Author: walw

My name is Nathalie Saladrigas and I am the daughter of Nora and Jose. Both of my parents are immigrants; my mother is from Colombia while my father was from Cuba. They fled from their countries in hopes to find opportunities they lacked in their home countries. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, the same city in which my parents met. Throughout my years growing up in Miami, I learned about several injustices occurring such as the lack of rights many immigrants had, the inaccessibility to adequate resources for minority communities, and the impact of politics on the lives on marginalized people. After the deportation of my mother when I was six years old, I began to be exposed to the world of politics at a very young age. I was separated from my father and due to the psychological effects that come from separation, my mother decided to send me back to Miami after three years residing in Colombia. My father and I lived in borrowed homes in which he worked at renovating a house in exchange for a place to stay or he would sleep on an air mattress at my grandmothers house so I can sleep on the bed with her. We lived in a state of insecure housing for two years until the return of my mother. Our dinners consisted of frozen dinners and the occasional dining to his favorite restaurant, Latin America. My mother eventually arrived to the country which allowed us to reunite as a family. My father, however, passed away when four years ago due to a sudden heart attack. Through my experience as a child, I was motivated to help others who suffered like I did. I grew up low-income and attended schools that often lacked adequate resources which led me into the world of activism and community organizing. In high school, I engaged in efforts to fund therapists and defund police officers present in our campus. This work in organizing inspired me to work on other issues such as LGBTQ rights, climate justice, racial justice, and education justice. In college I created the first LGBTQ club on my campus in which I led efforts to organize phone banking and canvassing efforts as well as educate students on issues present in Florida politics. Moreover, I worked as a lead organizer with Florida Student Power Network in which I engaged students in politics through education and several political events. Community organizing is vital in making change; therefore, working within these organizations inspired me to do more for my city and the people who reside within it.

I attended a community college in Miami called Miami Dade College and transferred into Boston University after I graduated.

When I was a little kid I never knew how to answer when I was constantly asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. I just knew that whatever career I ended up in, I wanted to be able to make an impact on the world and help others. As I got older I knew I never wanted to be a politician but wanted to find a way to help solve societal problems. When I learned more about public policy as a field, I knew this was how I could accomplish everything I wanted.

I went into my first year of college knowing I wanted to major in public policy analysis with a concentration in sociology. At my college you declare a major at the end of sophomore year and I was ready to declare from day 1. I never deviated from that path and declared in April of 2023.

I’m from the Seattle area and am currently a junior at Fordham University in New York studying International Political Economy, and hope to apply skills learned at school and in the JSI program this summer to a career in international politics in the future.

I was undecided on what to study for a long time but landed on a major focused on international politics after trying a variety of classes and finding that it fit my goals and strengths best.

My name is Amisa, and I am a criminology student at Gonzaga University. After completing my undergraduate studies, I want to go to law school. I want to serve in a public career with the knowledge of laws, it is rich. I am excited about this opportunity to participate in JSI at Evans School. I look forward to learning from my fellow participants, growing together as a team, and improving our world.

I focused on managing my time and getting involved on campus. I went to my professor’s office hours for further discussion or to ask for advice on how to excel, and they were really helpful.

Aloha mai kākou! My name is Noah Kaloeaholokai Lum! I am a current student at the University of Washington double majoring in Political Science and Global/Regional Studies, with a minor in Oceania/Pacific Islander Studies. I am of Native Hawaiian decent and my hometown is Aiea, Hawaii. My academic focus is on international policy regarding climate change, rising sea levels, and an increasing number of Pacific Islander climate refugees.

When first starting college, my goal was to work towards a career in community service. However, it took me a little bit to figure out what that looked like and in what ways I could give back to my people.

I am a proud Kenyan who was raised in Everett, Washington. I come from a large family who heavily prioritize community. After becoming a frequent member of my neighborhood community center, I developed a keen interest in community service. Through community service, I became involved in student body government, becoming the First Black Woman ever to hold the position in my high school’s history. I am an alumnus of the AVID program, YMCAs My Achievers Program, and NAACP Youth Development Program. The programs have heavily shaped me and sparked my interest in Black History. I am now an activist who uses the knowledge my community granted me to teach others about authentic Black history.

When I started college, it became my mission to be involved in as many multicultural and Black Registered Organizations as possible. I have been engaged in WSU Multicultural community centers and have prioritized building a community within them. Four weeks after I arrived at Washington State University. I became an executive member of the African Diaspora Association and the Black Student Union cabinets. Currently (three semesters later), I became a founding member of the People of Color Pre-Law Coalition, President of the WSU African Diaspora Association, and Public Relations for the Black Student Union.