For Senator • The Students’ Voice
I am from El Salvador and I am a single parent. When I immigrated to the United States 6 years ago, I was planning to continue my education, but my family told me that I had no opportunity to continue and obtain a degree because I am Hispanic, immigrant, and a single parent. My family did not know the opportunities this country offers to students. I was not able to look on the internet for more information because I did not even know how to use it. I lived in an extremely poor community where internet was not available. However, a year later a friend helped me to connect with a center to help to continue my education. I obtained my GED and I went to CUNY language Immersion Program (CLIP) in order to learn the language and start college. I started at BMCC in Spring 2019 and it has been a great experience.
I am the first generation in college. In the first two semesters, it was the most difficult for me because I did not know who to contact from BMCC when I needed to. Weeks before my Fall 2020 started, I received an email from Denise Dellaporta to join the IMPACT Program as a mentor. I did not want to join because I was scared. I really wanted to support students, but I felt I was not the right person. I felt I was the one who needed help and be supported. However, one friend encouraged me to join and I did it. This is my second semester as a mentor. Before the classes begun, we were trained with a lot of information about what BMCC offers to students. I never imagined that BMCC really support students in many ways. I have gained confident. I have worked with 8 mentees so far and that have help me to improve my leadership skills. I assist with as many events as I can during the week in order to provide more information to my mentees. I provide information not only to my mentees but also to other BMCC students. Also, I joined NSLS and now I am part of the advanced leadership supporting and guiding students to complete their SNT meetings.
This semester, I received the opportunity to join SGA to run for a position. My goal is to work hard and smart to help and support students as much as I can. Based on my own experience I can infer many challenges students face through our semester. We are all facing different issues, but students want to feel supported. Some of them are lacking information and that is something we can work on as a team. I decided to run as Senator because I want to help to coordinate legislative activities that somehow impact student’s life. I want to be close to the student community. BMCC has students from many different countries, culture, races, religions and they need to feel that we are here to support them.
