Will is a student worker here at The Center! He believes that the Center is a place to debate political issues and where students are able to express their own opinions and not be judged. He goes to college at Hasken Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. At college, he likes being surrounded by other Natives who are passionate about pursuing a higher education. Since he is away from home, dealing with missing birthdays and family events is a disadvantage he has going to college out of state. He enjoys the college atmosphere where he is able to meet new people and expanding his mindset and live life to the fullest. Everyday he is making an effort to go to class and realized if something gets hard, you know you are doing something right.
Will’s passions include listening to music and walking. He listens to rap and hip hop because he is able to relate to the music. For example, heartbreak, etc. Will enjoys walking downtown because it makes him feel small and helps him realize that there are bigger things out there than him. He feels his life is only a spec compared to the world out there. Will is most grateful for the fact that he has the ability to breathe. He says that death can come easy. There are many changes in life and that’s what makes life interesting.
Will had to grow up fast. He lived on the reservation and had to deal with racism, traveling to places, and making a difference in his community. Will also played basketball when he was younger and he said he is willing to put in the work for basketball. His grandpa inspired him because he was a father figure to Will and has a Masters degree in education which is the highest degree in his family. Other things that inspire him is a mirror because when you look into the mirror, that’s the person you have to go against each day. He believes most battles are fought mentally rather then physically.
Will is a great person so make sure you come to get to know will before he leaves next month for school!
mp will be a senior going to Pyramid Lake High school. He was born in Reno Nevada. He is also new Intern here at The Center. Jacob said he’s internship is going great so far and enjoys working with Avory and Will. Avory and Will are student leaders at the center. For he’s internship he will be attending a Unity meeting in San Diego and helping out around the center. At his Internship he will also be filling out scholarships. He got this amazing opportunity from the Reno/ Sparks Indian colony who gives out internships and offers college tours.
Before logging off, i would like to thank my amazing staff (new family) members for everything they have done for me these past few weeks! They are all truly amazing people who have a lot to offer for any and all of the students at the UNR campus. Being able to see the impact that these people have had on all the students that have visited The Center is amazing for sure! Seeing how the students also use what they are given is really cool as well because things like this is not really seen on high school campuses! I want to thank Ricky, Avory, Araceli, Jody, Will, and Saundra for making me feel welcomed – as if i have known them forever – for making these past few weeks as if i were at home, there was never a moment in which i never looked forward to getting to my internship! A thousand times i say thank you to these amazing individuals located on the 3rd floor of the Joe Crowley Student Union, in The Center, Every Student Every Story!
For some of you who don’t know, Avory Wyatt is a student leader up at The Center! My first impression of Avory was “I don’t think he likes me”, but as I spent more time around him, he turned out to be one cool dude! Avory was born in Reno, Nevada on May 19, 1996. As i learn more and more about his childhood on his reservation, it sounds like a whole lot of fun. Avory mentions how he and the kids he would spend time with would find “ways to play by making forts in trees” and what not, he had that childhood where technology did not take over (really the best way to grow up). Knowing how creative and innovative he was as a child, it is easy to see why he has become adventurous. Hearing about the many different states he has visited and the multiple football stadiums he has seen is freaking cool in my opinion! Also hearing about his DJing and how it became so much more than simple remixes on his phone is just wow! Avory was one of those kids who grew up playing sports so it kept him from being really involved in cultural events like pow wows and it also kept him from being able to participate in TRiO programs. Avory was lucky enough to be a part of the Summer Youth Education Program – which was provided by his tribe – allowing him to take part of internships in multiple locations. Many of us have those role models to look up to, Barack Obama is a person who definitely motivates Avory. Avory aspires to be like Obama because of the overall wellness he provided minorities during his time as president. Avory really admires the way that “Obama brought our country together and gave a little bit of power back”. Although Avory’s life seems to be very cool, there have been some challenges he has been faced with. Avory would say that his biggest challenges were the fact that he was unprepared for college. Although it was a set plan for Avory, he did not think it was as important as it is now. Avory really struggled with managing his studying and the amount of credits he was taking, once he managed both, it allowed him to prosper with his mission on getting his major. The other challenge that Avory had was the fact that as he was growing up, he only lived in two places – the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and the Hungry valley Reservation – which caused him a little bit of a struggle when trying to adjust to the college atmosphere. Avory would also say that The Center was a huge part of his success in college due to the fact that they provided support for him – he “felt more at home in College”. Avory’s little inspirational quote comes from Barack – “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”.
