Written by: Brianna Puga, Caminos al Futuro 2026
On another regular morning stroll with my roommate and Caminos cohort to buy a Vietnamese coffee, I could not help but think about how I will not be able to do this back in my small, unwalkable town in Florida. As a coffee lover, I do not think I have appreciated these moments enough. Even though my coffee this morning was not as sweet as I wanted it to be, my experience at Caminos al Futuro has been sweeter than I could have imagined. Now that the program is coming to a close in just two days, I am appreciating every single moment a little more.
Throughout my time here, I have had phenomenal experiences, from seeing the historic Rotunda of the United States Capitol to delving into the world of Latinos in the United States in classes with Doctora Elizabeth Vaquera. I even had the opportunity to see the paintings of my favorite artist, Claude Monet, at
the National Gallery of Art. I've also participated in some of the most cutthroat cookie-decorating competitions and Jeopardy and Loteria games as part of the evening programming organized by our resident advisors.
When I arrived in Washington, D.C., around two weeks ago, I was walking into the unknown. Since it was my first time away from my family for such an extended period of time, I was naturally anxious about getting on a flight to meet twelve strangers with whom I would spend the next three weeks. Now, I
am so thankful that I applied to this program because I have met extremely compassionate and knowledgeable leaders. The guidance I have received from Doctora Vaquera and Trey, along with the advice from GW admissions, has equipped me with knowledge far beyond that provided by my high school counselors, and has undoubtedly helped me feel more confident and prepared as I enter college application season.
I am eternally grateful to the professors, faculty, and everyone else who contributed to making the Caminos al Futuro program as remarkable as it was. The memories I have made here are ones that I will cherish forever, so leaving will certainly be bittersweet. However, I am also excited to see what lies ahead for my cohort. I am confident that we will all go on to accomplish great things, and I cannot wait to see where our journeys take us!
Brianna Puga is a 2026 Caminos al Futuro Scholar. Brianna’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.