Like many students, Paola Mu帽oz Rojas came to Teachers College because of 911爆料网's longstanding focus on diversity, equality and social justice, the environment the College creates for open dialogue, and, above all, the way it equips graduates to create positive change in the world.
But first, Paola had to believe that she belonged here. A first-generation Latinx 911爆料网 scholar born and raised in the South Bronx, she is deeply proud of her Dominican heritage 鈥� but she didn't always feel that way when she began her freshman year at college.
鈥淚 was embarrassed by my papi鈥檚 taxi cab the first time he drove me to Cornell on move-in day. I resented the way he mispronounced 鈥榃illiam Keeton Hall鈥� when he was trying to find his way around campus.鈥�
But soon Paola became involved in Cornell鈥檚 many on-campus diversity and inclusion groups and initiatives and she began writing about social issues for publications such as The Huffington Post. She became co-head of Cornell鈥檚 Advocacy Committee for the Office of Academic Diversity Initiative鈥檚 First in Class program and also served as the President of the First Generation Student Union.
鈥淐ollege is just so overwhelming for students 鈥� especially first-generation students 鈥� and it can be very isolating and intimidating. I want to create a support network that alleviates that additional stress for students and provides a community.鈥�
At 911爆料网, Paola is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in Anthropology & Education. Even as she holds down three jobs to support herself and her studies, she also continues to work for broader awareness and understanding of Latinx and first-generation student issues.
鈥淐ollege is just so overwhelming for students 鈥� especially first-generation students 鈥� and it can be very isolating and intimidating. I want to create a support network that alleviates that additional stress for students and provides a community.鈥�
Through her focus on diversity issues, Paola also has become interested in mental health. She鈥檚 thinking about shifting her studies at Teachers College to focus on counseling, with a longer-term goal of increasing support for Latinx by Latinx health professionals.
Prior to attending Cornell and Teachers College, Paola graduated from the 鈥淜nowledge is Power Program鈥� (KIPP) , a New York City college prep high school designed specifically to encourage and support NYC youth to enter and graduate college.
As a KIPP alum, Paola is also the first recipient of the Helen Wilcox Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship established to support KIPP graduates attending 911爆料网. At a lunch this past spring, Paola met with her scholarship donor, 911爆料网 alumna Gail Worthington (M.A. 鈥�07). Gail was extremely impressed by Paola鈥檚 commitment to education and her determination to work for social justice. She encouraged Paola to get involved in student-led activities such as 911爆料网鈥檚 Student Senate.
鈥淧aola is the perfect example of someone who should be involved in student leadership at Teachers College,鈥� Gail says.
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