Araceli Martinez was born in Morelia, Michoacan on November 20 – which happened to be the same day the Mexican Revolutionary War ended! Being able to sit down and discuss her childhood was seriously one of the most memorable moments here at The Center. Araceli told me about how she grew up on a rancho for the first six years of her life. She described it as a little piece of land where there was only dirt roads, her house being located there. Araceli mentioned how her house had only two rooms – the kitchen and a sleeping room, (yeah, there was no bathroom). Araceli would say that she would not change a thing about her childhood, it allowed her to grow up humble and grateful for what she given. As many people do, Araceli has that desire to go back to her hometown, the endless memories and experiences she had there are things she will forever cherish. Having to migrate to the United States as a young child was something very difficult – “it was definitely hard having to leave my little brothers behind” – but she knew she couldn’t let her mother go on that journey on her own. Being in the United States was something very different to Araceli, having to learn English and being able to fulfill her education was also something very tiring for her. Araceli emphasizes the importance of her involvement with Upward Bound for those reasons. Upward Bound was able to provide her with tutoring for her academic needs, information on college (financial aide, applications, etc.), and simply the comfort and support she had from the staff. Araceli believes that if it weren’t for Upward Bound, a lot of what she has accomplished would not have happened and simply how they essentially made things a little easier. Coming the long way she has these past years have been rough but there is not a moment she regrets – “everything happens for a reason” -. Much of this has come from one of the multiple people that she admires, her mom. Araceli has great admiration for her mom – “regardless of the situation, I have never seen my mom cry” -. Araceli has always seen her mother as a fighter, a person who will go the extra mile to provide for her loved ones, which is something that really inspires Araceli to keep going. Araceli’s grandma is someone who motivates her as, she will forever remember her grandma for the story of why Araceli is the way she is – “my grandma told me that I am revolutionary person because of my birthday, which makes a lot of sense” – Araceli is a person who is also family orientated, her family is what drives her – “making sure they’re okay and stable keeps me motivated” -. Being able to see how many morals, stories, and experiences we have in common make me feel even more at home with the staff here at The Center! Araceli finished her story off with some motivation, “lo que hagas hoy solamente affectara tu futuro” (what you do today will only effect your future).
Saundra Mitrovich, born in Paradise, California on August 26, 1979, is one of the many hardworking people i have met. Just like the majority of those we know, she would spent lots of time with her family and friends – “I had a great amount of close friends and remember fun sleepovers” – . Saundra also grew up playing basketball – she is now a coach for the freshman girls team up at Wooster! – softball, and enjoyed swimming. Saundra is a person who always strives to make humanity better, who is always thankful to be alive and healthy, a person who spends endless hours in programs and volunteering opportunities to make her surroundings better. Some of the big programs that have allowed Saundra to continue her passion are AmeriCorps, United Way, and TRiO. From being introduced to TRiO as an undergrad at Cameron University, to joining the McNair Scholars – “it truly changed my whole perspective on graduate school and research” – to The Talent search program, all these programs have shaped who Saundra is today, a person who is super passionate about student success and just passionate about anything she sets herself up for! Saundra’s journey to college can be related to by many other students. She says that her parents would talk about the importance of getting to college and earning a degree but never really had a good grasp on how to get there. The common challenge of getting to college is not having the information (or knowledge) or knowing how or where to get resources to make college a possibility, was Saundra’s case. the manner in which she overcame these obstacles was by taking part in “leadership activities, civic engagement, and other programs”, although it didn’t necessarily make the college process easier, it allowed her to develop her character. Saundra’s parents and grandparents, like many of us, are her inspiration. The fact that they are hard workers, always believe in family, and have always supported her in anything and everything that she does always makes her motivated to keep pushing! Hearing about Saundra’s experiences with student services have made me love The Center even more. She says – “time in student services has taught me to be selfless and kind”. Saundra described her experience with such emotion and passion; it’s really cool to see that it is really more that just a job to these amazing individuals, it really is a way of living! Some words of wisdom from our lovely Saundra to you all are “Don’t just find one path to get to your goal, choose multiple routes because it is often times the most challenging ones that leads us to our destiny!”. Simply hearing about Saundra, her involvement, her aspirations, and her willingness really makes me see how one person can make such a huge change! Make sure to stop by, talk to her, and thank her for everything that she does!
The Center 