While a student at Wellesley, I was heavily involved in Mezcla as a means to achieve equity in higher education for Latin@ students on campus. My participation in Mezcla stemmed from my Latin@ heritage and a commitment to civil rights for all groups of protected status. I majored in Political Science and minored in Women and Gender Studies. Even though I graduated only two years ago, I have already made a career change. I joined Teach for America in Phoenix immediately upon graduation in 2012 and switched paths six months later. This past year I was a fellow in the California State Senate through the Capital Fellows Program. I was placed in the office of a senator who is very passionate about improving education policies. I am about to start a new fellowship program in Washington D.C. to learn more about the relationship between state and federal policy. I continue to be a strong advocate for creative policy solutions to achieve community empowerment.
How has your career changed since you originally envisioned it at Wellesley?
While at Wellesley, I found myself interested in so many topics that it was very difficult for me to decide on a major. Because I had such a deep-rooted interest in civil rights, I thought I might be a lawyer. I did a summer internship at a legal services organization that I deeply respect, only to discover that I am not interested in being a lawyer in that capacity. I thought that public policy might be a good path for me, but I wanted to gain some practical experience before thinking about graduate school.
So far, I like the policy field because it covers every topic imaginable from women’s reproductive rights to increasing voter participation. Even up- and-coming industries like ride sharing (Uber and Lyft) have been topics of public policy for the legal questions they raise about insurance and public safety. I am always doing something new, learning about the law, and being challenged in ways that I didn’t know existed when I was at Wellesley.
What other careers did you consider as a student?
After I reconsidered becoming a lawyer, I contemplated becoming a teacher and eventually, a professor. I also considered dropping everything, moving to Mexico, and finding a job with no particular career in mind. All of these options are still on the table for me to accomplish at some point during my life.
How has Wellesley contributed to your career?
At almost every place I have worked, there has been a Wellesley alum that has preceded me and made a positive impression. I believe that the Wellesley connection helps get a foot in the door.
What is a typical work day or work week like for you?
Every day is a little different as a Senate Fellow, which I like. The first thing I do in the morning is read the news for anything pertinent to my job duties. Otherwise, my schedule is dependent upon the legislative calendar and the schedules of elected officials. During various times of the legislative year, I will carry bills from inception through policy committees and floor votes, analyze other pieces of legislation that come through the committees the senator sits on and make vote recommendations, and meet with various political actors to hear their concerns. A bill that I worked on is currently on the governor’s desk.
What piece of advice would you offer students looking to get into your area of interest and expertise?
A fellowship may be a really great option for recent college graduates or someone looking to switch fields. Although the pressure is on to find the dream job that pays great money, a fellowship can offer an opportunity for entry into your field of interest. Additionally, a fellowship provides buffer time to learn more about the kind of job you want afterwards.
If you are interested in public policy or politics, get a diverse range of experiences with various actors. Government, nonprofits, lobbying firms, and business all have something to offer you. Don’t limit yourself to only one type of entity.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
I have two pieces of advice:
1. Don’t be afraid to switch paths. Discovering that something isn’t right for you is not the same thing as failure. Think about what is best for you.
2. Don’t let finances be an excuse to keep you from doing awesome things. When it is offered to you, tell the world- your professors, your friends, the CWS, and alums like me. Someone is likely to know someone who would be willing to give you a hand. You might have to take out a loan, and although you should do so carefully, don’t rule it out as an option. What seems like a lot of money in college isn’t always a lot of money in the real world when it comes time to pay up.
About eight months after graduating, some associate positions opened up at the White House. This position was unpaid, but otherwise a great experience. The downside is that I would have had to move from California to Washington D.C. with no expected income and no housing options. For this reason, I almost didn’t apply, but changed my mind when my mother convinced me to apply and find out how to make it happen afterwards. Within a few months, the position was offered to me. However, I still had to figure out how to pay for housing. I mentioned it to a coworker who mentioned it to another coworker with family in Virginia and within a few minutes I had an offer to stay with the family rent-free.
If you could come back and take one class at Wellesley what would it be?
I couldn’t choose just one class. Although, I wish I had studied abroad two semesters instead of one.