Cynthia is a 3rd-year student as an aerospace engineering major and the graphics chair forWoAA.
What was an exciting aspect of your summer?I was a mentor for rising high school seniors through CU’s Pre-Collegiate Program and my favorite part was being able to share my story with students that looked like me who aspire to be something bigger than the world has put them out to be. By sharing my experiences, I’ve also learned from students on how I can finish my college education especially with my identity being a first-generation student. One of the students wanted to be an engineer, but wasn’t sure what the field entailed. She became excited about my passion for engineering. This has inspired me to continue my education career, not only for myself and my family but to inspire other Latinos to pursue their dreams because representation matters.
Favorite experience at CU so far?Experiencing school spirit by watching CU football and volleyball. The overall school culture makes me a proud Buff. School spirit is so important and being part of a school like CU Ƶ makes me feel like I’m part of a small community within a big school.
What is one piece of advice you wish you knew as a first-year student?Just knowing that I belong here and that I can do it. Looking at my first-year self, I had a lot of doubts about my sense of belonging and often felt imposter syndrome. Being a part of GoldShirt, upperclassmen students reassured me that I belonged here and told me that it’s okay to struggle at times. The fact that I care about struggling shows that I am meant to be an engineer.
What does being a Latina student in engineering mean to you?My identity matters because we’re underrepresented, especially in aerospace. Women of color are even more a minority. I’m hoping to prove stereotypes wrong. I’m going above and beyond what society has set their expectations for me. Being here at CU Ƶ are my ancestors' wildest dreams because some of my family members didn’t graduate high school and being here at one of the best institutions proves that I’m breaking generational barriers. I’m setting a pathway for my young brothers and sisters and future generations to come.