Category: Mentors

Pursuing a Bright Future

11/7/2016

For the students whom are interested in how they will get to college, I give them props. Many students these days are not really looking too much into their college options as a freshman, but the students who are joining the SWAG mentorship program are reassuring their options. Coming from YES Prep, a college preparatory school, I started caring for my future since 6th grade since that was the goal for each student. YES made me appreciate all the steps they made me take in order to attend a four year college. But for those who didn't attend YES, I didn't understand how they managed to attend colleges since my community was filled with low income students and schools who didn't worry for the students as my school did, but this program changes that mindset. All the kids who sign up for this program are making sure they are following the correct steps to attend a college and make their future bright, and with mentors who currently attend college and had some of the same struggles we are here to help them achieve their goals by either asking simple questions or reading their essays for colleges. SWAG is just another tool for students to take advantage of for their future.

-- Jorge Valenzuela

What To Do After College?

6/15/2016

I’ll admit it. I didn’t start thinking seriously about what I wanted to do after college until the summer before my senior year. It wasn’t that I didn’t realize I would soon graduate, or that I didn’t appreciate how difficult the job market is for my generation. In fact, I avoided thinking about my post-graduation plans because I was unsure of my career interests and focused so intently on my studies that it was difficult to choose to spend my time doing anything else.

I can imagine that many students in the classes of 2017 (or perhaps even those in 2018 and 2019) may be feeling the same way. That’s why I am writing to share the one thing that helped me most in figuring out what I wanted to do after college: I found great mentors.

Assistance in narrowing your career interests is one of the greatest benefits to finding a good mentor while you are still in college. During my senior year I worked closely with a professor to complete my senior thesis. I had taken a few classes with this professor, but I learned much more from him as a mentor than as a teacher. The critical feedback he provided on my work soon became broader guidance on my interests and how those interests intersected with contemporary issues in academia and society. He challenged me to refine my thinking in a way that enabled me to see how I wanted to pursue my interests after college.

Learning about and observing how a mentor does his or her job can also be immensely helpful for sorting out what comes after college. Immediately after graduating I completed an internship with a non-profit startup. The founder had started the organization out of his passion for political engagement and interest in civic technology, but with zero experience in the field or in running a social enterprise. Two years later his project has launched and his organization has been acquired by one of the leading civic tech companies in the US. Working with him enabled me to learn how to convert passion into action and find, or in his case make, a job that aligns with your interests. That was a lesson I could never have learned in the classroom.

It’s easy to get caught up in the rhythm of college life and put off thinking about post-graduation plans. But connecting with a mentor while you are still in college can be huge benefit to figuring out what to do after college and understanding what skills you need to get there. Add on the fact that a mentor will also be able to connect you to a professional network and point out openings and opportunities that are not on your radar and the decision is a no-brainer.

-- Michael Trujillo

For more info about Swag, please visit our website: SWAG To College
If you or anyone you know are interested in being a mentor, click here: Become a Mentor
If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a mentee, click here: Become a Mentee

First Gen Identity Awareness

4/18/2016

The process of getting to college is a difficult one, especially without the support of parents. After arriving on campus, first generation students are often lost in the shuffle of college life. They find difficulty transitioning to their new environment and knowing how to navigate their new homes.

Colleges are beginning to recognize this issue. Many schools, like Williams College, bring their first generation first year students to campus early for pre-orientation programs. Student bodies are creating student run organizations for their first generation community members. However, organization members are finding a common problem on their campuses: visibility.

Entering Smith College, I had no idea which other members of my class were also first gen. Smith holds an orientation group for first gen students, but besides the eight (including myself) or so participants, I thought I was alone on campus. Our first generation student alliance struggles to keep a presence on campus. It’s difficult to hold bi-weekly meetings when so many of our members are working or making up school work they missed by having to work a job to afford college.

In response to this, F1GS (our first gen student organization) help a visibility week. From an identity photo op, a film screening, a first gen STEM faculty panel, to an ice cream social, our goal was to increase visibility on campus. There’s a need for other first gen students learn about their identity. Many students do not even know that they are first generation until they come to college and learn what sets them apart from their non-first gen peers. When I see someone walking around campus in a “Proud to be First” t-shirt, I feel more at ease. Visibility makes students realize that they are not alone in their struggles and that others have come before them.

