To speak of my time as a college student, the time has yet to be experienced. I have yet to embark the journey after the acceptance letter, and have only yet to begin the common applications. I am a senior at my high school; my final run. This is my final punch to show my school and possible future university what I am capable of. The rigorous AP exams and meetings with the guidance counselor has given a preview of what is to be expected, but the anticipation of an acceptance letter is building up and I haven’t even sent out the application. I’ve grown up in a single-parent household since I was born. My mom has striven to raise her children to be independent and determined. She left all she ever knew and fled to America with her best friend where she envisioned the roads to be paved with gold. Through all struggles and possible regrets of leaving her home in Bolivia; success and pride is what she embraces to this day. She always says, “Si lo desea, lo consigue�—“If you want it, get it.� I kept that in mind as I looked for a job and internships for the summer. She has raised me to have the mentality of an invincible and victorious Latina proud and grateful to be who she is, and I respect and admire what my mom has taught me. She is the reason why I am so driven to succeed.

I come from a family proud to be from Cochabamba, Bolivia. Old memories of admiring my mom as she dances to cueca in the basement with our relatives and friends remind me of how special it is to be connected with one’s heritage. I am a proud Latina. I love my culture, I love my language. I love the music. I love it. Participating in the Hispanic Youth Symposium allowed me to embrace my culture and to connect with all Central and Latin American high school students. I attended Hispanic Youth Symposium at Virginia State University for the second time this past summer. With its goal to motivate and encourage everyone to continue in higher education, high school students from all of Virginia, and a few from Michigan and New Jersey gathered together to unexpectedly earn support from guest speakers and college representatives. A resident advisor mentioned how the symposium could possibly be the only place where everyone is on your side, everyone wants you to succeed and prosper. I couldn’t agree more. Latino empowerment speaker, Ernie G, would say, “If it is to be, it is up to me,� a saying similar to my mother’s. Although I haven’t fully experienced the dorm room, the professor’s lectures, or the independence of living away from family, my college experience has already begun as I take my SAT’s and kindly ask my teachers for a recommendation letter. My older sister’s stories of beloved friends she has made and teachers she looks up to only motivates me and excites me for what the doors of my future college will open.

So far in my “college experience� I’ve learned that it doesn’t take much to know what I want. If I know what I like, I’m headed toward the right direction. I want to embrace my culture and my love for journalism, and any opportunity that allows me to embrace these is an opportunity for me. A speaker at one of the Hispanic Heroes workshop at the symposium said that if you love doing what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. It’s one of those, “the end is only the beginning� bittersweet feelings as I complete my summer readings and assignments. I can’t even imagine getting that same feeling as I turn the tassel of my cap from one side to the other. By Sarah Rocha, W. T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA.