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Marcos at his graduation from the University of California, Davis.
Marcos, who graduated from Watsonville High School in 2016, credits the support his parents gave him early in his life. It was their encouragement allowed him to focus on his academic goals. "They valued education and worked multiple jobs so that I could focus on my school work and discover a path in life different from theirs. While they made sure all our family's basic needs were met by working long hours during the week and on the weekends, it meant not being able to spend weekends or sometimes holidays with them. There were challenges I faced like finding rides or some other form of transportation I needed to get to the library to complete school work and to meet up with classmates to complete a group project.
During my early life, I began to see higher education as not only a way to make a difference in the world, but also a way to escape poverty. Though college was subconsciously in the back of my mind, it wasn’t until my eighth grade year at Ceiba Middle School, where a college-going culture existed, that I began thinking about the importance of higher education. During my Watsonville High School years there were at least seven key people who encouraged me to think about going to college. Each of them helped in both big and small ways, including, but not limited to, scholarship awareness, college exploration, college exams, college and financial applications, recommendation letters, and mentorships. All of these opportunities and programs influenced me to think about going to college. I am thankful to have had the help of these key mentors and programs like Upward Bound Trio, EOP, MESA, and the Watsonville Ivy League Project (WILP).
One of the biggest challenges I faced at UC Davis was navigating the university system and discovering the opportunities available beyond my classes. Because I prioritized my academics above all else, it wasn't until my last years at UC Davis that I began seeking other opportunities such as internships, workshops on graduate school/career exploration, and more. These are all valuable experiences that I wish I had spent more time thinking about. Not seeking out my own passion or interest resulted in me not taking advantage of opportunities and finding my true calling. These were two of my biggest challenges in college.
Marcos recognized early that higher education was a way to make a difference in the world.
The most rewarding experience of my life has been receiving the Gates Millennium Scholarship in 2016. This scholarship is funding not only my undergraduate education but will continue to fund all my education beyond the Master’s level. A great deal of effort and time went into obtaining this scholarship. This included my academic and athletic achievements, volunteer work, and a whole lot of writing. Obtaining this scholarship was a competitive process. Being awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship went way beyond just feeling rewarded for exactly what my parents taught me to value. The Gates scholarship gave me more confidence that all of my hard work was paying off, and I know, will continue to pay off for me throughout my future endeavors. The Gates Millennium Scholarship has opened doors for me and brought me new life experiences, including the college experience. The prestige of the Gates scholarship plus my academic accomplishments will take me even farther, assisting me in my goal to make the world a better place for all.
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