On Saturday, Smith took part in the fourth annual First Generation College Student Summit at Williams College. Knowing that everyone around me was first gen, I felt part of a larger community. Seeing students who came from similar backgrounds as I did succeed and do great things. While there are many institutional changes colleges and universities must make to create a welcoming environment for first generation students, visibility is the first step. When students band together and identify as a group, changes can begin to be made.

For more info about Swag, please visit our website: SWAG To College
If you or anyone you know are interested in being a mentor, click here: Become a Mentor
If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a mentee, click here: Become a Mentee

La Importancia de los Mentores

4/18/2016

Regresar a casa siempre cae de maravilla. Puedo dormir en mi camita - grande y cómoda, comer deliciosa comida hecha en casa, sentarme en la sala viendo tele...especialmente los jueves cuando pasan los tres programas de Shonda Rhimes, y puedo pasar tiempo con mi familia. Normalmente cuando estoy de regreso en casa no regreso a mi prepa ya que la mayoría de mis vacaciones ellos están en descanso también. En este caso llegué dos días antes de que mi prepa saliera de vacaciones y tome este tiempo para visitar a Furr y reclutar estudiantes para SWAG.

Cuando entré, sentí como si era una estudiante mas de Furr. Parecía como si el tiempo no habia marchado y estos pasados dos años no existieron. Por un segundo sentí como si estaba de regreso en el liceo...lista para mi próxima clase en cuanto sonaba la campana.

Entré a la oficina principal y vi a varias personas: La señora Shaw, seño Pieri, seño Brown, seño Marroquin, y de ultimo a dr. Simmons, la persona que me abrió tantas puertas. Todos me saludaron con risas y abrazos. No podía parar de pensar que solo hace dos años era una estudiante de preparatoria del último año, terminando las aplicaciones para la U y siguiendo con el esfuerzo de encontrarme unas buenas becas mientras participaba en otras actividades. Despues pense de como en mi tercer y cuarto año de la escuela secundaria yo no tenía ni idea a donde iba a ir después de graduarme. Siempre supe que iría a la universidad, pero no sabía cómo. Me recordé de que como el último año de prepa yo estaba perdida en todo lo que tenía que ver con universidades. Sabia que tenia que hacer para llegar a la meta final: la universidad, pero tenía que tomar tantas decisiones que nadie en mi familia previamente tuvo que tomar. Seguir mis estudios a dos horas de mi casa? Irme del estado por completo? Estudiar algo práctico, o explorar las materias hasta encontrar mi pasión? No podía recurrir a mi familia para preguntarles porque ellos no me podían ayudar.

En el liceo tuve la buena oportunidad de trabajar con EMERGE, una organización no lucrativa que se enfoca en ayudar a los estudiantes de bajos recursos en aplicar, ser aceptados y florecer en universidades de alto rango.

Ellos me guiaron por el proceso universitario, respondieron todas mis preguntas, ayudaron a mis papas entender la diferencia entre escuelas, pero ultimamente la decisión era la mía.

Esa es la razón por la cual quiero reclutar estudiantes para SWAG. Pienso que tomé la decisión correcta, pero yo se que no todos la tomaron. Yo creo que tener un mentor puede ayudar en muchas maneras, y quiero que otros estudiantes de mi preparatoria tengan la ayuda y el apoyo que yo tuve. Me hizo tan feliz de ir a Furr para platicar con otros estudiantes sobre SWAG y ver los maestros, facultad y el personal que me ayudó a llegar donde estoy, que me apoyó a través de mi temor, y ver que están haciendo lo mismo con otros estudiantes.

Para obtener más información sobre Swag, por favor visite nuestro sitio web: SWAG To College
Si usted o alguien que usted conoce está interesado en ser un mentor, haga clic aquí: Become a Mentor
Si usted o alguien que usted conoce está interesado en convertirse en un aprendiz, haga clic aquí: Become a Mentee

Inspiring Others

4/18/2016

I am the daughter of an incredible single mother who immigrated to the United States from Mexico at the age of 16 and has been raising three children alone. As a result, I come from an immigrant family and I have witnessed the countless struggles immigrants continuously encounter in my community. Due to the suffering and obstacles I’ve witnessed, I decided at an early age I wanted to become an immigration attorney. I know I want to advocate on behalf of the individuals who are disadvantaged in the legal system.

