I was born and raised in the city of Chicago, specifically in the predominantly Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen, in a working-class family. Both my parents were born in Michoacán, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States at an early age. My parents did not earn college degrees but assumed low-skilled positions that offered limited financial gains and social mobility. At home, education became a top priority because my parents wanted me to have the opportunity to live a better life. Despite attending local public schools with limited resources in Chicago, I was able to matriculate and graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I enrolled in the higher education program at Loyola University Chicago, where I served as a graduate assistant in the Department of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. Prior to entering the Ph.D. program, I worked full time as an advisor for the Student Support Services (SSS) TRIO program at Oakton Community College. My experience as an adjunct instructor coupled with my involvement in professional associations is what inspired me to pursue a doctorate in student affairs in higher education at Miami University, Ohio. My long-term career goal is to become a faculty member in a graduate program that prepares aspiring college student educators to meet the needs of students, as well as manage the anticipated challenges in higher education. As someone who is living in “the middle of nowhere” (Ohio), I am thankful for the opportunity to attend the AAHHE national conference as a 2020 Graduate Student Fellow.

Learning from and with an amazing group of Latina/o/x scholars who have similar career goals and values is what made this experience so enriching. Throughout the conference, I felt a strong sense of comunidad, and in many ways I felt like I was at home with familia. Connecting with scholars from similar backgrounds and experiences was quite affirming because it reminded me that I am not alone. Engaging in authentic conversations about the doctoral journey is what I enjoyed most about my experience. I appreciate the inspiration and wisdom provided by alumni AAHHE fellows and the faculty fellows cohort before, during and after the conference.

As a result of participating in the AAHHE Graduate Student Fellows Program, I gained a better understanding of how to navigate the job search process, learned more about the importance of mental and physical well-being, and I was able to reflect on why our representation in higher education matters. In addition, I received constructive feedback from faculty and peers regarding my proposed dissertation research. Most importantly, I now have a community of support I can rely on, as I make sense of what it means to be “the only one” in my program and as I work toward completing my dissertation and navigating the post-Ph.D. transition. I am forever grateful for this wonderful experience and thrilled to learn from my fellow cohort members going forward, who all inspire me to continue to do good work. ¡Gracias!