Driven

“Do you want me to bring you anymore grapes Chiquita?” my mom says, as she watches me on my desk studying rigorously for my government exam that I need to take when I go back to school. I look at the clock, it reads 1:30 a.m., and I’m feeling terrible because the weekend I come home from college I need to study for an exam. Turning to her, I say, “It’s ok mommy, I’ll be in bed soon, I am almost finished.” She closes my door and as she leaves, she turns to me and says, “I am very proud of you Eileen.” Those simple words mean the world to me and have driven me to become the leader I am today.

I am a junior at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi majoring in communications with a double minor in Spanish and public relations. My goal is to work at a major publication, travel, and learn more about people and today’s society. I would also like to be involved in organizations that pertain to our youth’s future.

So far, the college experience I have had has helped me grow into a stronger woman and have made me realize you cannot succeed in anything without discipline, hard work, and motivation. Professors no longer remind you about that big project that is due in a week, managing your money responsibly becomes crucial, and standing out from all the others to get that future job you want means achieving that outstanding GPA, being involved in as many organizations as possible, and taking on leadership roles.

Being involved in my community has always been important to me. Going into college, I knew that I wanted to be part of an organization whose mission is of being leaders and pride on community service. Growing up I learned from my mom the importance of Latina leadership and of the many opportunities available out there. She inspired me to get involve with my community and a Latina organization. Desperately, I searched around campus for one that would fulfill my aspirations, yet none seemed to interest me. Finally, towards the end of my freshman year in college, I found a flyer that had the words “Unity, Love, and Respect” in bold. Those three words are important to me because they are the values that I grew up with. I relate to these three words because they are the values that I was brought up with. Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., was the organization that I had been looking for. Not only did it focus on activities that I wanted to do in college, but it was also a small piece of home.

Once I became a sister, I was elected community service chair. I organized many beach clean ups and also many highway clean ups. Not only did we help our community, but we also put into practice our sorority’s philanthropy, which is F.U.T.U.R.O (Focused Urban Teens United and Ready for Opportunity). F.U.T.U.R.O. was made to focus on the youth and their futures. We organize many educational workshops, character building activities, and mentoring one on one.

After being community service chair, I was elected president of my sorority for my chapter. I know that this will be a tough job, but I am willing to put all my hard work and dedication to succeed in making our chapter stronger and more accomplished. As I take on more positions, I feel that I have carried out my purpose. I know that not only am I representing my organization, but I am representing my family, my heritage, and future generations.

Not only am I involved in my sorority, but also in a program called the GO Center. Being in the GO Center, I have been able to help my community by going to different public high schools and helping students with college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and career choices. Helping the younger generation has become a mission for me. When I walk into a high school to help and motivate a student, I feel accomplished because I have opened more doors and possibilities to their future.

Being involved in these organizations and programs has fulfilled my goal of helping others. Day by day I grow more thankful for everything I have and the more I succeed in what I do, the more organizations I want to be involved in. I would never have had the motivation to achieve any of this if it wasn’t for my parents’ love, my brother’s humor, and my wonderful boyfriends support. I have them to thank for being there for me everyday and telling me that I can achieve anything if I put my mind to it.

By Eileen Suarez