Itzel Santos Blog

Life After Undergrad
June 1, 2020

I graduated a year and a half ago, and I am still thinking, “What do I want to be when I grow up.” A question I believe most well-established adults still ask themselves or should ask themselves. This is all part of learning more about ourselves; making every day a learning experience.

My objective has always been to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, but I have struggled to figure out where to start. Recently, I had a conversation with my mentor about the work that I have been doing and I realized that I have been doing it but not in the way I had imagined.

I received a promotion at Colorado Circles for Change after working as a Program Assistant for six years. My new role consists of facilitating my own program. I will admit, the idea of leading my own program made me feel nervous. Actually, it was nerve-wracking! Although, I had been assisting in facilitating programs in my previous position, doing it on my own would be very different. Managing a middle school mentoring program has been an extremely rewarding experience. I believe middle school is one of the most important developmental periods of a young person’s life. That is why I believe it is crucial to invest in youth at an early age to eliminate the violence in their lives and support them in their matriculation into high school. By equipping youth with tools, coping skills, and strategies they will be able to navigate through an education system that often discriminates against kids of color. Having my own mentorship provided me with the skills and tools to be able to be that trust adult in these kids’ lives.

I am grateful for the opportunity to provide a safe space for youth to find peace within themselves and to let go of their “cargos” (baggage/harm), to heal wounds they carry from experiencing racism, xenophobia, hateful rhetoric, and chromic stress, and most importantly all through a multi-cultural aspect. By investing in our youth, I hope to help them reach their full potential and slowly but surely eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline.

It is important to continue exploring what lights your fire. Growth is momentous and asking yourself “why” will put you in a position to think about your core values and beliefs. I am certain my “why’s” will continue to shape what I do next, and currently, they bring me joy.

The Real World
July 2, 2019

I still remember my first year of college and the feeling of being lost, especially as a first-generation student. Fast forward five years and I have now graduated from college and obtained two degrees, which are some of the most important milestones in my life. Looking back, I can only laugh at myself because I now see how much I have grown as a person and how many obstacles I have overcome. I have learned that one must be willing to step out of their comfort zone to try new things. During my undergraduate journey, I read a powerful quote that said, “If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.” Since reading those words, I have lived by them on a daily basis. This quote has also taught me that if you are self-determined and self-motivated you can accomplish anything and everything you set your mind to. 

When I learned about Law School Yes We Can I was hesitant to apply because the deadline was three days away. However, I reminded myself that if I really wanted to pursue a legal career I had to be part of this fellowship. Although I was very stressed those three days, I finished the application, got accepted as a fellow, and the outcomes and experiences have been phenomenal. Being a fellow at LSYWC has opened up new opportunities for me, and I thank my mentors for that. Through their networks and support, I secured a summer internship at the Denver Office of the Municipal Public Defender. To me, gaining real-world experience is just as important as having a degree. Being involved in the professional world is allowing me to grow my network and inch closer to my goal of practicing law one day.  

Being involved with LSYWC has inspired me to spread the word about the program as a way to give back to my community. I presented an informational session at Metropolitan State University about the program along with another fellow. I know that students are often not aware of these types of programs so it is important for me to help spread the word so they don’t miss out on amazing opportunities. I am excited to see what the future holds for me and how LSYWC will continue to support my aspirations. 

“Sí, Se Puede” is a phrase born of farmworkers, who, under the leadership of the UFW, César Chávez, and Dolores Huerta, fought valiantly for equal protection under the law. As a result of the efforts of the UFW, “Sí, Se Puede” has become well known as a call that engenders hope and inspiration in those who face similar battles. We thank the UFW, whom we acknowledge to be the sole and exclusive owner of the Trademark SI SE PUEDE, for granting us a limited license to use“Sí, Se Puede” in connection with our efforts to recruit, in Colorado, students of Hispanic or Latino descent for our law school pipeline program. For more information about the programs offered by the UFW, please see UFW’s webpage (www.ufw.org); UFW Foundation’s webpage (www.ufwfoundation.org); and UFWF’s immigration services webpage (www.sisepuede.org)