Reflection

I was introduced to the Honors Program in Fall 2022 by one of my peer mentors at the time, Manette Perez. I met her during the alternative break, and her kindness and joy in talking about the program were the reasons I was motivated to apply.

When I was in the process of applying, a part of me was hesitant because I thought maybe I didn't have enough to be accepted, but despite that, I decided to continue with the application. To my surprise, I was accepted into the program in Fall of 2023, and from that semester on, one of the best experiences I could have had at college began. From the orientation for new students in the program, I felt the kindness of the entire team. They all shared about their experiences in the program and the reasons why they decided to apply. It was really nice to get to know more about them, and hearing about their experiences was very inspiring. I think that day was important for me, it helped me feel welcome and gave me a lot of ideas about the things I wanted to do during my time at SLCC. 

Thanks to the program, I was able to count on a guide who helped me at all times, giving me support not only academically, but also emotionally. As the days went by, I was able to learn more about the peer mentors through conversations with them, with whom I formed a good friendship. I shared with them at many events organized by the program, and it was during the trip to the WRHC in 2024 that I was able to connect with them even more. 

Zach Johnson inspired me to continue developing my commitment to the community. His determination and passion to support different causes and anyone in need, whether through actions and/or words, were a catalyst for me to also look for ways to positively contribute to my environment. Aylin Gutiérrez helped me feel more confident about myself and trust my process, both educationally and personally. The words of encouragement she gave to all the students and the advice she gave to anyone who needed it had a very positive impact on me. Jevahjire France's dedication to raising awareness through his research on student struggles inspired me to start a conversation and raise awareness as well. Jack Bohun's kindness meant so much to me. Seeing him greet students with joy and listen attentively was very inspiring. His words of encouragement and help were very important to me. 

I was greatly inspired by the amazing team that made up the honors program. I learned and progressed so much from them, academically and in my personal life. When I began my internship for the program, I was determined to contribute in the same way they did. I looked to my experience being a mentee for inspiration and had support from them through advice. I have been a peer mentor for a year now, and it has been an amazing experience. I have loved every second of being in the program and have learned so much. Also, having experience as a mentee helped me to be able to connect even more with the students. 

During the first few days of working for the program, I began to think that it might be too difficult. I was worried that I would not be able to contribute to it, but having the guidance of Kathy Tran-Peter also helped me to eliminate my doubts. The honors program has been a source of learning that has also allowed me to share all those teachings in different ways. This internship taught me how important it is to have a support network and motivated me to do my best every time. Representing with joy and being able to give back to the program that meant so much in my life is very rewarding. 

I have had the opportunity to provide support and advice to students, focusing on representing a close figure. My goal is to continue contributing to the preservation of the values ​​of the program and to continue making it a space of belonging and inclusion. Every day I learn more from the other peer mentors. We support each other and help each other continue to grow every day. We are committed to giving our best and supporting students in any way they need. 

There are many things I wish I could mention. Many experiences and moments I went through in the program had a positive impact on my life, but I know that would probably make this essay even longer. I would like to finally mention that I am very grateful for this experience. I don't think I can accurately express the feeling of gratitude I feel for having been introduced to the program. I have no doubt that my college experience was amazing in large part because of the honors program. 

A thousand thanks to the honors program. Thank you to Kathy Tran-Peters, Michael Young, and Yana Yan for being a guide to me and everyone. Thank you to Angele Traore, Camila Thompson, Winchela Luc, and Jevahjire France for their incredible friendship and guidance.