Growing up in Chinle, AZ, the opportunity to grow academically was limited. Attending reservation schools for the majority of my academic career gave me a predetermined path, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to leave my reservation. My way to do this was through academics. I excelled from elementary to middle school, and attended one year at Chinle High School. I excelled here too, however, I knew this was not enough to attend my dream school, UCLA. The cost of tuition for out-of-state students would’ve been too high for my parents to afford. Realizing this, I forced myself to attend Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, CA – a boarding school for Native American students. I knew that once I graduated from Sherman, I would qualify for in-state tuition for the UC’s, making it more affordable for my family to send me to college. 

My parents and family were supportive of my decision to leave and knew this would be better for me. The transition from my small reservation, where the population is 3,888, to California was difficult to say the least. I was away from my family, surrounded by unfamiliar faces in a city where prices were abnormally high. I had to navigate managing my money and my day-to-day schedule all by myself, I was living on my own. However, despite the challenges I faced, attending Sherman was the best academic decision I ever made. Sherman gave me the opportunity to grow as a person, I became more appreciative and connected to my culture, and I gained the valuable skill of learning how to live on my own. It prepared me for college and being away from family for periods of time, even if it was difficult and although sometimes I look back and wish I spent more time with my parents, I would still choose to go to Sherman.  

My sacrifices paid off once I received an admissions offer from UCLA, along with a strong financial aid package. My fears of tuition and cost were alleviated, making UCLA the obvious choice. I found myself at this predominantly white institution, and at first found no one to relate to my first year. However, I did eventually find spaces on campus where I felt comfortable, which would be the American Indian Student Association (AISA). I did have to get out of my comfort zone and become more social, which did take some time. I found a strong sense of community by the end of my first year, and entering my second year I made this community my home away from home. I pushed myself to apply to American Indian Recruitment (an outreach project that stems from AISA), and I got a position as a site coordinator! As the months have gone by, I have become more close to the friends I have made within AISA and AIR. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to stay connected with my culture while at school and also give back to my community in ways I wouldn’t have dreamed of.