I know I tend to say this all the time, but I firmly believe all these things are a big part of who I am and want to be. I want to encourage students to always be proud of where they come from and to use this pride to help themselves and others. Once you embrace who you are, no one can ever define you. I have embraced and I am proud to say I have a strong single mother, I grew up with welfare, I have lived in a women’s shelter, I went to public schools my whole life, and much more. All these things are a part of me and with my mother’s hard work and mine, I can proudly say that I am attending the college of my dreams. Of course, I have countless of more challenges to encounter, but that does not scare me anymore.

My mother showed me two of the greatest principles that guide my life: to always have perseverance and courage. It is important to have perseverance because it helps people to keep trying even when they continue to fail. Our parents or guardians never gave up on us or stopped working because they knew we needed to survive. We cannot give up on our aspirations; failure only makes us stronger. It is important to have the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re standing alone. Have the courage to not take a no and turn it into a yes. I cannot tell you how many times my mother was told that she would not make it as a single mother. As time went on, students in my community and I were expected to get pregnant, drop out of high school, go to jail, and so on. I used all these expectations to motivate me to prove people wrong. I was a statistic waiting to happen, but you don’t have to be one. I want to make sure when people look at me, they can say, If she can do it, I can do it.

For more info about Swag, please visit our website: SWAG To College
If you or anyone you know are interested in being a mentor, click here: Become a Mentor
If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a mentee, click here: Become a Mentee

Importance of Mentors

3/23/2016

Going home is always great. I get to sleep in my big, comfy bed, eat delicious home-cooked food, sit in my living room and watch TV (especially Thursday nights, when I watch all three Shonda Rhimes shows), and spend time with family. I don't usually go back to my high school when I'm home because most of my breaks line-up with their breaks as well. However, I was home two days before the break started and I took that time to go to Furr and recruit students for SWAG.

I walked in and felt as if I was just another Furr student. It seemed as if time had stood still and these two years hadn't passed. For a second, I felt like I was back in high school, ready to get to my next class as soon as the bell rang.

I walked into the main office and saw several people: Mrs. Shaw, Ms. Pieri, Ms. Brown, Ms. Marroquin, and last but certainly not least, Dr. Simmons, the person that opened so many doors for me. They all greeted me with a smile and a hug. I can't help but think how a mere two years ago, I was a senior, finishing the college application process and continuing the arduous work on scholarships, while also participating in other things. Then, I think about how in my freshman and sophomore years, I had no idea what school I would go to after high school. I always knew I would go to college, I just had no idea how to get there. I remember senior year and how clueless I still was. I knew what it took to get to college, but I had to make so many decisions that no one in my family had to make. Go to school 2 hours away, or leave the state? Study something practical, or explore until I find something I truly enjoy? I couldn't go to my family for advice because they were not able to help me. I had to figure that out on my own.

During high school, I had the pleasure of working with EMERGE, a nonprofit organization that helps underserved students apply to, get into, and thrive at top-tier colleges. They guided me through the college process, answered my many questions, helped my parents understand the difference in school, but ultimately, the decision was going to be all mine.

That's a reason why I went to recruit students for SWAG. I think I made the correct decision, but I know that not everyone did. I believe that having a mentor can help and I want other students from my high school to get the help and support I received. It made me happy to go to Furr to speak to other students about SWAG and seeing the teachers, faculty and staff that helped me get to where I am, who supported me throughout my four years, and seeing them do the same to more students.

Jasmin: Mi Experiencia Universitaria

12/4/2015

Hace dos años si alguien me hubiera dicho que yo me iba a mudar a Portland, Oregon para continuar mis estudios yo lo tomaría como chiste. Es mas, mi familia sí lo tomó como chiste cuando yo les dije que asistiría al colegio Lewis & Clark. Fue como chiste porque aunque sí esperaban que yo asistiera una universidad no esperaban que me fuera tan lejos de casa, especialmente porque yo soy la primera en mi familia en asistir una universidad de cuatro años. Yo soy a lo que le dicen una estudiante de primera generación. El miedo me sobraba y dudaba que llegaría lejos.

Actualmente estoy a mitad de mi segundo año universitario y a sido una experiencia totalmente espectacular. Asistir el colegio Lewis & Clark a sido una de las mejores decisiones que he hecho en mi vida. Estoy en camino a obtener un bachillerato en estudios hispánicos con concentración en estudios latinoamericanos. Sin embargo, yo he aprendido mucho más que literatura española durante este año y medio. Yo he aprendido a amar mi cultura mucho más de lo que ya la amaba, he aprendido cómo socializar con diferentes personas y he aprendido como defender mis opiniones. Yo me he desarrollado e independizado. Tengo muchas cosas planeadas y estoy tan emocionada. El asistir a este colegio me a abierto las puertas a oportunidades que en otros lugares no hubiese podido obtener. También me a abierto los ojos para poder reconocer las cosas que verdaderamente me importan e interesan.

