Global and Multicultural
I thrive in this experience at Mason. Since my freshman year I’ve had the honor of serving 
as a facilitator and trainer for the Office of Diversity Inclusion and Multicultural Education. Through this role I have co-led Creating Community and Beyond Diversity, both models created by members of the office to increase cultural competency on campus. Every single time I facilitate, I learn something new and add that to my repertoire. This year in particular, I have had many new opportunities come up for myself that added to my development within the Global and Multicultural Education experience. I was selected to be an American Delegate for the Global Engagement Summit, where I talked about the work I do for undocumented immigrants through Mason DREAMers and also on campaigns to free undocumented LGBTQ people who are in detention centers. The global aspect to the conference was having delegates from all over the world come and share what they were doing. From education and dialogue on ways to critically engage with post-apartheid South Africa, to tackling sexual assault in New York, to my own work here at Mason, this experience really gave me a new perspective on global engagement. This year I was lucky enough to join the Collegiate Alliance for Immigration Reform with other members of the Mason DREAMers team. As students advocating for immigrant justice, it was powerful brainstorm ideas on how to build a comprehensive movement for social justice.
Civic Learning and Community Engagement
The theme for this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration was “How Long? Not Long. How Far? Not Far.” In an attempt to create heightened dialogue about community engagement through service, education, and advocacy, this year’s MLK Commemoration Committee did a lot of important work. Thankfully, I was able to be part of the team and was able to see through the programming. From screening my favorite documentary The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, going to Richmond to advocate for affordable education, to being honored as this year’s recipient of the 2015 Spirit of King, I am happy with what I 
was able to accomplish within the field of Civic Learning and Community Engagement. Most of my work within this field started in the fall of 2014 when I went to a Virginia Student Power Network (VSPN) convergence at the University of Virginia. College students from all over the state came to plan our yearlong plan to advocate for a more affordable and accessible education. We also as an organization affirmed our commitment to undocumented students, racial justice, economic justice, and other causes for social justice. In the spring of 2015, VSPN held a successful rally in Richmond on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as part of the MLK Day of Service. In Richmond, we also stood adamantly against SB 722 and HB 1356, two pieces of legislation introduced by Senator Richard Black and Delegate David Ramadan to take in-state tuition away from DACA-mented students. Luckily, both bills did not pass. Another achievement for myself this semester as an organizer was giving my Undocuqueer Workshop at Virginia Power Shift, a student activist conference, and also reciting poetry for part of a keynote speech at the conference.
Well-Being
Well-being is a core principle in all the work I do. As an advocate, I strive to understand the complexities that come with living a fulfilling, equitable, and balanced life for the people I work with as well as striving to find those qualities of well being for myself. While 
it is challenging to navigate well-being as an advocate, student, and worker I continue to develop ways to take care of myself and those I serve. My biggest growth in this field has been being able to think critically of the concepts that come with well-being because often it is code for relying on access not all people would have because of their race, gender, class, and other identities. This year I have able to present on the need to understand the importance of the well-being of undocumented students at the Leadership Mason Conference as part of Mason DREAMers.
Career Readiness
As a member of the Career Services Directors Advisory Board, I’ve been able to develop my 
career readiness by serving as a Model of Success for Career Services. Through monthly meetings, I’ve been able to have my voice heard on what Career Services can do to best serve the student body moving forward. Thanks to my connections in Career Services, I have also been able to lead a meeting with all Career Services staff on how Mason DREAMers and Career Services can partner to best meet the need of undocumented students at Mason, particularly those with a work permit thanks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program.