Katherine Garcia

I'm a freshman in college studying Business Administration, driven by my love for leadership and community building. I've always enjoyed being part of communities and bringing people together, stepping outside my own comfort zone to be a leader and take on leadership roles. The deal breaker that convinced me to become a business major was my internship in the summer of 2024 at a nonprofit, where I fell in love with the work that nonprofits do. I plan on starting my own nonprofit in the field of education - specifically going back to Texas to start a mentorship program where I help high school students from their freshman year understand what is expected if they have plans to pursue college. This program is targeted towards freshmen in high school who are low income and/or first generation. I've worked with two nonprofits that have shaped my ambition. At my first nonprofit, I worked with a team that helps freshly graduated high school students get into trade school and provides an alternative route other than a four-year college at a low cost. At Breakthrough Collaborative, I was a teacher working with 7th graders all the way to 9th grade. I was a 7th grade life science teacher, and I also taught personal finance and basic economics for 7th through 9th graders as an elective, as well as art for 7th through 9th graders. Through these experiences, I got to see a lot of the gaps in education and how mentorship can change the story of knowing how to navigate the college process early on. The teaching internship this past summer has been the most impactful experience because I experienced what it was like being in a classroom, saw my colleagues' experiences with teaching, and witnessed the gaps in the education system. I was able to see the differences between students who are part of programs like this compared to those that aren't even aware that programs like this exist, which ultimately inspired me to pursue the plans I have now.