Last summer I got the chance to attend the Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship where only about ten students got selected from hundreds that applied. This internship required me to make a presentation on how we can improve lives of Hispanic men here in the Rio Grande Valley. My presentation was on obesity and type two diabetes, which is relatively what we, Hispanics get often. With the help of my mentor we established a survey to study what men think we can do to better our health conditions and reflected on their history and what they wish could have known to prevent what they have now or are in risk of. I helped this internship get ideas on what they should do to their current organization and how to approach young people like me
On the early days of the Texas annexation to the United States, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley in particular were primarily a cattle country. With vast lands, favorable climate and lack of mountain terrain, the Rio Grande Valley became an ideal region for cattle and livestock rising. But that was about to change with the introduction of agricultural irrigation in the midst of the 19th century. It was during that time that the lower Rio Grande Valley’s economy shifted towards the agriculture. Since rainfall in this area was scarce (just like it is now days) farmers and engineers had to figure other ways to provide the necessary water to their crops.
In high school I was able to choose an elective that had great appeal to me- Chicano Studies. This was a new course at my high school, it was providential for me that the course became available because of the large impact it had on my life. In this course we studied, the history of Mexico and its influence on current culture, past civil rights leaders, and the topic that struck me the most, current events. Our teacher, Mr. Pisano, expressed his alacrity to teach the course to the administration at our high school, and with appeal he was able to teach one section of the course.
The informative speeches delivered from my peers were about the community as of where the majority of us come from or a place where my peers call home. I learned many interesting things. For example, how El Dia de Los Muertos is a very special event mostly taken in Aguas Calientes or just in general in Mexico but is still celebrated in the United States. I learned how “Papel Picado” is a famous thing they do for El Dia de Los Muertos and how people can decorate Papel Picado such as making skulls or others designs that represent death. Also, how here at Csun they have a Dia de Los Muertos event that takes up to three days in honor to those who have departed.
It has helped me to become more open minded and to develop a more compassionate moral philosophy. I feel that this has better equipped me to actively participate in conversations with other interns, and with the distinguished professors brought in by the program. It has also opened my eyes to unique and specific problems that each minority group faces. While, to many, this makes me an easily offended millennial, it also makes me more aware of the effects of my words and privileges and of how I can aid my peers in a respectful way that helps everyone move forward and helps to level the playing field so that issues of equity are being dealt with as opposed to issues of
I learned of family values and struggles that, although I had never experienced myself, I was able to resonate and express genuine empathy for such enticing stories. Summer bridge at San Diego State encouraged me to be the leader I had always had the potential to be, while allowing me to share my passion with others and engage with peers from different backgrounds who share the same struggles as me. Theses encounters also inspired me to seek involvement in clubs and organizations within and outside of my African American
The keynote speaker of the day was Enrique Rodriguez, an anchor of Univision news. His life experience was inspiring. I will remember his words. At a young age, Enrique had admirations and goals that he wanted to accomplish in life, he was raised by two Hispanic parents and brought to the United States at the age of thirteen. He dreamt that he was an anchor or reported, I remember his affectionate voice when he described his passion for narrating soccer games or imitating the news.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is a student group on campus that aimed to provide support and resources to Hispanic students at Columbia and Barnard. I was responsible for keeping minutes at meetings, sending out weekly newsletters, and planning events. I joined this group because I wanted to be more involved in the Hispanic community on campus and wished to be in a position to benefit this community as well. I attended weekly Saturday meetings and helped in the planning of at least 1 event every month. I left the group due to personal problems that forced me to focus more on my mental health and school.
I have had the unforgettable opportunity to personally raise $1,400 for kids to go to summer camp, whose families could not afford it otherwise. I have worked at food drives, homeless shelters, and kid’s programs in my town, in hopes to make someone’s day a little bit better and ultimately make my community stronger. These experiences shaped who I am today. While I cherish the experience I had making a difference in my own town, I am ready to grow and leave a positive impact somewhere else in the country.
I did my Senior Project with Ireland Miller, and together we worked with Logan’s Promise. Logan’s Promise is an organization that spreads awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. It was formed when a drunk driver was driving the wrong way on University Parkway and hit a car, filled with three Reitz students, head on. Two were badly injured and my brother, Logan Brown, was killed. From that horrific event Logan’s Promise was formed.
Lastly, as a vice president of the Lions Club, I took part in providing eye screening for students in underserved schools. Recently, I met an employee of U of M Dearborn who brought his children to one of our events. He gratefully thanked us because his son obtained a pair of glasses after being screened and referred by our club. He said, “ My son has no headaches now and can see better.” Being told this filled me with a great sense of compassion towards those in need and opened my eyes as to how a small act of kindness can greatly impact someone 's quality of life.
By participating as an SIP intern, I hope to gain experience in the scientific field and to further my passion in science. When I am a working adult, I would be most happy spending my days in bioengineering. I highly enjoy delving into biology- I love the classes, reading its applications, and researching what the career is like. Thinking narrowly, participating as an SIP intern gives me a chance to spend my summer well.
I was able to meet the Dean of TWU Graduate School Dr. Larry LeFlore, a humble man. This was the 2nd year that the Graduate school has done and I will come back every year. Because the information I obtained worth the trip and the time. Keynote Speaker: Bathsheba Smithen who was born and raised in Virginia and an International Baccalaureate diploma recipient, a graduate of An Achievable dream Academy, and a Mary Hughes-Harley Davidson and McNair Scholar. She has overcome poverty, homelessness and the abandonment of her parents as a teen.
In the first year, I was a part of a pioneering youth development team in Americorps NCCC Southwest Region. I worked with K-12 students in title one schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, local non-profit organizations, The Red Cross and The Salvation Army. I spent my second year working with underserved youth as a volunteer coordinator for Reading Partners in DC. I learned about the struggles that the students I worked with dealt with every day. I was also able to interact with parents and provide resources for education, housing, food, and nutrition.
What? Over the past semester, I have taken part in a service learning placement to better understand the diversity that occurs within the Hamilton community, where I will be doing various clinical placements in subsequent years in my nursing program. My particular placement was at an elementary school, Pauline Johnson Elementary School, where I spend three hours every week with a second-grade class. In my role as a service learner, I acted as a teacher 's assistant. During class time, I would go around and help various students with their work, encourage students to try their best, supervise during nutrition breaks and interact with students during music and gym classes.
My internship was with the Boys and Girls Club LeBron James Clubhouse. I worked with students from the Akron area that were in less than ideal home situations and I saw a huge need for a positive role model in their life that was dedicated to working towards helping them succeed and advocating for them and their needs. It was after my experiences at the Boys and Girls Club that I decided my next step would be to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a school