Raquel Sanchez-Camarena

Within all the dark things in the world, I just wish to shine light where I can.

My early years were chaotic, confusing, and a bit like a bad soap opera or tele-novella. I am an American born daughter of a Panamanian mother, raised by a strange, neglectful, white man, in a tiny, small town in the Midwest. He was the man I originally thought to be my father. After my parents divorced, my mother moved several states away, and she died suddenly a few years later during my fourth grade. Only a couple of years after we were able to re-establish a relationship with her.

For several years, my sisters and I experienced neglect, food insecurity and living in squalor until he remarried, and she brought some level of stability and care back to our lives. I was later adopted by her, my stepmother, who eventually became my sole caregiver when my “father” fell into a depraved, criminal lifestyle. So, for the last five years, I have been raised by a single parent with my sister Sofia, and my two siblings I gained when we were adopted. I later discovered, the man who had been my parent, was not my biological father, and that both my parents are Panamanian. I have only recently contacted my biological father who lives in the Dominican Republic.

Having grown up in a rural, midwestern town of less than 2,000 people, my sisters and I, many times, were the only people of color in my school district. Due to this, my exposure to the problems of the world has been limited to those in my household. So, learning about history, and the situations of generational poverty and environmental impacts to communities around the world came through school and my own desire to expand my world view. My need to explore my Panamanian roots, and discover my Hispanic Culture drives me.

As I look at the Central American and Caribbean countries and how hundreds of thousands of people are living in horrible economic and personal safety dangers. They have no hope and are continually ignored without a voice. I need to make a positive impact for people. It is a passion for me to make that my life’s work.

I am excited at the possibility of studying at one of the best universities, to fuel my passion of political science and activism for those who need to be heard.

My only desire for a future career is to be in a field where I feel as though I’m capable of promoting positive change. Political science would allow me to gain useful knowledge to better the lives of others. I want to be at the forefront of world events with my job following graduation, whatever it entails. I’ll be fighting for change, in whatever capacity I can. Small change is still progress and knowledge is power, I think I’ll find both of those things true through a political science major, hence my interest.

I desire to study political science, but also carry over to environmental sciences. So many communities are threatened by the changes that are here now, in our climate. They are devastated by major weather events and their communities have no mechanisms or infrastructure to recover! The highest levels of pollution are in the poorest countries and parts of metropolitan areas. Raising cancer rates in children and infant mortality in areas already suffering from food deserts and a lack of health care equity.

I want to get educated and learn how to change the system from the inside. I’ll gain the knowledge and tools to invoke positive change to educate politicians and leaders regarding the climate, an issue that is perpetually gaining importance.

I’d also love to take advantage of internships and extracurricular activities that accompany these paths, to be provided with more experience and exposure to real-world challenges. I’m looking for things like speech in the way that they’d force me out of my comfort zone while helping me improve in some respects. I’m especially excited for the challenge due to the collegial environment. I also have little to no fear in trying new things, as I’m constantly forcing myself outside of my comfort zone. Speech is a good example of this, as this is my first year.
Regardless, beyond academics, I see myself actively looking to engage with new communities by attempting to participate in advocacy groups, maybe even volunteering with local organizations, and attending conferences if offered. Having been born and raised in a small town of 2,000, I intend on spending no time taking for granted the influx of opportunities offered at the college I end up attending in the future. This is how I plan to amplify my impact and contribute meaningfully to positive change.