Aliento Features: Yulissa Valencia
Tell us about yourself.
Hello! My name is Yulissa Valencia, and I am a current undocumented student at Grand Canyon University majoring in Computer Science with an Emphasis on Business Entrepreneurship. I was born in Tizayuca, Hidalgo, and then immigrated to the U.S. along with my parents at the age of 2. Since then, my family and I have lived in the West Valley. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching movies, and spending time with my family.
How did you find out about Aliento?
The first time I heard about Aliento was through social media. At the time, I was a high school senior, trying to figure out a way to pay for college. It was through online searches that I came across the Get There Scholarship that Aliento was posting about. Later on, several people that I knew and followed on social media started posting about Education Day (2022), and I began to research more about Aliento and the work that they did. I realized that Aliento provided students the opportunity to become civically engaged, especially in making higher education more affordable and accessible to undocu/DACA-mented students, something that I had experienced the negative effects of firsthand. Finally, in the summer of 2022, Aliento opened their application for the Fellowship, and I decided to apply. I was determined to do my part in ensuring that future generations did not have to go through what I did when seeking higher education.
Why does the work we are doing matter to you?
Making higher education more affordable is something that has always been very important to me. As an undocumented, first-generation student from a low-income family, I understand the challenges of accessing higher education. Despite working hard, being at the top of my class, participating in clubs and volunteering, I was told that college was not an option for someone like me. Students should not have to go through all these barriers and challenges just to be able to attend university. For many, getting a college education is our dream, and no one should be deprived of that, we all deserve an equal opportunity to reach this dream. Aliento’s Fellowship has allowed me to participate in opportunities that have helped to make a difference in undocu/DACA-mented students seeking higher education, which otherwise I would have never participated in if it weren't for the fellowship.
How did the Prop 308 campaign impact you?
Before I had the opportunity to participate in the Prop 308 campaign, I knew I wanted to help out in any way possible, but I didn’t know how to use my voice. Aliento’s training and guidance throughout the campaign allowed me to see that I had a voice I could use to make a difference. I was able to speak out about my experience as an undocumented student seeking higher education; I realized that my story was one worth telling, one that could be used for something greater than myself. The Prop 308 campaign also made me realize that making a difference, not only meant making a difference in my generation, but it also entails making a difference in future and older generations. The fight to make higher education more accessible and affordable is one that will benefit people of all backgrounds and ages, which to me, makes it even more worthwhile to fight for.
What is a moment from the fellowship outside of E-day that really impacted you?
One moment from the fellowship that had a really strong impact on me was the first event that I hosted on campus at GCU. The name of my event was The Power of Storytelling Through Art. The purpose of this event was to have everyone reflect on their own narrative and express it through art, and provide a space where everyone could feel comfortable sharing and listening to each other. Some of the topics that everyone reflected on were their journey to higher education, the meaning of family, and first-gen experiences. When it came time for people to share, I realized that people did, in fact, need a space where they could talk about their experiences and meet other people who had endured similar hardships. It was very beautiful to hear everyone's stories and be able to be there for each other, listening and understanding where we were coming from. This really inspired me to want to create this space, more permanently for students on campus, a place where they are free to express themselves and build community. It opened up conversations for myself and people I knew about mental health and the way we were being negatively impacted by not having the support we needed. I would definitely say it was an eye-opening experience and something that needed to change.
What’s next for you?
I have always dreamed of helping make a change in schools to make them more hospitable to undocumented students. Now that the fellowship has come to an end, I plan to make those dreams come true at GCU. I have been a student at GCU for two years now, and I have noticed that there is not enough support for the undocumented community in terms of mental health, and academic/career success. My hopes are that by working with different clubs on campus and organizations, there can be changes in the experiences that undocumented students have at school. The fellowship has provided me with many tools, skills, and friendships, and above all, confidence in myself, and I am sure that with this foundation, I can continue to make a difference.
