By Yoselyn Roman-Rodriguez, Fellow Class of 2018
University of Colorado at Denver
As I sit here and attempt to write this blog post, I am reminded of the journey my college career has been. I remember how each year, I would tell myself, “This semester can’t be bad as last semester.” Yet, to my surprise, each semester would get even more challenging then the last. However, this is not to say that they were terrible years, in fact these past four years have been the most memorable of my life. I have met incredible people—such as my mentors and Judge Arguello—and I have worked towards leaving my legacy on campus. I founded a multicultural sorority and became a part of a student cohort of marginalized students in the Political Science department. The Collective engages in anti-racist work to create a more equitable academic environment. While my last semester of college was abruptly cut short, I am proud of how far I’ve come and what I overcame.
LSYWC has paired me with an amazing group of mentors who are always there to listen and give great advice. I have witnessed my mentor, Vanessa, study and work hard to graduate from Colorado Law. She has inspired me to continue on the path that I am on and has restlessly given me her support—either by helping me with LSAT prep or offering an ear to listen. My mentor Candyce, always reminds me of my worth and keeps me grounded after listening to me deal with my third existential crisis of the semester—I seem to have those often. My mentor Russell is passionate about the work he does, and that motivates me to keep pushing to reach my goals. They all have impacted my life for the better and I am forever grateful for them.
I especially felt their support when I took the LSAT in July of 2019 and did not receive the score I wanted. It seemed impossible to overcome the self-doubt that I felt—but my mentors were there to reassure me that I am worthy, and I shouldn’t not give up if this is something I strongly yearn for. Even though my original plan was to go straight to law school after my undergrad, my mentors emphasized the benefits to taking a gap year. Thanks to them, I am now confident that taking a year off will favor me in that it will allow me to dedicate more time to prepare for the next chapter in my life.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities LSYWC has granted me. I am immensely proud to be a part of such a unique program that helps students, like myself, break down barriers and reach their goals. Being a first generation Latinx student, it can be tough to learn how to navigate (and succeed) within these academic structures that were not created for people of diverse backgrounds. Yet, LSYWC is creating that space through their mentorship program that is devoted to helping these students during their entire college career.
Si se pudo.
