“ASPIRA has made me a stronger person, and has provided me with many networking opportunities, both personal and work-related. The organization has encouraged me to never doubt myself, believe in my abilities, and seize opportunities as they present themselves.”
2008 High School Graduate, and currently a junior at Barnard College (Class of 2012)
As a freshman in high school, I felt isolated and a minority in a school where there were racial disparities. It was a new feeling I was not closely familiar with coming from a predominantly Latino community in Queens, New York. For me, ASPIRA’s presence during my high school career created a safe space, community, and a home. As new members joined, and former members graduated, ASPIRA always created a sense of family and bond throughout the years. It created a place for students with common interests in Latino culture, community service, and leadership to come together.
While a High School member, I serve as my school’s club secretary, and eventually club president. While President I also served as the chairperson for the ASPIRA Club Federation (ACF), where I served on the committee board as liaison between students and staff, students, and programs, and facilitated student meetings. In addition to my elected positions, I volunteered with fellow Aspirantes at a day care center and soup kitchen. We have helped organize city events geared towards students. We also walked in the March for AIDS in New York, and collected cans for food banks as part of ASPIRA’s annual Comite Noviembre event.
