Voices of Making Waves: Meet Armando Ramirez “I always try to advocate for both mental health and for higher education, especially in the Latino community,”
“Ser parte de Making Waves cambió mi trayectoria”, dice Enrique Romero. “No tendría la formación para poder ir a la universidad”, explica él, graduado de la licenciatura en sociología por Pitzer College en California y de la maestría en políticas educativas por Harvard University en Massachusetts. Gracias al apoyo incondicional de sus padres y al acompañamiento de Making Waves, Enrique pudo tomar decisiones que lo llevaron a un futuro diferente.
“Sometimes lab research can feel very impersonal, but I really enjoy the interpersonal interactions and the community aspect of science,” shared Ysabel David (she/her), a first-gen college student and graduating senior at Scripps who is sharing about her path finding community and pursuing her passions for science, dance, and DEIB.
Giovanna Barragan, a first-gen college student at USC, celebrates first-gen student day. “For me, being first-gen is to be an example for the generations after me. It means showing them that they can go for their dreams and break barriers. It’s like a special title that honors my family’s sacrifices while also planting new seeds.”
“College and post-college can become a jumbled and confusing road. But the structure from Making Waves makes it all possible,” shared Abraham Segura (he/him), a first-gen grad who followed his passions and earned his degree from San Francisco State.
The scholarships and coaching from Making Waves made attending UC Berkeley attainable for first-gen college student Ale Paz, who has found community on campus, studied abroad, and completed a global internship. “College has given me so much freedom to explore these opportunities and figure out what’s best for me. It’s been a great journey,” Ale said.
Making Waves Academy senior Yoltzin Wallace shares about his experience gaining leadership skills and building community while exploring his college options with support from Making Waves.
Doris Martinez shares her college and career journey from San Rafael to earning a Making Waves scholarship to graduating from UC Berkeley without any student loans and starting a business career at Ernst and Young in the Bay Area.
An English education major at San Francisco State University, Salvador Sandoval is pursuing his passion for creative writing and his goal of becoming a teacher in his hometown of Pittsburg, California. “Making Waves is one of the reasons I am in college,” he shared.
“Whatever you want to be in life, be the best you can be at it,” shared Allison Cubillas, a first-gen graduate from UC San Diego who graduated debt-free and started a full-time role at Meketa Investment Group.
“Take advantage of every opportunity so say yes to everything” shared Anthony Jacobo Gonzalez, a Wave-Maker from Pittsburg, California who is attending UC Davis and completing an internship as a part of the Sacramento Valley College Corps. “I just want to give thanks to Making Waves for the resources and opportunities they provide to me. Helping me pay for tuition and providing me with an amazing coach have both been fundamental to my sanity. I really appreciate them, and everything they do in helping me break generational barriers.”
“It is an absolutely amazing feeling to know that I have made history,” shared Leajé Morris, the first Making Waves Academy alumni to graduate from UC Berkeley School of Law and the first in her family to become a lawyer. “It is truly unreal and is an absolute blessing. I would not be here without God, my mother, my Making Waves family, and the discipline that I have maintained throughout this process,” she shared. “It is very gratifying to know that I can inspire other young students of color, especially those who come from a similar background as I do.”
