In 2001, at the age of 14, I left my country, my family and friends, and moved from Chile to the United States. Like many immigrants do, I was chasing the American Dream. My father had lost his job and coming to the United States was seen as an opportunity to provide shelter, education, and a better quality of life for his family. My family and I lived in California for a year and then moved to Iowa, where we have been living ever since. After nine years, the U.S. has become a second home for my family and me. In order to adapt to my new culture, I became involved in many extracurricular activities. For the most part I was content, but somehow I still felt incomplete. In college, I discovered how disconnected I was from my culture. I decided to do something about it. At Iowa State University, I became involved with the Latino student organization, Latinoamericanos, where I became the ambassador for Chile. Later, I joined another organization called Mates, (mah-tehs-named after a Latin-American tea) These organizations connected me to my roots. Their members became family to me. Together we’ve enjoyed picnics, barbecues, fundraisers and more. Through these activities, I realized that interacting and sharing with other Latinos made me feel whole again. I became connected to and passionate about my people, but something was still missing. Dancing is a big part of my culture. I started dancing with family and friends at a very young age, but things are different in the U.S. My new friends didn’t dance for fun, so I was out of practice. I decided to take dance lessons. I started taking lessons with the Latin dance student group called Descarga, and with “Salsa Des Moines.� With them, I participated in many events and performances and re-discovered my love for dance. Through dance, I can express myself in ways that words alone can’t describe. When I hear the music I feel the rhythm rushing through my veins, driving me to the dance floor, where all worries and problems are set aside for as long as the music plays. Dance became the end of my journey to feel whole. My love for dance and my culture is what drove me to get involved with the Latino student organization at Drake University. I was on campus when I heard Latin music playing and that was my cue. La Fuerza Latina, (The Latin Force) the Latino student organization at Drake University was welcoming new students with the vibrant sounds of Latin dance music. I immediately joined them, and now act as Historian for the group. As Historian, my duties include taking pictures of events, writing press releases, and capturing highlights of the year. I also became their entertainment coordinator. Frequently, I have the privilege of helping with the dance lessons. La Fuerza Latina offers Latin dance parties, barbecues, Spanish movie nights, and even seminars to raise awareness about our culture through entertainment and education. La Fuerza Latina first attended the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) in Chicago in 2010 and I was able to join them. The workshops I attended helped me become aware of important issues in the Latino community and taught me the tools I need to become a better leader in my group and community. In Chicago, I’ve met very important leaders and made valuable connections that will enable me to be proactive concerning Latino issues. Through these connections, I hope to secure my dream job as a news reporter for a Spanish TV station. I believe that knowledge is power and through news I want to give people the knowledge they need to make informed decisions to better their lives. That is how I want to make a difference in the world. It’s been six years since my journey in college began and the woman I’m now realizes that my culture is in me and I can’t deny it. Through my college experience, I reconnected with my culture and realized how essential this is for my life and career.