This is a picture of Grecia Zaldivar (second from the right) in 2016 after receiving a REACH Ivan Backer scholarship. Ivan Backer scholarships are given every year to three high school students who demonstrate a commitment to community service. While attending Bulkeley High School, Grecia served as a math tutor. She also organized events called Open Saturdays where students came on the weekend to learn more about the college application process. When asked what motivated her to serve she said, “I participate in community service because in order to help our community we need to stand up and give our time helping as much as we can to save our planet”. Grecia planned to attend Central Connecticut State University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Business and Theater. She hoped to become a school counselor to continue her passion of helping students attend college.

This concern for helping others came from her own experience navigating obstacles during high school. Grecia moved from Lima, Peru her freshman year and didn’t know much English. She was put in classes conducted in Spanish. Grecia grew frustrated because she wanted to improve her English language skills, but didn’t feel like she had the opportunity to do so. Her junior year, she advocated to switch to English speaking classes. Grecia insisted and persisted, knowing what she was capable of achieving.

When Grecia got to college, her freshman year was extremely challenging. Despite all of the hard work she did her junior and senior year, Grecia was still learning English and wasn’t able to completely understand all of her assignments. Once again, however, she persisted. Grecia worked harder. She regularly attended office hours and spent time in the learning center. From all this hard work, Grecia made the Dean’s list every semester at CCSU and the Presidents list every semester her last three years, receiving straight A’s.

While on campus Grecia continued to be driven by her deep desire to help students overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. She served as a resident assistant as well as a peer mentor in the “All In” campus retention program. Grecia recalled one instance where one freshman she was mentoring was very shy. Grecia suggested the student take some acting classes. That student later reported that Grecia’s advice had paid off. It decreased the student’s nervousness and improved her public speaking skills.

So where is she now? It probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but Grecia is currently serving in a role where she is able to help students. While her initial desire was to help high schoolers, her sights are now set on college students. Grecia is pursuing her Masters in Higher Education at Eastern Connecticut State University where she is working as a graduate assistant in their inter-cultural center. The center provides services that support, embrace and celebrate the spectrum of student cultures and identities. In the fall Grecia organized an event called #IamEastern where students were encouraged to share their stories and experiences that make up their identities (pictures below). “The overall mission is that we want all of our #IAMEASTERN members to be seen, heard, and empowered,” Grecia said. This is also a mission that carries over to Grecia’s life. Every day she uses her experience to help others embrace their own story and move towards the ending of their dreams.