A Place for You at CU: ‘Keep the goal in mind’

By Cathy Beuten | CU system

CU-Boulder student Veronica Williams’ parents worked hard, putting their own needs on the back burner to make sure she and her siblings were able to attend quality K-12 schools.

However, according to Williams these schools had very little ethnic diversity. Williams, who is Hispanic, said she was often perceived as white and was shocked to hear what classmates were saying about ethnic minorities.

"I kind of get the other perspective of hearing people talk poorly about my people,” she said. “That was really hard for me.”

Williams is studying molecular cellular developmental biology and enjoys a richly diverse community as a student at CU-Boulder. She admits that – being first-generation – the process of entering college was intimidating. But programs at CU helped her realize that there is a place for her at CU.

“It was really hard to take that first step,” she said. “It is important to realize what resources are offered; that way you can take advantage of them.”

Williams is paying it forward, working with youngsters in the Students Enriching Communities (STEM) program at CU-Boulder.  The program, funded by a Diversity and Excellence Grant through the CU Office of Academic Affairs, provides learning tools and encourages low-income, first generation and underrepresented minorities to apply to professional programs at CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

“It is important to me to not only get something out of an internship or opportunity, but to give back,” she said. “I know there are a lot of kids out there who are thinking ‘college isn’t for me,’ or ‘I can’t afford it,’ or things like that, but it’s really important to keep the goal in mind.”

Diversity and Excellence Grants fund innovative projects that promote inclusiveness throughout the University of Colorado system. Grants of up to $3,000 are awarded each winter to projects and programs that advance the principles of diversity and inclusion across CU. The Office of Academic Affairs will announce its next call for Diversity and Excellence Grant proposals at the start of the fall semester. 

At the core of these grants are people such as Williams and the students in the STEM programs who are gaining confidence and realizing they can and will succeed in college. 

“I wish that I could go back to my sophomore self and slap myself across the face and be like, ‘open your eyes,” Williams said. “Life isn’t just high school; you need to work hard and even though I know you guys have heard this a million times from parents, it’s because it’s true.”