Aliento Features: Sergio Cipriano
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Sergio Cipriano and I’m currently a senior at Bioscience High School. My mom and I are from San Juan Del Rio, Queretaro, while my dad is from Oaxaca, Mexico.
My hobbies mainly revolve around my passion for music. My free time consists of playing various instruments, recording, and listening to music. Aside from music, I enjoy playing and watching soccer. My favorite memories are of the many soccer games I played and watched alongside my family.
How did you find out about Aliento?
In my Junior year I was looking for potential internships, and Jose Morales, who was a senior at the time, recommended Aliento. Since he was a current fellow he told me all about it and how I would greatly benefit from it. He eventually encouraged me to apply to the fellowship. My first encounter with Aliento was through an Internship fair. Although there were many internships at the fair, the only one that resonated with me was Aliento. After my acceptance, my first meeting with Aliento was the Fellowship Orientation. There I got to know the place, peer fellows, and other staff. From this orientation I received a lot of insight on what to expect of this fellowship. It gave me a further understanding of the priority issues Aliento focuses on and what we would do to address them. At first, I felt overwhelmed with so much information. However, I was very excited about what was to come. At the time, events like Eday felt so far away, l did not expect it to feel so fast. Our first activities revolved around our story of self, and I did not know how to start, what to tell. I've always been a very private person about my story, so opening up was definitely a challenge.
Why does the work we are doing matter to you?
The work we are doing matters so much to me. As an undocumented student, I have been affected by the many hardships and obstacles our community faces. I have friends and family members who are affected as well. Our community lacks hope and often feels helpless. However, sharing our experiences and stories alone is powerful and can make the slightest of change. A policy priority I care about the most is ensuring access to driver's licenses for everyone, regardless of their immigration status. Personally, the constant fear of being pulled over while driving is suffocating. Just to carry out everyday activities like going to work or school we must risk so much. It's a burden we shouldn't have to carry, yet it's a reality that we face daily as a community, undermining our sense of safety and freedom.
What moments from the fellowship are you most proud of?
Something I learned through this Fellowship is that despite the many obstacles and difficulties, our community is resilient and will always thrive. I learned this by observing my peers stand up and speak up on their experiences. Seeing members of my community put aside their fears and embrace their culture as they shared stories and discussed with legislators. Learning about the leaders that came before me made me aware of their accomplishments, giving me hope and feeling proud of what we do.
Throughout this fellowship, I improved on many skills such as problem-solving, persistence, and taking initiative, which greatly improved with each meeting and check-in. Especially during E-Days, I put to the test my learnings and teachings by leading meetings and guiding student groups, demonstrating both initiative and adaptability as my team accommodated to the flow of meetings and the day's overall structure.
How did Education Day impact you?
Education Day was an amazing experience, it gave me confidence and courage to express myself and to share my stories. Being reserved for so long on my experiences builds a burden that one doesn't realize is there. Expressing them for a purpose was significant, it most importantly gave me hope for change.
What is a moment from the fellowship outside of E-day that really impacted you?
The “Human Experience” Aliento Art Gallery event had a tremendous impact on me. Opening myself up and being vulnerable was very challenging and unique. I had the opportunity to share a song about the journey of immigration. Although I've performed tons of times, never did I sing a song of the harsh experiences that we face as a community in front of many people who can relate and can feel the song. To me it was like discovering a new aspect in music, it was empowering and inspiring.
How would you describe this fellowship to someone who is looking to apply?
This fellowship is an opportunity to step up and pave the way for future change. It’s a space where you can be yourself and feel proud of where you come from. This fellowship becomes a community where everyone around you understands the struggles and is there because they care and want to help.
What’s next for you?
Next up for me is college, more specifically St. Mary's University in Texas. I will navigate that unknown territory called university in the pursuit of a better future. I will major in Biology to eventually go to medical school. My biggest goal is to be a pediatrician serving my community, giving back to my parents and everyone who helped me along the way.
