One of the most impactful experiences I had at the University of Arizona Douglas was participating in an engagement experience attending the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Capitol Forum.

Through this experience, I was able to build relationships with people from all over the world. I also had the opportunity to speak to our State Representatives and advocate for Hispanic students. HACU opened my eyes to a whole new and different world. You learn to plug-in to different resources and how to network with individuals working within the government branch. Through this engagement experience, I was able to learn more about my degree and explore the different career opportunities that I have. I learned how to properly talk to members of Congress and how to advocate for students struggling in higher education. Moreover, I learned that advocacy is about building relationships – we need to build a relationship with those who are representing us in order to be able to advocate with the confidence that they will respond positively.

The most positive result that I got from this engagement experience was that our Representatives were really interested in what we had to say. They attentively listened to our concerns because they understand the importance of Hispanic higher education and support it.

For other students contemplating an engagement experience: Please do it! You get to be exposed to a new world and you gain knowledge and experience. You also learn how to advocate for other students who do not have the opportunity to do this for themselves. I desire that you take the chance to explore beyond your horizons and find out what you are really passionate about! HACU was a life-changing experience that has prepared me to advocate for other students, specifically Hispanic students who are struggling to receive higher education.