That resonated with me on a different level. Women, especially Latinas, are forced to jump through more hoops, and there are times where women are not given the respect or are dismissed easily. It is unfair today in this 21st century.
All in all, I am very happy to have been accepted into this program. Trey and Doctora Vaquera have taught me to embrace my identity. They have challenged me these past two weeks. I felt like I have made quite the little familia here and have met with great mentors.
Isabella Manzanares is a Caminos al Futuro 2019 scholar. Isabella’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.