Spanish Studies Alumni Highlight

Martha Pérez Sánchez

1. Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
   I graduated in June of 2021, double-majoring in Spanish Studies, Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism and I also obtained a minor in Education.
   
   
2. What did you do after graduation?
   After graduation I worked for a couple of charter schools in Mid-City and South Central LA. There, I worked as a Teaching Partner for below-grade level students, implementing language and literacy programs. Most recently, I was hired as the Early Math and Literacy Lead at Grail Family Services, which is a Latinx non-profit organization serving the community of Mayfair in East San Jose.
   
   
3. How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
   The experiences, training and skills I obtained in the Spanish Studies major helped me become a well-rounded advocate for my Latinx community. It was imperative for me to understand the historical, political and economic stance of our Spanish-speaking communities in order to provide the adequate resources and help they may need.
   
   Along with this, I was also able to develop my communication skills which I now use daily to connect with parents and professional partners. I believe the professors in the Spanish Studies program provided me with the tools necessary to grow in my field, and to this day, continue to show their support by being available for a quick check-in or any questions I may have.
   
   
4. What are your future plans?
   Although I plan to continue to work with the Mayfair community, I also plan on going back to school to receive my masters. I would love to do this in a foreign country but given my legal status my options are limited. The focus is still to be decided but I do know I want to either continue in the Spanish Education field or move towards language research. Either way, I want my future career plans to serve marginalized communities that can eventually help our people succeed.
   

Leonardo Chelin

1. Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
   I graduated from UCSC in 2018 with a double major in Psychology, Spanish Studies with a focus in literature, and a minor in Education. 
   
   
2. What did you do after graduation?
   Weeks after I graduated from UCSC in 2018, I started one year intensive Master's program at the University of the Pacific. That same year, the program placed me at a high school in East San Jose, and I haven't left since. In 2019, I graduated with honors, earning a Masters of Education with a focus on curriculum and instruction. I now teach two levels of Spanish and I'm the 11th-grade level chair.
   
   
3. How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
   All of the training I received in Spanish Studies was extremely helpful while completing my Master's degree, as I was able to apply all of the skills and materials I used during my undergraduate studies. I will also say that the training I received in Spanish Studies allowed me to create a more defined sense of identity, especially when a lot of my peers were not BIPOC during my Master's program. In terms of my profession, I have modeled the way I conduct my classroom based on the awesome professors I had in the Spanish Department. Especially since I teach high school, providing opportunities for autonomy, group work, and discussion. I am definitely grateful for what I learned during my undergraduate career, which allowed me to have a strong foundation as a student and now a teacher.
   
   
4. What are your future plans?
   I plan to continue teaching and connecting with students. Moving forward I hope to have a bigger impact on the Spanish Department at our school. Though earning a Ph.D. is not a current priority for me, I'd love to become a college professor one day.
   

Rosa Sanchez

1. Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
   I graduated from UCSC in 2018.  I obtained a B.A. in Spanish Studies with a concentration in Literature and Culture and a B.A. in Latin America and Latino Studies. 
   
   
2. What did you do after graduation?
   After graduation, I became a full-time paralegal at a local non-profit in Watsonville, CA. I provide legal services in immigration-related matters and information to the community primarily in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. In August 2020, I obtained my accreditation from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and now I can represent individuals before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
   
   
3. How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
   The training that I received in Spanish Studies helped me in my current position because our non-profit serves primarily Spanish speaking communities. By speaking Spanish and being culturally competent I am able to breach the language and cultural barriers between the immigration legal system and our community. Thereby increasing the access to legal services and overall stability and well-being of the community. The lack of or uncertainty in immigration status can create tremendous instability and insecurity in families and communities, depriving them of access to services, and reduce their ability to function as productive members of society.  My goal is to help address this problem by providing legal representation in a language that people can understand. In the Spanish Studies program at UCSC, I was able to find a community of great mentors and Professors who inspire me to become a better professional and community advocate. 
   
   
4. What are your future plans?
   In the upcoming months (and probably year), I will continue working as a DOJ accredited representative and at the same time prepare myself to take the LSAT and apply for law school. Obtaining a Juris Doctor degree will allow me to continue to provide legal assistance to immigrant families from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.
   

Cecilia Aguilar

1. Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
   I graduated from UCSC in 2017 with a BA in Spanish Studies with a concentration in Culture and Literature and a Minor in Education.  
   
   
2. What did you do after graduation?
   I got to work immediately hoping I would fall into a position I loved off the bat. In 2018, I was hired as a community organizer at a local nonprofit before transitioning into a teacher role at Alpha Public Schools. I taught at Alpha for 2.5 years before pivoting into an Educational Technology company in 2021. I am currently employed by Family Engagement Lab as a Content Manager. My position is involved with writing content that supports bridging classroom academics to the home.
   
   
3. How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
   As a Latinx individual I identified with everything I studied in the Spanish Studies degree. The Spanish Studies program supported my transition into the real world by educating me about my heritage. The classes I took gave me a deeper sense of self and life mission. It was here where I learned about the struggles that I have endured as a person of color in the US. The Spanish Studies program taught me that I must use my skills to support historically underrepresented communities achieve their dreams in a way that the country has not seen before. My work is a reflection of my commitment to communities of color. I thank the Spanish Studies faculty at UCSC for helping me get here! 
   
   
4. What are your future plans?
   I am a sitting board of directors member at Exploring New Horizons and I hope to continue growing in my leadership skills by becoming a member of a fellowship that will support the development of these skills. My hope is to become a leader in the EdTech space to continue supporting educational achievement in education!