Family Legacy

On May 3, 2019, I graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business - thus, achieving one of my most important personal goals. Today, as I was overthinking about my first blog post, I decided to look back at the essay I wrote for my admission application. The question asked: What are you most proud of outside of your professional life? How does it shape who you are today? 

I struggled with this question - not because I didn’t know the answer. The answer came to me almost immediately. But, I wasn’t sure about its uniqueness, relevancy or was it cliché? It was my truth. Thankfully, my support group encouraged me to tell my story and the story of my family. So below, it’s an updated version of what I wrote. 

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I am proud of my family’s legacy. My family has struggled and traveled thousands of miles in pursuit of higher education. I value education as the best way to prosper and lift others. 

My grandfather was an illiterate farmer in Peru. His community did not value education, particularly for girls. To give his daughter, my mother, a chance at a better life, he sent her to Lima to finish school. Her village only had one elementary school. My mother graduated from high school and dreamed of going to college. However, the country’s internal conflict in the 1980s hindered her dream. 

The 1990s brought economic turbulence and violent uprisings. My parents saw no end to the chaos and no future in Lima. We applied for and received political asylum in America. Starting over was challenging, but we were happy. To support us, my parents worked two or three full-time jobs. As the oldest child, I became the family’s translator - dealing with medical and bank officials. I learned to be confident, to ask questions, and to use my voice to advocate for others. Being resourceful helped me overcome barriers and become the first in my family to graduate from college. 

The USA gave us a new life, and I am appreciative and humbled by how far my family has come. Furthering my education against daunting odds makes me resilient. This is only the beginning as I will continue to forge new pathways and help others along the way.