Afrolatina Scholar Takes Cape Town
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I can tell you about how hard it was growing up in my neighborhood with immigrant family members and having to constantly battle all the odds. You will then feel bad for me and be amazed by all the things I was able to accomplish regardless of my limitations. Instead, I want to tell you about how people, real people changed my life. Because ultimately, life is not about me; it is about all of us and what we do to make it better.
I am a senior at Montclair State University, studying Sociology, Pre-Law and African American Studies. I have been on Dean’s List every semester throughout my college career while being actively involved in multiple cultural student organizations (Latin American Student Organization, NAACP and Organization of Students for African Unity), departmental committees and administrative initiatives as well as working various campus jobs. Through these experiences, I have fostered relationships with people that have given me more that I could have ever asked. I have been so privileged to meet so many incredible people that push me every single day, every minute, to be a better person so I can then empower others to be better.
During the fall, I will be studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. I am taking concentrated courses in sociology, history and african studies along with doing a service-learning project where I will be volunteering at a human rights or youth educational organization. The only reason why I am studying abroad is for people. I want to pay forward what has been given to me; I want to show the people of my city that it is possible; I want to impact people to believe in themselves and see more than they are used to. If you help to fund me, you are also funding them--figuratively. I join you to believe in the mission of people--that actual people can make a difference through love and peace.
Projects that I will be working on besides classes and service-learning:
- Writing a blog “Afro-Dominican in South Africa” for a page: #IAMENOUGH Empowering Afro-Latina Women
- Pre-research for Fulbright Scholar Program Application
- Journal article to present at conferences
I am a senior at Montclair State University, studying Sociology, Pre-Law and African American Studies. I have been on Dean’s List every semester throughout my college career while being actively involved in multiple cultural student organizations (Latin American Student Organization, NAACP and Organization of Students for African Unity), departmental committees and administrative initiatives as well as working various campus jobs. Through these experiences, I have fostered relationships with people that have given me more that I could have ever asked. I have been so privileged to meet so many incredible people that push me every single day, every minute, to be a better person so I can then empower others to be better.
During the fall, I will be studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. I am taking concentrated courses in sociology, history and african studies along with doing a service-learning project where I will be volunteering at a human rights or youth educational organization. The only reason why I am studying abroad is for people. I want to pay forward what has been given to me; I want to show the people of my city that it is possible; I want to impact people to believe in themselves and see more than they are used to. If you help to fund me, you are also funding them--figuratively. I join you to believe in the mission of people--that actual people can make a difference through love and peace.
Projects that I will be working on besides classes and service-learning:
- Writing a blog “Afro-Dominican in South Africa” for a page: #IAMENOUGH Empowering Afro-Latina Women
- Pre-research for Fulbright Scholar Program Application
- Journal article to present at conferences
Organizer
Shannel Paulino
Organizer
Montclair, NJ