The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program was an opportunity that I had known about since my first semester on campus through my scholarship program, the Center for Academic Excellence. Ever since, the opportunity kept coming up as something I could pursue, almost as if it were haunting me until I committed to it. Unintentionally, I also began developing my skills and love for research, which prepared me to be a competitive applicant for the program.
Whenever it came time to begin the application in August, I was still unsure whether I planned to pursue the opportunity. It was not until before the semester started that I ran into Ximena Franco–someone whom I am privileged to consider a close friend now–who shared that she was on her way to begin her application, which prompted me to start my own. From that point forward, we periodically met up to hold each other accountable.
The McNair Scholars Program is for low-income and/or first-generation college students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree by engaging scholars in research and providing resources related to graduate school. Therefore, one of the requirements for the application was a personal statement indicating why you want to pursue a Ph.D, what you hope to research as a scholar, and what you believe McNair could offer you in this journey. Additionally, students are expected to receive two letters of recommendation from professors. For me, I have had the amazing opportunity to work closely with Dr. Megan Bailon, a Lecturer in the Chicane & Latine Studies Program, and Dr. Raquel Kennon, an Associate Professor in the English Department. I also had conversations with them, during which I gained further insight into what it means to pursue a Ph.D. degree and reaffirmed that I do have what it takes to undertake such a task.
After I submitted my application, I received an interview invitation. It was over Thanksgiving Break that I received notification about my acceptance into the Program. Now, I am fortunate to be working with Dr. LB Klein, an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, in the Gender, LGBTIQ2S+, Interpersonal Trauma, and Translational Equity Research (GLITTER) Lab. While I assist them and gain experience on their lab projects, I am also working towards researching how the LGBTQIA2S+ identity affects Latine youth as they navigate their intersecting identities in relation to their Latine culture and upbringing.