Carolina Escalera Essay

1 Gazing at a long stretch of sand at the beach, it is hard for me to comprehend how huge and vast it really is. But when I bend down and look, an infinite amount of tiny grains of sand is what makes up the entirety. In life, I view myself as a tiny significant grain that is small, but one who can make a huge difference in society and the world through leadership and community service.

Throughout my life I have come to realize that I have to be the change that I want to see in the world. When I first arrived to the University of Missouri-Columbia to begin my studies in journalism and international studies, I was in complete culture shock. Being from a Hispanic family and coming all the way from Florida to a small town in Missouri, I looked around at the other students and I realized that I was the only one in my classroom that was Hispanic. My culture and identity are very important to me and going to a school that has about 27,000 students but only about 500 Hispanics; I knew that I had to do something.

At the beginning of my freshman year I began making the plans to found at Mizzou a chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). I worked my first semester making contacts that included students, faculty, staff, and establishing a relationship with the National Association itself. After filling out all the paperwork, including getting letters from the university, school of journalism, regional director; writing the constitution; and finding interested students, I was able to make the chapter official in February. We are the third student chapter of NAHJ in the nation and we held our first elections on February 13, 2006.

Being the founder and President, I believe that a chapter of NAHJ at Mizzou is crucial.

First of all, some of the goals I have for the organization is to help recruit more Hispanic students to the University level and into the field of journalism. Moreover, I wanted to establish the organization to bring more understanding about the Hispanic community to campus. One of the

2 goals of the organization is to increase the coverage of the Hispanic community in the media.

Therefore, I have been actively recruiting students that are not only Hispanic but also have a stake and an interest in the Hispanic community. For example, students that are double majoring in journalism and Spanish would find the professional organization beneficial to their career and the Hispanic community would also benefit. This fall semester I plan to bring in speakers to campus, have open discussions, facilitate activities in the community and campus, and be a reference point to the Hispanics and journalism students.

I have also exercised an interest in increasing diversity on the campus as a whole. I am currently secretary of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (H.A.L.O). This fall we are establishing the first Hispanic student orientation for incoming freshman. This orientation will help Hispanic students in their transition into the University and also provide mentors for them. Last year, as a member, I worked on H.A.L.O week, which included orientating students on campus about issues facing the Hispanic community. Also, I was involved in the organization of the regional conference for Hispanic student organizations in Missouri. My goals for next year are to establish activities for Hispanic Heritage Month and involve the administration, including the Chancellor s Diversity Initiative and the student body concerning the recruitment of minorities to campus.

Many of the skills I have learned to use as a leader have come from my internship at the local newspaper of Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Democrat before my freshman year of college.

Out of all the employees, I was the only Hispanic employee on staff. I took this opportunity to learn more about the field of journalism and at the same time reach out to the Hispanic community and young people through the articles that I wrote.

3 Although I participate in many different programs including the Honors college; being a fellow for the Institute for International Public Policy Fellowship, a six component fellowship; McNair Scholar prep program; the Missouri International Student Council; and the M.A.P program, I feel that I make a true difference through community service. All through high school I participated in community service through the Youth Volunteer Organization. When I got to college I wanted to continue participating in community service, especially giving back to the Hispanic community. Therefore, during my first semester I began volunteering at the Centro Latino, a local non-for-profit Hispanic organization used as a resource for Hispanic and Latinos in the community. They address issues including Health, Education (Children and Adults), and Culture. I began volunteering every Monday and Thursday as a tutor for the elementary afterschool program. I helped students that regularly would not be able to have help on their homework because their parents did not speak English. I developed a special relationship with the students and my goal was not only to help them with their homework but also serve as a mentor and a role model so that they would aspire to continue their education and attend college.

Working with young children has showed me that the best way to make a change in the Hispanic community is to plant a seed of hope in the young people. I also worked with the administration of the Centro Latino implementing a community-consulting project as a component of the Chancellor Leadership Class. I observed their leadership structure and made suggestions for improvement so that the organization would be able to function to its fullest potential. Next year I will be volunteering after classes, dedicating more time to the development of the organization.

During my summer in Atlanta for my fellowship program I volunteered twice a week teaching English to adults at the St. Vincent de Paul Society. I really enjoy seeing the progress

4 that the student s made and being a mentor for people that really want to make the most of themselves in America.

Seeing the future of Hispanics through my young, confident, and optimistic eyes, I have faith in the potential we bring to the table. I want to help my fellow Hispanics learn about the opportunities, advantages, and potential they have. For example, I want to stress to the Hispanic American the importance of attaining a higher-level education. I hope to become an influential leader for Hispanics by working through journalism and the international affairs community.

I plan to achieve my goals and dreams by drawing on the core values that, as Hispanics, we all share

hard work, education, determination to succeed in the face of adversity, self-

reliance, support of community, and family. The Hispanic community s growing strength in economics, politics, and culture, the abiding faith of the community, and leadership will uplift everyone in the community. As I live out the dreams of my parents, grandparents, and greatgrandparents that brought me here, I can transform my community.