Aliento Feature: Darian Benitez
Last summer, Aliento selected 7 talented and brilliant students to make up the second cohort of Aliento’s Fellowship. Throughout the academic year, you have seen them be featured on our Aliento Voices, our social media, local and national news, and active members of the Aliento Team. The conclusion of this month will bring with it the end of their Fellowships with Aliento and, to honor their dedication to the organization, we will be featuring them on our blog. Here is one of the Aliento Fellows:
Hello! My name is Darian Benitez Sanchez and I am a student at Brophy College Prep. I am currently seventeen years old and I am part of the 2019-2020 Aliento Fellows cohort.
How did you hear about Aliento, and why did you choose Aliento?
I was introduced to Aliento through Mr. Will Rutt, one of the moderators for the Brophy/Xavier Advocacy Club. As an undocumented student, I lived a different reality than that of my peers. Aliento provided the opportunity to use my story to help uplift the voices of my parents, my friends, as well as my own.
What are some of the things you’ve learned as a fellow? Why was it important?
As a fellow, I’ve learned the value of dreaming. I’ve come to understand how important it is to have hope in a world that is trying to tear itself apart. So many students, parents, families, refugees, depend on the hope they have accumulated over years. Personally, my dreams are what allow me to no longer inherit the fears of my parents.
What are some moments within the fellowship that you are most proud of?
I will forever have the image of Education Day ingrained in my mind. To see over 300 students come together to stand with the Dreamers in their community brought warmth to my heart.
Education Day 2020
Sharing my story at an event that we organized at Brophy on November 12th, 2019, was very personal. It was the first time I had ever done that publicly, so having the fellows by my side was exactly what I needed.
On November 12th, 2019. The Supreme Court of the United States began oral arguments over DACA. Brophy/Xavier’s Dream On Campaign held an event that same day, highlighting the voices of Dreamers. It was the first time Darian publicly came out as undocumented.
After time, we even met with legislators from Guanajuato, where I was born, at the Mexican Consulate to discuss the struggles that immigrants have to deal with. Along the way, we have filmed projects, spoke with people at a Sun’s game, and organized legislative meetings that have brought us a new understanding of the world we live in.
Besides Aliento, what else were you involved with at school? What did you do?
At Brophy, I am part of the student-run Advocacy Club on campus. Together, we address the issues that the students and the community feel passionate about and are most pressing. The club worked to outreach to community members, speak with legislatures, and educate the community about issues such as immigration, homelessness, and the environment.
Would you recommend the fellowship? Why?
The fellowship was a watershed moment in my life. It helped me understand my own value and it opened monumental opportunities for my future. My network expanded dramatically, introducing me to new people and places. I have received mentorship that has guided me during the most difficult moments of my high school and personal experience. I have found a home in the cohort. The fellows have become beautiful, important people in my life who have brought me some of the greatest memories. So, would I recommend the fellowship. Is that even a question. I absolutely do.
What’s next for you?
As the youngest member of the cohort, I will not be attending college yet. The first stop for me will be senior year, the long-awaited final stretch of high school. I will continue to work with the Brophy-Xavier Advocacy Club and Aliento to help create change in our state. Also, I will pursue my education and hopefully graduate with a future in the engineering field. There’s much to come from all of us. The journey is just beginning.
The work of our team and fellows is made possible highly in part to the contributions made to our organization by people like you. If you believe in Aliento and the work that we are doing, please consider making a donation to help fund the next cohort of fellows for 2020-21!