Shakira

I was brought up with the constant reminder that I had the power to create a future not defined by my environment, but by my dreams. My main motivation was and continues to be my mother, who at an early age instilled in me the importance of education as the catalyst that would allow my dreams to come true. I was shaped by witnessing her struggle with Rheumatoid arthritis as a result of her work as a butcher. Baring witness to her my mother's invincible nature drove me to give back to her all that she invested in me. This, along with being brought up in a dismal neighborhood, propelled me to seek educational opportunities, engage in experiences outside of the neighborhood in which I grew up in, and dream big.

As a first generation college student from The Bronx, my mother's encouragement still fuels my desire to learn and broaden my worldview. Only now, my focus has shifted from leaving the boundaries of where I grew up, to returning to my community and helping it thrive. My involvement with educational community programs such as America Reads and America Counts has made me realize that inadequate access to a sound education makes it impossible for urban youth to be empowered and for the communities they come from to prosper. I am committed to helping urban youth gain access to education and broaden their worldview, and am in the midst of exploring career paths that encompasses my desire to aid my community through education. Complementing my newly-discovered interests,  I am currently pursuing a degree in Metropolitan Studies, and a minor in Global and Urban Education, a combination that allows me to understand the problems of urban areas and how education can help eliminate such plagues.

Being a part of the New York Needs You Fellowship and being able to collaborate with evolved individuals who have turned their knowledge into practice will aid me in becoming a confident leader with a career path that embodies her passion.