Paola Benitez-Marquez

Hello,
My name is Paola Gisselle Benitez Marquez. I am a first-generation Latina student, and I am very passionate about changing social and immigration policies in the United States. My dream is to one day be a member of congress. I crossed the border to the United States when I was just six years old and have been able to acquire a legal immigrant status through a lengthy ten-year process. I was privileged enough to receive good public education and now, I am combating barriers to attain my PhD in Social Work and J.D. in Law through a dual program at Rutgers University in Newark. Throughout my educational journey I have been able to meet and experience many different students who have also been victims to the barriers placed on minority students, specifically social work students. These barriers have been placed by the social hierarchy, societies and policies supported in this country. I hope to be a voice for my community, who, like me, struggle to obtain an education, not just affected by their class, but by their ethnicity, legal status, gender,sex,and race. Thank you for your time!