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 Virginia Campaign Leader Cecilia Lopez Cecilia attended the 2005 Greater Washington Hispanic Youth Symposium when she was a rising senior in high school. She later became a Hispanic College Fund Scholar, receiving scholarships in 2007 and 2008.
Tell us about yourself. I'm currently a junior at the University of Texas at Austin. Hook'em Horns! I'm majoring in government with a minor in Spanish, and I am preparing to apply for the Government Honors Thesis program to write an honors thesis next year that focuses on education. Where are you originally from and what made you decide to go to UT? I am from Alexandria, Virginia, and decided to go to UT for many reasons, but particularly because of its diversity and strong academic program in government. When I visited campus, I really felt a sense of community that I did not feel at other schools. Then, at the completion of my freshman year, I was selected as a Rapoport Service Scholar. I was one of 12 freshmen in the College of Liberal Arts to be selected based on commitment to service and financial need. The program has reinforced my commitment to service since, as a Rapoport Service Scholar, I'm expected to provide 200 hours of service to an organization each summer until I graduate. Tell me about a few of your extracurricular activities. I serve as a leadership coordinator for the Leadership and Ethics Institute in the Office of the Dean of Students, which coordinates leadership training programs for students and student organizations on the UT campus. Some of the training I do includes an 8-week leadership development program for first-year students, who are matched up with established student leaders. I'm also able to pursue my passion for public service by serving on the UT Student Volunteer Board as director of communications. I handle public relations by making sure our volunteer work is visible on campus and in the Austin community. I am also in charge of recruitment and retention of membership for the ten programs the board coordinates. What's one of your favorite extracurriculars? That's a tough question! But a unique one is blogging for the Longhorn Confidential, an online blog through UT's Office of Public Affairs that gets the word out about student life at UT. I was chosen as one of 8 students in the entire school-39,000 undergraduate students attend UT-and I get to blog about my college experience as a whole, including academics and extra curriculars. It's a great way of recording my college experience, sharing it with others, and helping prospective students learn more about UT. What an amazing opportunity! Tell us how you got to where you are today. My family and I emigrated from Uruguay when I was 13-years old. The main reason they moved to the U.S. was so that I could pursue higher education. Even though I'll be the first in my family to attend college, my parents have always reinforced the value of education. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be where I am today. Another major turning point for me was attending the Hispanic Youth Symposium when I was a rising senior in high school. I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn't know how. It was at the symposium that I found the guidance and knowledge to make my dreams of a college education come true. I found a mentor and also learned that it's crucial to apply for as many scholarships as possible. In college, I also received scholarships from the Hispanic College Fund in 2007 and 2008. There was a point when things got rough and I didn't know if I'd be able to return to college, but HCF pulled me through. Since I started school, HCF has also given me access to internships each summer that have helped bring out the leader in me and have given me direction to find my true passions. My involvement with HCF has also allowed me to help those who are younger than me by giving them the support I received at their age. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In ten years? Well, I plan to pursue graduate work in public policy right after graduation from UT. Within ten years, I see myself with a law degree, maybe practicing immigration law. My interests are so diverse that I am keeping an open mind and exploring different opportunities. What advice do you have for students who want to succeed? Take advantage of opportunities when they become available-whether it is a scholarship, internship, or program. Believe in yourself and never underestimate your potential. Apply no matter how far the reach may seem. You have absolutely nothing to lose. Network! Meet people and carry yourself well-you never know what opportunities a person can lead you to. Find a role model, a mentor, and learn from her experiences. Seek her advice and never be afraid to ask for help.
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