Claro que no todo a sido fácil, pero lo que quiero enfatizar es que no a sido imposible. Soy mujer latina de muy bajos recursos y como mencioné anteriormente, soy estudiante de primera generación. Si nos basamos en los estereotipos y estadísticas, yo no debería de estar donde estoy. No obstante, aquí estoy y no desearía estar en otro lugar. Con programas como SWAG To College yo sé que más gente como yo llegarán a obtener grandes experiencias en las universidades.

Jasmin: My College Experience

12/4/2015

Two years ago if someone had told me that I was moving to Portland, Oregon to continue my studies I would taken it as a joke. In fact, my family did take it as a joke when I told them that I would attend Lewis & Clark College. It was like a joke because although they expected me to attend college they did not expect it to be so far from home, especially considering the fact that I am a first generation student.

I am currently halfway through my sophomore year, and so far it has been an awesome experience. Choosing to attend Lewis & Clark College has been one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. I am on the path towards majoring in Hispanic Studies and minoring in Latin American studies. However, I have learned much more than just Spanish literature during this year and a half. I learned to love my culture more than I already loved it, I learned how to socialize with different people, and I learned how to defend my opinions. I have evolved as an individual and become much more independent. I have many things planned for the future and I'm so excited. By attending this school I have opened doors to several opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise. In addition, I have opened my eyes and have come to realize what I truly value and care about.

Of course, not everything has been easy, but what I want to emphasize is that it is not impossible. I am young Latina woman with a low economic background, and like I mentioned earlier I am a first generation student. If we take a look at all stereotypes and statistics, I should not be where I am. All the odds are stacked against me. However, here I am and I do not wish to be anywhere else. Programs like SWAG To College are working to get more students like me into and through college, and this makes me so happy. I am proud to be a part of this organization, and I am glad I am able to share my experience.

Alexis: Why I Became a Mentor.

11/28/2015

As a person of color, as a female, and as a person with dreams, I understand the need for motivation. As a person coming from a low-income household, I understand the pressure to find stability as quickly as possible. As a person living in the United States, I understand how expensive and stressful it is to find a way to pay for higher education. I was lucky to have others support me. That’s exactly why I am so committed to Students With Ambition Go (SWAG) To College.

There are too many young people that face obstacles on the path to reaching their goals. Those obstacles may range from not having anyone there to explain what FAFSA is or how to complete a college application. These obstacles seem so small, but in reality they are not. It is a quick fix to just pass down information and lend a helping hand, but there have to be people that are willing to do that. SWAG mentors do exactly that. The mentors are committed to helping others exceed their own expectations and give them the extra push that they may or may not need. I’m proud to be a part of this program because I want to help get more people like me in colleges. Diversity is needed to create safe space and I know diversity happens with SWAG To College.

Shirley: Why I Became a Mentor.

11/23/2015

My name is Shirley Dukmak; I am a proud Latina who grew up in Houston, TX. I am in my second year at Texas State University, majoring in International Relations and minoring in Political Science. I met Raj in August while I was working at a Tex-Mex Restaurant in Houston, TX. As he and his group were leaving, Raj came up to me and asked me if I was interested in joining SWAG to College, a mentoring program for students, I immediately got out a pen and an old receipt to get the information. I was surprised, but excited, because I knew this was a great way to meet people who are also interested in bettering our community and also becoming the next leaders of our generation. That evening when I got home, somehow I threw away the receipt where I had written the information about SWAG. For three months, I tried to find the information, but I could not. Then in November, I was on Facebook and came across the SWAG To College page, and I was thrilled! I immediately messaged them, and they were excited to pair me with a high school student.

I got the opportunity to meet Gabriela Romero, a sophomore, who I am committed to mentoring throughout her academic years. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am at today if it weren’t for my peers and counselors back in high school. I believe that every human being needs a support system, people that will be there to listen and motivate you to keep going no matter what obstacles block your path to becoming successful and I am excited to be part of Gabriela’s support system.